Rage Against The Machine [ tickets ] frontman Zack de la Rocha will address a United Nations session of the International Commission of Human Rights on Monday (4/12) to speak on the need for a new trial in the Mumia Abu-Jamal case and on implementation of the death penalty in the US.

Rage Against the Machine have performed two benefit concerts to fund the campaign to throw out the conviction of Abu-Jamal by a Pennsylvania court on grounds that evidence was tainted and that the judge in the trial acted with prejudice. Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer in 1981 and currently awaits execution on death row following denial of his last appeal.

A January, 1999 benefit concert with the Beastie Boys and Bad Religion at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ became a hub of controversy after New Jersey state officials decried the booking and promotion of the concert, which they said misled music fans into supporting a convicted police killer. A media campaign urging ticketholders to reconsider their support for the benefit resulted in the return of some 2,000 tickets.

In March, the New Jersey Senate voted to give the money realized by the state from the concert to an organization supporting the families of police officers killed on duty (the venue is owned and operated by the state of New Jersey). Commenting on the situation as the bill was passed to the state assembly for clearance, New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Richard Codey said, ''Making money from a murderer would be immoral. This bill makes sure some good comes out of this tragedy.''

In a written statement issued Thursday (4/8), de la Rocha said, ''Mumia Abu-Jamal was targeted in this case for political and racial reasons. Judge [Albert] Sabo showed bias throughout both the trial and the appeal. The prosecution falsified and suppressed evidence that could have exonerated Mumia. Blacks were illegally excluded from the jury, there was police intimidation of witnesses, and the prosecution coerced witnesses into providing perjured testimony.''

Speaking to the death penalty in general, de la Rocha added, ''The US has made a business out of violating the human rights of the world community. A crime is a crime, regardless of the tools used in the trade, whether it's a Stealth bomber over Belgrade or a sham trial and a syringe in Philadelphia. Both murder innocent civilians, both are premeditated and both are gross violations of international law.''

Rage Against The Machine is expected to tour this summer and will take part in this year's Woodstock festival in late July.