Wikipedia: Mumia Abu Jamal

On December 9, 1981, a white Philadelphia police officer [Daniel Faulkner]? was shot to death. On July 3, 1982, Mumia Abu-Jamal, a black man, was convicted of his murder and sentenced to death. His case has become a popular cause and many people think that he was unjustly convicted and have called for either a new trial or his release from prison. The widow of Daniel Faulkner and the [Fraternal Order of Police]? have been equally vocal in seeing that he receives the "justice he deserves".

Sympathizers claim that his trial was less than fair. Accusations include:

Incompetent representation who was later disbarred - allowed only $150 to interview witnesses.
only one Black person on a 12 person jury
A hanging judge with a reputation for death sentences - Judge Albert F. Sabo has sentenced more men to die (31 to date, only two of them white) than any other sitting judge in America. Called a "defendant's nightmare" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, A fellow judge once called his courtroom a "vacation for prosecutors" because of bias toward convictions.
conflicting testimony and missing witnesses

Before his conviction, Mumia (born Wesley Cook) was an up and coming journalist in Philadelphia. He was president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, called "one to watch" by Philadelphia magazine. Mumia Abu-Jamal began his journalism career with the [Black Panther Party]? and a prominent supporter of MOVE, an African American organization which was firebombed in 1985 by the Philadelphia Police Department.

At the time, Philadelphia had a mayor, Frank Rizzo, who appeared out to get what he called "the new breed" of journalists.

What is undisputed that both Mumia Abu-Jamal and officer Daniel Faulkner were shot, and that Faulkner died.

The case has pitted human rights and civil liberties groups against those of law enforcement, who see it as an issue of supporting the memory of an officer killed in the line of duty.

Mumia Abu Jamal

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