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| '''Mumia Abu-Jamal''' (born Wesley Cook ], ]), a ] and ], was convicted of the murder of ] ], which took place on ], ], and was sentenced to ]. He has become a ''cause célèbre'' for many opponents of the ] and thus a focus of attention of many of the death penalty's supporters. | '''Mumia Abu-Jamal''' (born Wesley Cook ], ]), a ] and ], was convicted of the murder of ] ], which took place on ], ], and was sentenced to ]. He has become a ''cause célèbre'' for many opponents of the ] and thus a focus of attention of many of the death penalty's supporters. | ||
| In December 2001, his death sentence (but not his conviction) was overturned by ] judge William Yohn. Both the prosecution and the defense have appealed Yohn's ruling. | In December ], his death sentence (but not his conviction) was overturned by ] judge ]. Both the prosecution and the defense have appealed Yohn's ruling. | ||
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Revision as of 13:04, 7 May 2006
Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook April 24, 1954), a journalist and political activist, was convicted of the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, which took place on December 9, 1981, and was sentenced to death. He has become a cause célèbre for many opponents of the death penalty and thus a focus of attention of many of the death penalty's supporters.
In December 2001, his death sentence (but not his conviction) was overturned by Federal District Court judge William Yohn. Both the prosecution and the defense have appealed Yohn's ruling.
The murder of Daniel Faulkner
On the morning of December 9, 1981, Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop of a vehicle driven by William Cook, Abu-Jamal's younger brother.
The basic facts of the case as testified to by several eyewitnesses are as follows: during the traffic stop, Cook assaulted Faulkner, who in turn attempted to subdue Cook. At this point, Abu-Jamal emerged from a nearby taxi which he was driving and shot Faulkner in the back. Faulkner was able to return fire, seriously wounding Abu-Jamal. Abu-Jamal then advanced on Faulkner, and fired four additional shots at close range, killing the policeman. Abu-Jamal was unable to flee due to his own gunshot wound, and was taken into custody by other police officers, who had been summoned by Faulkner at the time of the traffic stop. Abu-Jamal was taken directly from the scene of the shooting to a hospital, and treated for his injury. While he was receiving this treatment Abu-Jamal acknowledged that he shot Daniel Faulkner.
As detailed below and in Controversies surrounding the Mumia Abu-Jamal conviction, Abu-Jamal and his supporters dispute these claims.
Court proceedings and controversies surrounding the 1982 trial
See main article: Controversies surrounding the Mumia Abu-Jamal conviction
The murder of Daniel Faulkner has resulted in a series of legal battles that continue to the present day.
Abu-Jamal was charged with first degree murder. He initially retained the services of criminal defense attorney Anthony Jackson. In May 1982 Abu-Jamal announced that he would represent himself with Jackson continuing to act as his legal advisor. Although the judge initially allowed Abu-Jamal to represent himself, he eventually reversed his own decision, and ordered that Anthony Jackson resume his role as Abu-Jamal’s attorney.
The case went to trial in June 1982. The prosecution presented both eyewitness and physical evidence against Abu-Jamal.
There were four eyewitnesses to the shooting: Robert Chobert, a cab driver; Michael Scanlan, a businessman who had been visiting from out of town on the night of the killing; Cynthia White, a prostitute; and Albert Magilton, a passerby. All four of these witnesses were on the scene at the time of the shooting, and all of them identified Abu-Jamal as the person who shot Officer Faulkner. Finally, three additional witnesses, including hospital security guard Priscilla Durham and two members of the Philadelphia Police Department, testified that while Abu-Jamal was being treated for his own gunshot wound, he said that he had shot Daniel Faulkner, and hoped that the officer would die.
The physical evidence was also damaging for Abu-Jamal. A handgun Abu-Jamal had purchased in 1979 was found at the scene, next to Abu-Jamal. Ballistics experts testified that this weapon had been recently fired, and was the weapon that fired the shots that killed Faulkner. These experts also testified that the bullet taken from Abu-Jamal had been fired from Officer Faulkner's service weapon. Abu-Jamal's attorney Anthony Jackson had hired his own expert to examine the ballistics evidence, but that expert was not called to testify at the trial.
William Cook, who might have been expected to testify on his brother's behalf, and who was present at the scene from the beginning, did not testify, nor did Abu-Jamal choose to testify in his own defense.
The jury deliberated for two days before finding Abu-Jamal guilty, and he was subsequently sentenced to death.
It has been contended that there were many irregularities surrounding the trial and conviction of Abu-Jamal, leading many to argue that his conviction was invalid.
The 2001 appeal
Abu-Jamal’s life since his conviction
Since his imprisonment, Abu-Jamal has continued his political activism, publishing Live from Death Row, a book on life inside prisons, as well as making frequent commentaries on radio shows. He has also completed his Bachelor of Arts from Goddard College, and earned a Master of Arts from California State University, Dominguez Hills, both by distance education.
International response
In October 2003, Mumia Abu-Jamal was awarded the status of honorary citizen of Paris in a ceremony attended by former Black Panther Angela Davis. The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, said in a press release that the award was meant to be a reminder of the continuing fight against the death penalty, which was abolished in France in 1981. The proposal to make Abu-Jamal an honorary citizen was approved by the city's council in 2001.
Additionally, organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Parliament, and the Japanese Diet, as well as several national U.S. trade union federations (ILWU, AFSCME, SEIU, the national postal union) and the 1.8 million member California Labor Federation, maintain that the original trial was not conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and demand either a new trial or Abu-Jamal's immediate release.
Response from the arts community
There have been several bands or artists who have recorded music supporting Abu-Jamal, including: Aus-Rotten, Anti-Flag, Rage Against the Machine, Looptroop, Dead Prez, Zack De La Rocha, Digable Planets, and KRS One.
Abu-Jamal has recently endorsed rapper Immortal Technique and appears on his album Revolutionary Vol. 2.
References
- Abu-Jamal, Mumia. Live from Death Row. HarperTrade, 1996. ISBN 0380727668
- Abu-Jamal, Mumia. We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Panther Party. South End Press, 2004. ISBN 0896087182
- Abu-Jamal, Mumia. Death Blossoms: Reflections from a Prisoner of Conscience. South End Press, 2003. ISBN 0896086992
- Abu-Jamal, Mumia. Faith of Our Fathers: An Examination of the Spiritual Life of African and African-American People. Africa World Press, 2003. ISBN 1592210198
- Abu-Jamal, Mumia. All Things Censored. Seven Stories Press, 2000. ISBN 1583220224
- Amnesty International. The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Life in the Balance (Open Media Pamphlet Series). Open Media, 2001. ISBN 158322081X
- Lindorff, David. Killing Time. Common Courage Press, 2002. ISBN 1567512283
- Williams, Daniel R. Executing Justice: An Inside Account of the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. St. Martin's Press, 2002. ISBN 0375761241
External links
- Page of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC.
- page of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
- a pro-Abu-Jamal activism and advocacy page.
- danielfaulkner.com, a web site presenting, among other things, the original trial transcripts, court opinions and related press articles. The site also includes refutations of many defense assertions, some of which are listed above, and articles on the 2001 affirmation of the conviction.
- What's Mumia Got to Do With It? by Marc Cooper, arguing that death penalty opponents need not blindly support the Free Mumia cause.
- The Case of Mumia Abu Jamal, by Terry Bisson from New York Newsday, 1995.
- Supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal as listed by the Fraternal Order of Police.
- Justice4danielfaulkner.com Transcripts of Mumia Abu Jamal's 1981 trial.
- Amnesty International on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
- Archived files of Mumia Abu Jamal's essays read from death row.
- National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
- Death Penalty Information Center.
- The Mumia Case: Support from NAACP, But a Movement in Shambles, article by David Lindorff for Counterpunch, July 16 2004.
- On Philadelphia Court Judge Dembe's May 27/June 17, 2005, Decision on Mumia Abu-Jamal, by Michael Schiff