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Mumia Abu-Jamal

Some facts are clear.

On the night of December 9th, 1981, during a traffic stop, Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner was killed by multiple gunshots near the corner of 13th and Locust. Mumia Abu-Jamal, a witness to the original traffic stop, was taken into custody at the scene, injured in the chest with a single gunshot from Faulkner's service weapon.

On July 3rd, 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of first-degree murder of Faulkner and then sentenced to death. His conviction was upheld by the state Supreme Court on appeal, and has been appealed to Federal courts on fair-trial and Constitutional grounds.

During the course of the appeals, the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal has attracted significant attention from a wide variety of groups, and has come to be seen as a symbol by organizations with a range of goals and political affiliations.

Some facts are not clear.

Among the authors of sites in this category are those who argue that:
- the original trial was unfair
- the death penalty is inherently unfair
- there is no excuse for the delay of final justice for Faulkner
- political bias has tainted the issues
- Abu-Jamal is only trying to delay his execution with endless appeals
- the US criminal justice system is racially biased
- Abu-Jamal should be incarcerated for life rather than executed
- police coercion of witnesses made many of them alter their original testimony
- Abu-Jamal was framed by police because of his role as a radical black journalist and former Black Panther
- this case is part of a pattern of misconduct by Philadelphia police at the time.

An attempt is made here to collect all available facts and opinions on the both the case and the controversy around it, so that readers can form their own opinions.

Sites in Mumia Abu-Jamal

International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Primary organizers of support demonstrations. Includes news, legal documents, message board, archive of press releases, and columns by Mumia. (mumia.org)
Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal
Includes news and photographs of local demonstrations, updates on the case, and a list of ten things activists can do to protest.
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Archives of the SPG-L mailing list with news on the case, and related issues such as death penalty abolition and police excesses.
People's Video Network's Letter to 20/20
Complaint about the unauthorized use of PVN's Mumia Abu-Jamal interview, demonstration, and documentary footage in the December 9, 1998 edition of 20/20.
Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Political advocacy page alleging that a Black journalist with a long history of criticizing the local justice system did not get a fair trial on charges of murdering a police officer.
Mumia 2000.org
A wealth of resources on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, including some very useful resources for activists interested in raising awareness of this cause.
Free Mumia Now! 2000
Includes the text of the January 2000 court filing alleging police coercion of witnesses, and another one with descriptions of evidence alleged to have been suppressed at the trial. Includes links to both pro-execution and pro-retrial sites.
13th and Locust
Philadelphia Inquirer articles about the Mumia Abu-Jamal case, dating back to 1981.
The American Gulag - Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Background and news on the case, reports on Anarchist groups at demonstrations, and contact list of organizations supporting the effort to free him.
Chicago Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal
Contains accusations of irregularities in the trial, plans for protests at Federal court hearings, and a selection of documents.
Mumia Dismisses Legal Team
The surprising revelation that one of his attorneys was publishing a book on the case led to dismissal on grounds of conflict of interest. One of a series of articles from Young Socialist Action.
Order of Judge Yohn Overturning Death Penalty
Federal court order requiring new sentencing hearing, citing constitutional defects in the instructions given to the jury that sentenced Mumia to death. (PDF file, 657K)
The Grinnell Coalition In Defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Concerned students from across the country working to educate people about political prisoners in the United States.
Seattle Times: Graduation speech at The Evergreen State College sparks furor
Taped speech by convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jamal brings crowds of protesters and supporters to the campus.
Amnesty International USA: A Life in the Balance
Analysis of the trial concluding that it did not comply with the minimum standards of fairness needed to make the death penalty appropriate.
New York Newsday: The Case Of Mumia Abu Jamal
Editorial by Terry Bisson about the political climate in Philadelphia, Mumia's background, and the demand for a new trial.
Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Murder of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner: Using the Internet to Search for the Truth
A guide to some of the conflicting information and opinions available on the Net.
Refuse & Resist: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Contains news on the case, list of upcoming pro-Mumia demonstrations, explanation of the issues in state and Federal courts, court transcripts, and an archive of Mumia's writings.
Voice of the Voiceless; The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political prisoner on death row who was framed for the murder of a police officer in 1982.
BBC News: Abu-Jamal's Death Sentence Overturned
A federal judge in Philadelphia has thrown out the death sentence against former journalist and Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Beverly Confession Rejected
Videotape and text of Arnold Beverly's confession that he killed Officer Daniel Faulkner as part of a mob hit assisted by Philadelphia police. PDF text of Federal District Judge William Yohn's ruling that the confession was inadmissable due to the statute of limitations expiration.
New Evidence Proves Mumia Abu-Jamal's Innocence
Affidavits with testimony from nine persons who did not testify at the original trial, including Mumia and his brother William Cook asserting innocence and Arnold Beverly confessing to the killing. Court briefs and rulings related to them.
Black like who?
Discusses why the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal has gotten little black community support. [Salon News]

sub categories in Mumia Abu-Jamal

Mumia's Writing and Commentary Mumia's Writing and Commentary
Opposing Views Opposing Views

cross references

Regional : North America : United States : Pennsylvania : Localities : P : Philadelphia Regional : North America : United States : Pennsylvania : Localities : P : Philadelphia
Society : Issues : Crime and Justice : Death Penalty Society : Issues : Crime and Justice : Death Penalty
Society : Issues : Crime and Justice : Injustice : Individual Stories : United States Society : Issues : Crime and Justice : Injustice : Individual Stories : United States
Society : Politics : Nationalism : Black : Black Panther Party Society : Politics : Nationalism : Black : Black Panther Party
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