Mumia Abu-Jamal Off Death Row

7 Dec 2011 Author: Marcus Toussaint

He’s still got a life sentence, but this is quite the development. From the AP:

Prosecutors announced Wednesday that they will no longer pursue the death penalty against former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison for gunning down a white police officer nearly 30 years ago.
The decision by District Attorney Seth Williams, made with the support of the officer’s widow and the city police commissioner, comes after nearly 30 years of legal battles over the racially charged case.
Abu-Jamal was convicted of fatally shooting Philadelphia police Officer Daniel Faulkner on Dec. 9, 1981. He was sentenced to death after his trial the following year.

I know nothing of Mumia’s guilt or innocence. There’s been so much written and discussed about this case that the only real opinion I’ve been able to form is that the man at least deserves a fair day in court. Perhaps this is a step towards that?

Tags: mumia abu jamal

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Anonymous
Sorry to take a position that many at JJP will probably disagree with. I used to live in Philly, and I remember that case from around 30 years ago. Since then, I’ve occasionally read about the case, and others’ opinions.
All I can say is that I think it behooves to to note: it’s EXACTLY this sort of case that leads to the rise of Fox News, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and the Tea Party. I know that’s a provocative thing to say, but I think it’s very important. I have absolutely no reason to doubt that Mumia murdered Officer Daniel Faulkner. PLEASE NOTE: this is exactly the poison that feeds the likes of Fox News: people who make Mumia into a “cause”, for no rational reason. Then Sean Hannity reports on the latest demonstration in favor of Mumia’s rights, and Fox News viewers nod and agree with him.
I’m generally against the death penalty, so it’s fine with me if Mumia now has a life sentence. I realize that MANY convicts are later exonerated, and I realize that this very often applies to members of minorities. I’m sympathetic to any effort to look into unjust convictions.
If anyone wants to work to reverse legal injustices, I totally support you (I do some unpaid volunteering myself), and I guarantee you that the prisons are filled with hundreds of thousands of people who very much deserve your time and energy. Mumia is NOT one of them. Talking about the “controversy” of Mumia’s trial is like talking about the “controversy” of global warming, or evolution, or where our President was born. In all these cases, there is no controversy. This particular case, Mumia, has been under a microscope for 30 years.
Why am I writing this comment? BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR SEAN HANNITY. DON’T GIVE HIM A SOFTBALL. Mumia’s “cause” is what Fox News lives for. Mumia’s “cause” can distract attention from how twisted, evil and crazy the Republicans are. And I think that would really be a shame.
Anonymous
Ultimately, the issue is not whether he is guilty according to you or not. The issue is whether he received a fair trial. Anybody who has read the witness testimonies that state the police forced them to testify against Mumia and the judge presiding over the case who said before entering the courtroom that he was going to help “fry that nigger” can conclude he didn’t. It’s scary to read that you think people shouldn’t fight for his constitutionally protected rights because of what some irrelevant TV hosts might say.
Pingback: Mini Blog: Blog Love | I Am Your People

Entries (RSS)
Comments (RSS)

Who We Are

Cheryl Contee aka "Jill Tubman", Baratunde Thurston aka "Jack Turner", rikyrah, Leutisha Stills aka "The Christian Progressive Liberal", B-Serious, Casey Gane-McCalla, Jonathan Pitts-Wiley aka "Marcus Toussaint," Fredric Mitchell, Keith Owens, Anson Asaka, Barbara Moore, Deborah Small, Lisa Coffman, Michael Patton

Special Contributors: Rashad Robinson, Marvin Randolph, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, James Rucker, Rinku Sen, Adam Luna

Technical Contributor: Brandon Sheats

Jack & Jill Politics