A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come
A perversely interesting aspect of the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, is that the further you get from the scene of the crime the more people think he is innocent.
I happened to have known Abu-Jamal. And while the criminal justice system did not exactly cover itself in glory in prosecuting him, he is as guilty as sin, period.
But in the 25-plus years since the murder, Abu-Jamal has become a jailhouse pundit and international cause célèbre, a darling of Amensty International and lightning rod for opponents and proponents of the death penalty. He enjoys little support in Philadelphia, but the further one gets from there the more people consider him to be the victim of political prosecution.
Harlem is a mere 120 miles or so from Philadelphia, but it might as well be on another planet. This is because some well intentioned but clueless folks want to have a street there renamed for Abu-Jamal. You can bet they don’t want it called Cop Killer Boulevard.
An incensed Tony Allen, a former member of MOVE, a Philly-based anti-everything cult group that supports Abu-Jamal, has it exacty right when he says:
“To name a street after a confirmed killer, cult apologist, and virulent anti-American fanatic like Jamal would be a vile testament to the power of propaganda and an ugly reminder that ignorance has again triumphed over common sense and human decency.”
If you’re not hindered by the facts and want to sign an online street renaming petition, click here. If you oppose the street renaming, you can sign an online petition here. (FYI, the anti-renaming petition had about six times as many signatures the last time I checked.)
If you want to know more about MOVE and what Allen is all about, click here. MOVE, of course, has its own website. Click here.
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6 Responses to “A Bad Idea Whose Time Has Come”
“And while the criminal justice system did not exactly cover itself in glory in prosecuting him, he is as guilty as sin, period.”
If you know more than was covered in the media, pls share your knowledge. From what I’ve read it seeems to me that the evidence was rather unconvincing. If Mumia-Jamal would have had O.J. Simpsons lawyers, he would be free today.
Now you did confuse me, too. The guy’s name is Mumia Abu-Jamal, not Abu Mumia-Jamal.
Btw, how come you know a Black Panther? It must have escaped my attention that you’re African Americn.
Gray:
Apologies for the goof-up about the name. I have fixed that.
The evidence against Abu-Jamal, including his own statements after the murder, is overwhelming. He had good legal representation but as befits the I’m-a-martyr-in-the-making type of defendant, he chose to represent himself and botched that because he had nothing to push back with but his own massive ego and twisted political views. Neither keep you off Death Row.
Abu-Jamal has written and spoken copiously about a wide range of topics, but not about what happened the night of the murder. His adamant and long-standing silence on this is condemning, as well.
There was prosecutorial misconduct. The judge at the first trial did show a bias. That cannot be dismissed, but neither can the fact that in a moment of passion, Abu-Jamal killed a cop.
I am unaware the Abu-Jamal had links to the Black Panther Party.
Finally, I will continue to oppose the death penalty until which time as it can be administered fairly. For that reason, I oppose executing Abu-Jamal. Not to worry: It ain’t going to happen.
“Abu-Jamal has written and spoken copiously about a wide range of topics, but not about what happened the night of the murder. His adamant and long-standing silence on this is condemning, as well.”
Escuse me pls, don’t you know that in US justice, the accused has the right to not give testimony, and that this refusal isn’t allowed to be held against him?
“The evidence against Abu-Jamal, including his own statements after the murder, is overwhelming.”
And the evidence for an unfair trial is overwhelming, too.
“The judge at the first trial did show a bias. That cannot be dismissed, but neither can the fact that in a moment of passion, Abu-Jamal killed a cop.”
Maybe it’s a fact, maybe not. Neither you nor I nor the jury knows for sure. Even if he did, it most probably wasn’t first degree murder. This case has been riddled with judicial wrongdoings, mediocre criminal investigations, intimidation of witnesses and almost everything else that can go wrong. The best solution is to give the man a new, fair trial. What problems do you have with that?
“I am unaware the Abu-Jamal had links to the Black Panther Party.”
You can find that in almost every story about the guy. Didn’t you say you know him???
“Mumia 911″
“What he said was so clear, so true, that I had to stop everything,
and concentrate on his lessons.”
[Chorus]
Somebody scream bloody murder, inside of my head
The executioner’s plot controlled by the feds
Take illegal action, they want Mumia dead
This nation of savages been trying to kill us for years
[Tragedy Khadafi]
Yo, federal indictment, militant mind enlightment
Son, we outburst, in the court room, full of excitement
Face the jury, thugged out, with blind fury
They want us all under the jail, end of the story
Brave and heartless, we can have a million marches
But when you black you under attack, son, regardless
Live by the gun, dunn, and die by the gun
And revolutionize minds until freedom one
[Goldii Lokks]
We paid a crude price, for what they call life
Dubbed without grief, took him out that night
Some’ll ask why, ma say they hate the look in his eyes
Like the child, little omen, they want him crucified
The last on the battlefield, the last alive
Beside, they don’t want the African to survive
Sable, the son of Satan was involved in the plot
Legalize the homicide, his soul gon’ rot
[Pharoahe Monch]
Yo, the attempted assassination of Mumia Jamal, they set him up
I come to find out, Tupac they wet’im up
Pharaohe, standin behind my f*ckin curtains
with a double-barrel, rehearsin
Ready for war now for certain
Uh, biological warfare suits
Black gas masks, black boots, half-assed niggas become troops
My dunns are doper warriors, so prove thee now
Plenty thug niggas are fruity now
[Aceyalone - Freestyle Fellowship]
Freedom is that cold road seldom travelled, by the multitude
We need to depict to describe it, so that we can cultivate this food
Movivate a few of you fools, regenerate the mood
Free ourselves from mental bondage, free ourselves from Family Fueds
Now follow me through this prophecy, building our colonies
Where our pillars and columns be, bigger than the coliseum
I call ‘em like I see ‘em, the devil does a devil’s dance
They wanna murder Mumia, take action, its the only chance
[Zack de la Rocha]
You see the capital thugs got nervous
’cause he refused to be their servant
‘Cause he spit truth that shook heads and burn like black churches
Prose and verses, filled with a million black hearses
Watch, see the decision of Dred Scott as it reverses
So as long as their rope is tight around Mumia’s neck
Let there be no rich white life we bound to respect
Cause and effect, can you smell the smoke in the breeze?
My Panther, my brother, we are at war until you’re free
[Jean Gray]
I plan to move my motherf*ckers to the frontline, ready with guns cockin
We storm prisons, get the wards rockin
Snipe all the F.B.I. and cops clockin
Philly officials, bodies droppin
Offends the eighty-five, bombin
Eye for an eye, we’ll hang ‘em by the Capitol Steps
Snap their necks, snatch their vests, equip my children with techs
Free from the protected Feds, called it murder, legal execution sh*t
Free the righteous or face the bloody revolutionists song
[Stic.Man - Dead Prez]
Yo, if Mumia dies, fires in the skies, rebel cries
We politicize, brothers with the lies uncovered
Look for me in the whirlwind, dare to struggle and here to win
Long live the panthers, comrades with answers
Freein all political prisoners of war, freein the poor
Open the door, keep your hands off our silence
Stop the ‘ism schism prison economy that we live in
Impeach the president, keep on fightin until they give in
[M-1 - Dead Prez]
I say, “F*ck the Police,” cause they been killin us for years
This ain’t no free country, niggas get murdered for their ideas
Free Mumia means all Africans let go
Cause just livin in the ghetto puts you on death row
You don’t know? You seen how the tried to do Assada
Till some real niggas organized theyselves and went and got’er
Lotta crackers verbalize if Mumia dies, put fire in the skies
But only time’ll tell the truth from the lies
[Chuck D]
As you peep the illusion, cause I see my peoples losin
The overall battle to keep Republic rats from choosin
Afterall, I feel the bruisin of the constitution
When my back’s against the wall, manifestin in their destiny
Shit, they just testin me, Mumia’s spirit blessin me
No alibi, I know Allah is not their ally
I believe I can fly, but their type of freedom is a lie
So f*ck the government, C.I.A. and F.B.I.
[Last Emperor]
Satan will destroy anything for the right price
In a physical world one man cannot die twice
To the spiritual world your soul cannot fly twice
Yet could this be the second time they crucified Christ?
Ask Ed Asner, the actor, after the execute’im
There will be a peasant uprising like the French Revolution
In conclusion, if you detect evil
Free the voice of the voiceless, defender of oppressed people
[Black Thought]
Check it out, they want us locked down, boxed up in the ground
It’s war time now from how the sufferin sound
We deep in the realm, the planet petrified overwhelmed
We all stars livin life out on surveilance film
New World law enforced, mind rape, cerebral holocaust
No escape, fire, fifth burn, the execution date
shatter, We on the front lines prepare
I want Mumia out the cage the time for action is here
Mumia either is the killer or he’s covering for his bro- the likely killer. Either way, he’s guilty and deserves to rot in jail.