Posts Tagged “Daniel Faulkner”

From the National Review – October 15, 2003

On December 9, 1981, a 25-year-old Philadelphia cop named Danny Faulkner pulled over a car driven by William Cook — Abu-Jamal’s brother — for a traffic violation. When Faulkner tried to handcuff him, Cook resisted, and as the two of them struggled, Abu-Jamal, driving a taxi in the neighborhood, spotted them, jumped from his cab and shot Faulkner in the back. Cook fled the scene as Faulkner collapsed to the ground — but not before Faulkner wheeled around and shot Abu-Jamal in the chest. Abu-Jamal recoiled, then crawled back over to Faulkner and pumped four more shots into him, including one between his eyes, killing him.

[...]

Nevertheless, absurd conspiracy theories have circulated for years about Abu-Jamal’s innocence. His supporters, including such luminaries as actors Susan Sarandon, Ed Asner, and Mike Farrell, authors Alice Walker, Cornel West, and Jonathan Kozol, activists Ramsey Clark and Noam Chomsky, rappers Chuck D. and Mos Def, and rockers Rage Against the Machine and the Beastie Boys, seduced by Abu-Jamal’s Rasta-next-door good looks and Cliff’s Notes understanding of Marxism, insist that the police framed him. Why? Because, when he wasn’t out driving cabs or killing cops, Abu-Jamal was a part-time journalist and member of the Black Panthers . . . and thus, their theories go, he had to be silenced. More [here].

Today from the AP

High court lets Abu-Jamal’s conviction stand

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mumia Abu-Jamal has lost his bid for a new trial in the killing of a Philadelphia police officer in 1981.

The Supreme Court said Monday it will not take up Abu-Jamal’s claims that prosecutors improperly excluded blacks from the jury that convicted him of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

28 years we’ve wasted on getting this guy’s piece of human debris’ case finished. I don’t think it’s over yet.