Mumia Abu Jamal the rock star (vanity)

I am in the process of reading "Murdered by Mumia" by Michael Smerconish and Officer Faulkner's widow, Maureen. I knew something of the case, as I had previously done a little surfing around the net, my interest sparked by the fact that I am married to a cop. Before the book, there was little information other than that posted by Mumia's supporters which gets a bit tedious.

From that point, I lost interest, until a sound bite I saw on the news when Mrs. Faulkner's book was released. In this bite Mike Farrell, the actor, was smarmily telling the reporter that he would read her book "if he had time". At that point, I went out and bought the book, and following some of her sources I have found more information, including her website. It is here that she directs you to her site and in which the entire trial transcript can be found.

I have sent out a few emails- to Mumia fan clubs here and in Europe and one to Mike Farrell. I am including it here along with his response. And yes, this response shows me something I had already guessed- Mr Farrell is VERY superior and elitist and not a real nice guy.

The news show you watched did not either fairly or correctly describe my position on Mumia Abu-Jamal's case. They and the authors of the book you mention continue to insist that I and others who believe Mr. Abu-Jamal did not get a fair trial and deserves one must be classed - and derided - as "supporters." This, in turn, provides you and others the opportunity to make judgments based on a one-sided appreciation of the "facts," such as they are presented.

If I am a "supporter" of anything in this matter, it is seeing that justice is done.

I'm not sure what research you've chosen to do, if any, beyond reading Mrs. Faulkner and Mr. Smerconish's book, but if you're truly interested in assessing the truth of the matter, rather than leaping to assumptions and criticizing someone you don't know based on your unquestioning acceptance of their presentation, I'd suggest you also consider reading "Killing Time: An Investigation into the the Death Penalty Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal," by David Lindorff. Were you to take the time to do so you might find that there are a number of things you haven't been told about the case in the "research" you've done so far.

While your confusion about "groups that rally to the cause of predators" bespeaks a mindset that may not welcome other points of view, your amazement at support for "THIS, particular, murderer," as you choose to put it, argues that I am probably wasting my time in responding at all. Nonetheless, let me suggest that your advice to me about finding a "better cause" is hard to credit when it is based on your willingness to accept that what you've deemed "the hard unemotional facts of this case and the trial [that] are available for ALL to see." In fact, despite what Mrs. Faulkner and Mr. Smerconish assert, the "facts of this case" take some effort to uncover, though Mr. Lindorff has done a remarkable job of assisting in that pursuit.

For the record, I have sympathy for Mrs. Faulkner, whom I have met and with whom I have discussed the case. But her years-long campaign for the death of Mumia Abu-Jamal saddens me as well, as does her unwillingness to recognize the fact that his having been imprisoned for the past 26 years ought to be seen as significant punishment in and of itself. The fact that the complexities of the case have caused - and continue to cause - it to be played out in court doesn't please her is a shame, but it is a product of the intricate processes of the criminal justice system in this country and is not the fault of those she apparently wants to denounce for being "supporters" of Mr. Abu-Jamal.

I, for one, don't consider Mr. Abu-Jamal to be a "rock star," as you suggest is the case for some. And I'm not quite sure I follow the inference of your blaming America for his being championed by many who believe him to have been treated unjustly. While I don't agree with the position of the majority of those condemned as being his "supporters," I do think the level of their emotional commitment speaks to some serious underlying problems to which our society should give serious attention.

If your message to me was intended only to criticize or condemn, you have my sympathy. If, on the other hand, there is any openness implied in your being "confounded" and "amaz(ed)," I hope you'll consider looking further. What you find might surprise you.

I was made aware of your support for Jamal during a news show. At that time, I began some research of my own and am now reading the book "Murdered by Mumia" written by Officer Faulkner's widow. I believe you said you would read this "if you had the time".

Those groups that rally to the cause of predators have always confounded me, but the support for THIS, particular, murderer is completely amazing.

I understand those who want to work for a cause they believe in. It's one of the wonderful things in this country. But your support for THIS man makes me wonder if there isn't another, better cause you might have espoused. Since the hard unemotional facts of this case and the trial are available for ALL to see, I wonder HOW anyone could support this man in any way.

The second site doesn't post it's own transcripts, merely has a link to the Faulkner site.

This whole Mumia madness shines a light on the lunacy infecting the culture. This man, in front of witnesses, executed a young cop simply because he WAS a cop. The family continues to suffer all these years later because of the craziness of Mumia's fans.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.

Police officer Daniel Faulkner was murdered by This guy. I lived in Philadelphia at the time & I have followed this case ever since. Mumia is a cop killer. I cannot understand why he is celebrated. He ruined the lives of so many others. I can understand opposition to the death penalty, but this is quite different.

Oddly enough, Maureen mentions this in her book. She says that the further you go from Philly, the more Mumia is supported. I suppose this is especially true in Hollywood- LaLaLand.
Mumia’s brother wouldn’t even testify in his defense (and he was there)- is this true to the best of your knowledge?

One of mumia's latest hearings, the one that overturned the death penalty, was in Pittsburgh, PA. He is now held in a prison in the area.

I remember his brother on tv telling how he would testify on his brother's behalf. He never showed. He was made aware that to perjure oneself in a capital trial would result in life imprisonment.

He had 3 choices: Lie and risk a life sentence. Tell the truth and condemn your brother, a murderer. Leave town.

There is no question regarding the facts of the case. Daniel Faulkner was murdered by jamal.

That Jamal is guilty seems beyond doubt. What I have found on the internet are those radical groups- particularly communist- demanding that he be released because he is innocent. The number of people who actually believe this is amazing. The most ignorant people are those posting in Europe. These haven’t got a CLUE about the case. Just more excuses for hating America, I guess...

In Mike Farrell’s case, my guess it is merely an instance of an ego that can cut glass; a typical left wing “I’m right and better than you” so “run along, little plebe”.

I feel so outraged for what Maureen Faulkner has been through. It never seems to end for her.

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