27 Years Later...Still No Justice for Officer Daniel Faulkner

Last month marked the 27th anniversary of the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. While the voice of Officer Faulkner has been silent for more than a quarter of a century, his killer is very much alive and his voice is heard quite often. The former Black Panther named Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook) gives numerous interviews, delivers college commencement speeches, and even has a street named in in his honor. Despite his conviction and subsequent death sentence, Abu-Jamal continues to thumb his nose at the justice system, while enjoying the adulation of foreign leaders as well as Hollywood celebrities.

On December 9, 1981, Officer Daniel Faulkner made a routine traffic stop of the car driven by William Cook (Abu-Jamal's brother). According to witnesses, Cook exited the vehicle and began to struggle with Officer Faulkner. Abu-Jamal happened to be across the street, witnessing the struggle, he ran over and shot Faulkner in the back. Faulkner returned fire and hit Abu-Jamal in the chest. However, Abu-Jamal then stood over the officer as he lie on the ground and emptied his revolver, shooting him once in the face.

Fellow officers arrived at the scene and saw Officer Faulkner lying in the street in a pool of blood, while Abu-Jamal sat gasping for air on the curb. Officer Daniel Faulkner was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead later that night. Abu-Jamal was taken into custody and charged with Faulkner's murder.

In 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Despite the overwhelming facts, Abu-Jamal has maintained his innocence, and his lawyers have brought forth dozens of appeals. In 2001, they shopped the case to Federal District Court Judge William Yohn who actually overturned the death sentence. On March 17, 2006 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed an appeal with the U.S. Third Circuit, to reinstate the execution of Abu-Jamal. Gov. Ed Rendell promised to sign the death warrant.

District Attorney Lynne Abraham has fought doggedly to reinstate the death penalty for Abu-Jamal. She has often characterized his conviction as "the most open-and-shut case" she has ever tried. Abraham has pointed out that despite his claims of innocence, Abu-Jamal "has never produced his own brother, who was present at the time of the murder, yet he has offered up various individuals who would claim that one trial witness or another must have lied; or that some other individual has only recently been discovered who has special knowledge about the murder; or that someone has fallen out of the skies, who is supposedly willing to confess to the murder of Officer Faulkner."

Among the many facts that Abu-Jamal has not been able to explain is how he received the bullet wound in the chest, nor why he was discovered at the murder scene. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the NAACP have continued to support Abu-Jamal for the last 25 years.

While imprisoned, Abu-Jamal has published a book, been interviewed by Vanity Fair and National Public Radio, and even given commencement speeches via videotape to Evergreen State College, UC Santa Cruz, Antioch College, and Occidental College. He has also received a Bachelor's Degree from Goddard College as well as a Master's Degree from California State University, both courtesy of the taxpayers.

Incredibly, in 2004, the city of Paris, France awarded Abu-Jamal with honorary citizenship. FormerBlack Panther Angela Davis attended the ceremony and accepted the award on his behalf. In 2006, the French city of Saint-Denis named a street after the convicted cop-killer!

Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela have demanded a new trial for Abu-Jamal. While actors Danny Glover, Ossie Davis, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Asner have joined rappers Snoop Dogg, and Public Enemy in supporting the murderer.

In 1994, Maureen Faulkner (Daniel's wife) learned that National Public Radio was planning to air a series of taped monologues by Abu-Jamal. It was at that time that she began her work to educate the public about the circumstances of her husband´s murder, and the campaign to reinstate Abu-Jamal's death sentence.

Officer Daniel Faulkner was a five year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department as well as a U.S. Army veteran. At the time of his murder, Faulkner was attending classes in pursuit of his bachelor's degree as he had hopes of becoming a criminal prosecutor. He left behind his wife Maureen, the two were married for only a year when he was killed.

When a dedicated police officer is gunned-down by a lawless thug, it is an attack on all law-abiding citizens. When that officer's killer is allowed to draw breathe for another 25 years, it is disgusting. When the killer is praised by celebrities, given honors by colleges, and treated by the media as if he possesses sage wisdom, it is an abomination.

Mumia Abu-Jamal (Wesley Cook) was sentenced to death for his crime by a jury of his peers, and that sentence should be carried-out.

Please take a moment to remember Officer Daniel Faulkner and the sacrifice he and so many brave men and women have made for the rest of us.