Officer's widow to lead protest against Antioch commencement

Maureen Faulkner said Monday the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal is the only thing that will bring her closure following the slaying nearly 20 years ago of her husband, Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

"How wrong it is that this person who murdered Danny has become a hero. I do think it's an embarrassment to have a murderer give a commencement address," Faulkner said in a telephone interview from her home in southern California.

Abu-Jamal is scheduled to give a six-minute audio address to the Antioch College Class of 2000 at Saturday's commencement ceremony. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. and also features an address by transgender activist Leslie Feinberg.

Faulkner will arrive in Yellow Springs Thursday afternoon to organize a protest against the playing of Abu-Jamal's speech. Other protestors, including members of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, are also expected to be present. The college will provide space on the lawn behind Kelly Hall in view of the commencement ceremony.

In 1982, Abu-Jamal was convicted of shooting Daniel Faulkner, who had stopped Abu-Jamal's brother, Billy Cook, for driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Philadelphia. The case and subsequent trial have been the subject of much debate by supporters of Abu-Jamal, who maintain he is innocent and should receive a new trial.

On Friday, at 5 p.m., Maureen Faulkner will participate in a live national radio broadcast at Ye Olde Trail Tavern, in downtown Yellow Springs. The event will be hosted by Philadelphia radio personality Michael Smerconish, an attorney representing the nonprofit organization Justice for Police Officer Daniel Faulkner.

According to a news release from Smerconish's station, WPHT talk radio, 1210 AM, "Bus loads of police and victims of crime are expected from Philadelphia, Ohio, and many other parts of the United States."

Antioch College president Bob Devine was also invited to participate in the broadcast, said Callie Cary, the College's campus and community liaison. However, Devine cannot because the time conflicts with the senior commencement dinner, which he is obligated to attend, she said. It is not yet known whether students representing the Class of 2000 will participate, although they have also been invited, Cary said.

Faulkner said she will hold a photo of her husband and stand with members of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and victim's rights activists at Saturday's commencement ceremony. For her, making a public appearance is a way to mourn the loss of her husband. "No one knows what it is like to kiss your husband goodbye, and then the next time you see him he's got a hole in his head," she said.

Faulkner does not plan to attend the community forum at 9 a.m. the morning of commencement because she did not think it gave enough time for all sides to be heard. The forum will be held in the Glen Helen Building, where representatives of the FOP, victims' rights and supporters of Abu-Jamal will be present. The public is invited.

Faulkner was 24-years-old when she lost her husband. Since then, she has tried to build a new life.

She declined to give details about her personal life because over the years she has received death threats. But Faulkner, who is now 43, did say that she left Philadelphia after the trial and spent years traveling abroad backpacking through Europe and other foreign countries before she moved to southern California. Today, she manages medical offices.

But even though she has tried to build a new life, she is shocked by the "Free Mumia" T-shirts she occasionally sees people wearing when she goes for walks along the beach. Sometimes she approaches people wearing the T-shirts and talks to them about her husband and the trial.

"I went to the 1982 trial. There is not a doubt in my mind that Mumia Abu-Jamal was justly convicted," Faulkner said.

She attributes the controversy over the case to Abu-Jamal's new attorney, Leonard Weinglass. "He has created lies," she said.

One lie, she said, is that the evidence does not point to Abu-Jamal's guilt. "I can tell you that the bullet that was pulled from my husband's brain came from Mumia Abu-Jamal's gun," she said.

The fact that groups like Amnesty International and Refuse & Resist! advocate for a new trial disturbs Faulkner. "Why should we have to go through another trial? Especially when Mr. Abu-Jamal put together the jurors himself?" she asked.

She criticized Amnesty International for advocating for Abu-Jamal's new trial. "Who is Amnesty International to say there should be a new trial? Has Amnesty International ever come to talk to me? Has Amnesty International ever come to talk to my lawyers?"

Faulkner also said she is in favor of capital punishment and believes that in the case of Abu-Jamal it is necessary. "I do believe in capital punishment but I personally feel I have to review each and every case," she said. "I feel that in the court of law it is an open and shut case. I feel Mr. Weinglass is trying to put out information that is not true. I feel as though Mr. Jamal murdered my husband."

And she does not believe Abu-Jamal's address Saturday morning should be played.

"On December 9th, 1981, Danny lost his freedom of speech, lost his ability to pursue life, liberty and happiness. I believe Mr. Abu-Jamal should lose his freedom of speech. I believe Mr. Abu-Jamal should lose his right to pursue happiness, and should receive the death penalty. I want some closure," she said.

-Gail D. Taylor

Antioch, police make final preparations for graduation

Antioch College is still recruiting volunteers to act as Witnesses for Peace at Saturday's 11 a.m. commencement exercise on the lawn behind Kelly Hall. So far, about 30 people have volunteered to wear yellow T-shirts with the words "Antioch Host." They will greet people who plan to protest the commencement address of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a radio journalist who was convicted in 1982 of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

A planning meeting for volunteers will be held at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Antioch Inn, said Callie Cary, campus and community liaison. The meeting is open to members of the community who wish to volunteer.

Yellow Springs police chief Jim Miller said Antioch College will provide space for protestors on the lawn behind Kelly Hall, in view of the ceremony. Among those expected to attend in protest are Daniel Faulkner's widow, Maureen Faulkner, and members of the Philadelphia chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. Miller said he is anticipating a crowd of less than 500.

The college will provide parking on the Antioch "Golf Course." Corry Street will remain open in order to accommodate traffic. The bikepath will also remain open, and Cary said volunteers will ride bikes up and down the path to keep that space free for people who neither wish to protest nor attend the commencement.

More volunteers are needed to act as hosts, Cary said. "Helpers will be asked to greet newcomers to the village, seat people and intervene during points of stress," she said.

Miller complimented Antioch on taking action to address the needs of the Yellow Springs community as well as both sides of the Abu-Jamal debate.

"I think it's very generous of the college to do what they can to accommodate the police officers and do what they can to cooperate with us and keep everything under control," Miller said.

Antioch College also plans to place copies of Amnesty International's analysis of the Abu-Jamal trial transcripts at the Yellow Springs Library as well as a copy of a report by Fairness in Academia that criticizes the Amnesty report.

A community forum is scheduled for 9 a.m. the morning of commencement in the Glen Helen Building. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police, supporters of victims' rights, supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal and members of the community will discuss the issues around Abu-Jamal's case. The public is invited to attend.

-Gail D. Taylor

EDITORIAL

Keep your cool

Antioch College's commencement ceremony Saturday should be an emotional, enlightening experience for the graduating Class of 2000.

Sparking a flood of protest with their decision to invite death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal to give a commencement address, graduating students have certainly found a provocative way to say goodbye to Antioch and Yellow Springs.

This weekend should prove to be a memorable one for local residents as well. Police chief Jim Miller anticipates that up to 500 people will descend upon Yellow Springs to protest Mr. Abu-Jamal's address.

Antioch is asking for community members to serve as Witnesses for Peace during commencement. Volunteers will greet protestors and intervene if any stressful situations arise. A meeting for those who wish to volunteer is scheduled for tonight (Thursday) at 7 p.m. at the Antioch Inn. Volunteering would be a meaningful act of community service, an opportunity to make a difference and help Saturday's events go smoothly.

Throughout this controversy, Antioch students and administrators have rightly defended Mr. Abu-Jamal's speech as a First Amendment issue. And appropriately, Antioch plans to provide space near the commencement ceremony for those who wish to protest.

It's important that all those who choose to attend the graduation ceremony-whether to hear Mr. Abu-Jamal, protest his speech or watch friends and family graduate-keep their cool. And no matter how emotional the day may become, or how passionately people feel about the issues involved in Mr. Abu-Jamal's case, it's important too that all involved respect the opinions of those with whom they may disagree.

Let's open our community to those who will visit and show them that Yellow Springs and Antioch respect and welcome debate.

-Robert Mihalek