Why I created this site

A few months back I received an email from a friend listing the supporters of a man named Mumia-Abu Jamal. The email said that Mumia had killed a Philadelphia Police Officer in 1981 and that several celebrities have taken his cause demanding a new trial. I remembered seeing news stories about the case but wasn't very familiar with it, so I started reading everything I could find about the case, and I'm still searching for information.

I have read the entire trial transcripts, as well as information on both pro-Mumia and pro-Faulkner sites. I personally cannot understand how anyone who has looked at the facts and the arguments from both sides can come to any conclusion but Mumia is guilty of murdering Officer Faulkner.

Recently I have been spending much of my time on different message boards about the case. I am amazed by some of the things I have read on those boards. What many of the comments tell me is that most supporters of Mumia are either uneducated about the case, or are purposely posting lies about the events to bolster their case. The posts vary from misguided opinions to perposterous claims. Listed below are some of the more popular claims by Mumia supporters, and my rebutals to their claims:

Mumia Abu-Jamal is not guily of killing Officer Daniel Faulkner.

Mumia has never said he did not shoot and kill Daniel Faulkner, all that Mumia did say through his lawyer at the trail was that "murder as previously defined by the courts was not defined to his satisfaction".

William Cook, who was at the scene has never said that his brother did not shoot and kill Daniel Faulkner. All he said at the scene of the crime was "I ain't got nothing to do with this".

Mumia was found at the scene less than a minute after the shooting with his legally registered gun by his side. Each of the 5 chambers of the gun had a spent cartridge. The gun was the same caliber, with the same rifling characteristics as the bullet removed from Daniel Faulkner.

The prosecution called 4 eyewitnesses to the shooting, 3 of which positively identified the shooter as Mumia Abu-Jamal at the scene.

Mumia Abu-Jamal did not receive a fair trial.

Mumia Abu-Jamal intended to defended himself, but early in the proceedings he started disrupting the trial. On the opening day of the trial Mumia asked for, and was denied, a microphone no less than 12 times. Judge Sabo warned Mr. Jamal several times that if he insisted on being disruptive that he would be forced to remove him as counsel. Mr Jamal didn't heed the Judge's warnings and was subsequently removed as counsel.

After being removed as counsel, which the state superior court upheld, Mumia continued to disrupt the procedings by insisting that John Africa be appointed as his lawyer. Pennsylvania by law does not allow a non-lawyer to represent another in the court system. Again, after numerous warnings Mumia was removed from the courtroom several times by the sheriff's office.

After having Officer Wakshul's statement for months the defense decided to call him on the last day of the trial with no previous warning. Rather than delay \tab the proceedings any longer, Judge Sabo denied their request. Mumia's supports think this was unfair, but the defense had plenty of time to call him.

Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political prisioner, who was framed by police.

Mumia Abu-Jamal was a journalist, reportedly standing up for the rights of those who couldn't defend their own rights. However he was not currently working in journalism. Having lost his radio job, he was working as an overnight cab driver. Why would the police want to frame a cab driver?

If Mumia was framed by the police the amount of effort, and willing participants would be massive. There would have to be several policemen involved, the District Attorney's office, security at Jefferson hospital, 4 eyewittnesses, the Pennsylvania Superior court, ballistic experts, and the medical examiners office, just to name some of them. It seems like alot of work to frame a cab driver.

If the Philadelphia Police did frame Mumia Abu-Jamal, that would mean Officer Daniel Faulkners real killer is still free. Police officers would not be willing to let an officer's killer go free to frame a cab driver. There is NOTHING officers take more seriously than the murder of a fellow officer.

Mumia Abu-Jamal was protecting his brother, claims self defence.

If Mumia Abu-Jamal was coming to his brothers defense that definetly would have been brought out in the origional trial.

Mumia's own brother has never testified in the case, for or against his brother. If Mumia was actually coming to the aid of his brother one would think that Billy would feel compelled to come to Mumia's defense.

Recently Mumia's supporters have started attacking the character of Daniel Faulkner. I've heard him refered to as a rogue cop, a racist, a pimp, and all around dirty cop. Keep in mind that the claims are NOT substansiated with any proof. Daniel Faulkner's employment record was brought into evidence at the trial. Patricia Beato of the police records department stated that in his file there were 7 Commendations, commendatory letters, and merits, and no unsatisfactory performance reviews. In my opinion Mumia's supporters have realized that all their so called evidence of his innocence is easily refuted by hard cold facts, so they are now taking the easy way out by challenging the honor of a dead man.