by Gloria Campisi
Daily News Staff Writer
Mumia Abu-Jamal: cop killer and commencement speaker.
For the second time in a year, the death row inmate will give the commencement address to an audience of college graduates.
And for the second time, there is bound to be an uproar from law-enforcement and other sources who question whether a convicted killer is the right choice to address impressionable college students.
Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing Philadelphia Policeman Daniel Faulkner in 1981, is to address the graduating class of Antioch College, in Yellow Springs, Ohio, April 29 via audiotape.
Last June, he gave a videotaped message to the graduates of Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Wash. He contended that "revolution, according to the Declaration of Independence, is a right for repressed people."
At Antioch, students asked Abu-Jamal to speak on one of two topics: How one individual can affect the world, or the true meaning of revolution.
"The issue is not to get a controversial speaker," said senior Teishan Latner. "The issue is to raise greater public awareness for his cause."
An irate Rich Costello, president of Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, said, "Once again this is an outrage and we have another marginal place of allegedly higher education, which proves once again that you can get a better education in a public restroom than you can at one of these colleges.
"I would think it would lead any decent student of that place to demand a tuition refund and seek a transfer to a legitimate institution of higher learning."
District Attorney Lynne Abraham said, "That well-educated people should glorify the convicted killer of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner is repugnant and should be condemned by all right-thinking Americans."
Last year, Faulkner's wife, Maureen, joined in protesting Abu-Jamal's speech in Washington.
Abu-Jamal, 45, who is appealing his conviction in the federal courts, was a radio journalist before his arrest. He also authored a book, "Live From Death Row."
His cause has drawn international support and several celebrities have spoken on his behalf.
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