Historical Figures Codexery

Mumia Abu-Jamal

Political activist and journalist convicted of murdering a police officer

His trial and death sentence drew international criticism for alleged constitutional failings.[1] The New York Times described him in 2001 as "perhaps the world's best-known death-row inmate".[2]

Quick Facts

Birth name
Wesley Cook
Born
24 April 1954
Birthplace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Conviction
First degree murder
Conviction penalty
Death; commuted to life imprisonment
Trial
Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal
Conviction status
Incarcerated
Occupation
Activist, journalist

Facts from the source article.

Life and work

Abu-Jamal grew up in Philadelphia with a younger brother named William and attended local public schools.[3] In 1968, a high school teacher gave him the name "Mumia," which he said means "Prince"[3] He joined the Black Panther Party at age 14 after being beaten by white racists and a policeman at a George Wallace rally.[4] After leaving the Panthers in 1970, he returned to school but was suspended for distributing revolutionary literature.[5][6]

In December 1981, while working as a taxi driver, he was arrested at the scene where Officer Faulkner was shot and killed.[7][8][9] At trial, prosecution witnesses testified he said in the hospital, "I shot the motherfucker, and I hope the motherfucker dies"[10] Starting in 1975, his radio journalism career included work at WHAT and WCAU-FM; from 1979 to 1981, he was employed at WHYY, an NPR affiliate.[11][12] He was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Officer Faulkner, and his conviction was upheld on appeal.[9][13]

What the cited sources add

The Global Forensic and Justice Center notes that stereo microscopes determine basic class characteristics of fired bullets and cartridge cases.[14] The Open Library record for "Still Black, Still Strong" lists its publication date as 1993, its publisher as Semiotext(e), and its distributor as the MIT Press.[15] The Open Library record for "Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal" lists its publication date as 2008 and its publisher as Chicago Review Press.[16] The Open Library record for "Live from death row" lists its publication date as 1996 and its publisher as Avon Books.[17]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "A Life in the Balance: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal", Amnesty International, February 17, 2000; Taylor, "Guilty and Framed", December 1, 1995; "European Parliament resolution 9(f) B4-1170/95 (p. 39 of original, 49 of pdf)", European Parliament, September 21, 1995; 59th Republican Ward Executive Committee, City of Philadelphia, "59th Republican Ward Executive Committee Files Criminal Charges Against Cities of Paris and Suburb for 'Glorifying' Infamous Philadelphia Cop-Killer", Dece; Ceïbe, "USA Sues Paris: From Death Row, Mumia Stirs Up en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Rimer, "Death Sentence Overturned in 1981 Killing of Officer", The New York Times, December 19, 2001, p. 1 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Burroughs, "Prologue: Joining the Party", Ready to Party: Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Black Panther Party, 2004; Abu-Jamal, "Question for Mumia: Tell Me About Your Name", Mumia Abu-Jamal Radio Broadcast, February 7, 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Abu-Jamal, Mumia, "Live From Death Row", Harper Perennial, 1996, p. 151; Lyman, "George Wallace: A Segregationist stand for America", USA Today, August 16, 2018; Abu-Jamal, "We Want Freedom: A Life in the Black Panther Party", South End Press, 2004; Burroughs, "Part I: "Do Something, Nigger!"", Ready to Party: Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Black Panther Party, 2004 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Burroughs, "Part II: The Party in Philadelphia", Ready to Party: Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Black Panther Party, 2004 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shaw, "Brief of amicus curiae", Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Martin Horn, Pennsylvania Director of Corrections, et al., July 27, 2007; Shaw, "Brief of amicus curiae", Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Martin Horn, Pennsylvania Director of Corrections, et al., July 27, 2007 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: O'Connor, J. Patrick, "The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal", Chicago Review Press, May 2008, p. 54–55, 199; Johnson, "The Suspect – One Who Raised His Voice", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1981; "Philadelphia AM Radio History", Radio-History.com (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wisenberg Brin, "Death-Row Clock Ticking for Activist Convicted of Killing Officer", Los Angeles Times, July 2, 1995; "A Life in the Balance: The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal", Amnesty International, February 17, 2000 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Trial and Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) hearing transcripts", Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; "Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, Philadelphia, Case Nos. 1357–59", November 21, 2001 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Trial transcript pp.29, 31, 34, 137, 162 and 164". Commonwealth vs. Mumia Abu-Jamal aka Wesley Cook. Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Criminal Trial (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Shaw, "Brief of amicus curiae", Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Martin Horn, Pennsylvania Director of Corrections, et al., July 27, 2007; Johnson, "The Suspect – One Who Raised His Voice", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1981; Johnson, "The Suspect – One Who Raised His Voice", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1981 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Johnson, "The Suspect – One Who Raised His Voice", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 10, 1981 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Wikipedia, "Mumia Abu-Jamal" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; ; ; Yohn, "Memorandum and Order", Mumia Abu-Jamal, Petitioner, vs. Martin Horn, Commissioner, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, et al., Respondents, December 2001 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  14. "Global Forensic and Justice Center. 2013. Forensic Science Simplified [Internet] USA". facts only, no text reused. forensicsciencesimplified.org
  15. Open Library record, ISBN 9780936756745 ("Still Black, Still Strong"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
  16. Open Library record, ISBN 9781569763940 ("Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
  17. Open Library record, ISBN 9780380727667 ("Live from death row"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Mumia Abu-Jamal (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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