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Demonstrators Protest Outside Mumia Abu-Jamal Hearing
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Hundreds of protestors turned out Friday in Philadelphia at the hearing of a former Black Panther and radio journalist sentenced to death for the murder of a police officer, news sources said.
Mumia Abu-Jamal, condemned to death for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, has asked the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court to rehear his case, according to a group of supporters, The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.
After the end of his trial in the summer of 1982 - with a first-degree murder conviction - Abu-Jamal's fame spread across the globe, The Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer said. His name has become a catchphrase for a racially prejudiced judicial system and for activists worldwide working to abolish the death penalty.
The Daily News said that Abu-Jamal is a "political prisoner" in a racist system in the eyes of his supporters, whose celebrity ranks have included the widow of French President Francois Mitterrand, and actors Mike Farrell and Ed Asner, as well as the band Rage Against the Machine, which has staged benefit concerts for Abu-Jamal in the past.
Rage guitarist Tom Morello was unable to make it to the hearing protest, so he called on the band Anti-Flag to go in his place, the online entertainment news site Launch.com reported.
Others famous names expected to appear were Kathleen Cleaver, Ossie Davis, Sonia Sanchez, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Members of the British Parliament and a French Delegation, Nelson Mandela's lawyer Lenox Hynes and others, Launch.com said.
The Daily News said police were expecting between 1,000 and 2,000 activists, who have said they would occupy a City Hall plaza and a sidewalk across the street.
The new hearing may also look at previously unavailable evidence that may sway Abu-Jamal's case: a confession submitted by a man named Arnold Beverly testifying that he was the one who killed Faulkner, not Abu-Jamal, the Daily News reported.
Faulkner had pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother, William Cook, early on the morning of Dec. 9, 1981. Abu-Jamal, who had been driving a cab that night was nearby just before the shooting, and his legally registered gun, with five spent shells, was found after the incident close by. Abu-Jamal was also wounded by a bullet from Faulkner's gun.
MSNBC reported that Abu-Jamal's lawyers have released for the first time statements by Abu-Jamal and his brother regarding Faulkner's murder.
"I did not shoot Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. I had nothing to do with the killing of Officer Faulkner. I am innocent," Abu-Jamal said in the statement taken Thursday at a Western Pennsylvania prison where he is being held, barred from attending the hearing, news agencies said.
MSNBC said that according to his statements, Abu-Jamal heard gunshots at the scene of the crime, where he was close by, filling out his trip sheet; he said he saw his brother staggering and as Abu-Jamal was running to help, a cop shot him, and after passing out he awoke to find police surrounding him.
But four eyewitnesses testified to seeing Abu-Jamal shoot Faulkner in the back and then in the face after the officer shot him in the chest and then fell, the Daily News said, adding that two other witnesses claimed to have heard him claim the shooting in the hospital later, a charge he has denied.
The 45-year old Abu-Jamal has continually insisted his innocence, but has lost repeated court appeals.
His appeal in the state court comes after a federal judge refused to consider the alleged confession by Beverly.
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