Lawyer takes death row case to public

Convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1982, Mumia Abu-Jamal has been waiting for the state of Pennsylvania to execute him for 13 years. When the governor set the Aug. 15 date, the world reacted. Amid charges of racism and political suppression, Jamal's case came to the attention of Leonard Weinglass, a champion of politically charged cases for the past 30 years.

Speaking to a crowd of about 200 in Jack Adams Hall Thursday, Weinglass, chief counsel for Jamal's defense, shared his side of the story. He said political pressure is crucial to the case, which is now awaiting a hearing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Weinglass said once people hear the facts, they become outraged. "I've done death penalty cases in Alabama and Georgia and I've never seen anything like this," he said. "It's a whole other dimension of racism, ungloved, with no attempt to hide it."

Jamal was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Faulkner back in December 1981. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

Last August, Weinglass contested the evidence used to convince the jury of Jamal's guilt and won a stay of execution for Jamal with only two weeks to spare.

A short documentary film, produced by the British Broadcasting Corp., was shown before Weinglass spoke. The film outlined some of the claimed 22 constitutional violations of Jamal's rights, including lost evidence, gun tests never performed and the silencing of witnesses. Weinglass later added to that list Judge Sabo's decision to deny Jamal the right to defend himself because his dreadlocks were "scaring the prospective jurors."

At SF State, the film made a strong case for Jamal's innocence, making many feel there is little question of police wrongdoing.

Jose Cuellar, chair of La Raza studies, said Jamal's case illustrates the bias of the media and the courts and accurately reflects how African American men are treated.

"The media focuses on O.J. and ignores Jamal. You don't see this case on court TV," Cuellar said. "It shows the power of judges to ignore and overlook evidence and the potential of the judicial system to be susceptible to the personal bias of the prosecutor."

"He was definitely framed," said Siobhan Brooks, a women studies major. Brooks knew about the case beforehand but said she sat with friends who didn't. "They were horrified, especially when they heard about the beatings at the hospital when he was arrested."

As Jamal lay critically wounded on the hospital floor because a gurney couldn't be found, a nurse testified that she chased off two police officers who were stomping on him, Weinglass said.

"Many feel that this can't happen here in America," said Scott Davey, associate director of the Associated Students Performing Arts, who invited Weinglass to speak. Davey said going in he knew of Jamal peripherally, but he had no idea the case for Jamal's innocence was so strong. "Philadelphia makes L.A. look like the land of truth and justice," Davey said.

Last year, National Public Radio enlisted Jamal, a professional journalist, to record a series of broadcasts about life on death row for their All Things Considered series. The Fraternal Order of the Police and presidential candidate Senator Bob Dole, who characterized Jamal as a "cop killer," among others, were able to stop the broadcasts by threatening funding cuts.

As president of the Philadelphia Black Journalist's Association at the time of his arrest, Jamal had a reputation for questioning police brutality in his radio coverage of the volatile events in the black community during the '70s and early '80s, according to Weinglass.

Federal authorities are currently investigating similar allegations of corruption by Philadelphia police in 1,000 criminal convictions, 42 of which have been overturned so far, according to Equal Justice USA, an advocacy group against the death penalty.

Muata Kenyatta, director of AS Performing Arts, hadn't realized the enormity of the implications in Jamal's case before Weinglass spoke.

"This case is huge. If anything, it is making the U.S. look like a total police state," Kenyatta said. "Fortunately, Europe is watching and they are able to get better information than here. That should tell us something."

Kenyatta also remarked on the impact of race. "It is very apparent that race is an issue. The American judicial system should be exorcised. That lecture shook me up. People left angry. They were blown away."

Student Kat Marshall was impressed with Weinglass, saying his presentation was extremely effective and that Jamal's only hope is public awareness about his case. "Weinglass has a good understanding of the power of popular support -- the only thing that really scares politicians," she said. "

[ Golden Gater Online November 7, 1995 ]

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