(This is accompanied by a photo of three people, one holding a
"Stop the Execution!" sign with Mumia, handcuffed but with
fist raised, and a large sign in the rear which reads "Abolish
the Racist Death Penalty". The caption reads:
"Members of several activist groups on Long Island, N.Y.,
said Thursday they will stage a week-long hunger strike
to call for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal".)
The articles that follow were both taken from www.phillynews.com
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Philadelphia Daily News - November 6, 1999
FOP takes Sting out of reports
Delco lodge president says no protest planned for event
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The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal
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by Jim Nolan
and Christine Bahls
Daily News Staff Writers
Mumia-mania has gotten both sides so riled up that now it's a story when
a group doesn't protest.
Such is the case with the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police
Lodge, whose president found himself sending out press releases to
correct previously published reports suggesting his officers would
protest a Sting concert at Upper Darby's Tower Theater on Nov. 14.
Sting, you see, is one of a few dozen celebrities who signed their names
to a 1995 petition supporting a new trial for Abu-Jamal, the former
radio reporter and Black Panther who was convicted in the murder
of Philly Police Officer Daniel Faulkner 19 years ago in Center City.
Abu-Jamal is on Pennsylvania's death row, while his lawyers file appeals
in federal court seeking a new trial.
Sting, a former member of the Police - the musical group - is on tour
promoting his new album.
Joe Fitzgerald, president of Delco FOP Lodge 27, said neither he nor
his members will picket the performance.
"At no time did the FOP Lodge 27 call for, plan, sponsor, endorse and/or
request its members to participate in any protest, demonstration or
appearance at or during the Sting performance," Fitzgerald states in the
release.
While it is true that the National FOP passed a resolution last August
calling on all FOP members to boycott performances by entertainers who
sided with Abu-Jamal, Lodge 27 "has not requested nor encouraged its
members to take any action with regard to any performance by any
entertainer," Fitzgerald said.
"I just can't see us putting our brothers in Upper Darby in a mess,"
Fitzgerald told the Daily News, referring to the cops who would have
to police the concert, where Abu-jamal sympathizers are expected to
show up.
"We will create a lot of aggravation for those guys."
That is not to say that Lodge 27, which comprises some 900 cops from 37
police departments in the county, does not think Abu-Jamal deserves his
date with death.
But like so many issues and media volleys in the volatile international case,
distortions and misinterpretations are common, and confrontations become
unavoidable.
"They're taking everything out of context," said Fitzgerald. "It's on the
Internet, the Web. There's stuff in there attributed to us that's not even
happening.
"When the reports came out naming us" as a group sponsoring an
anti-Abu-Jamal event, "everywhere we said 'boycott' was changed to
'protest,' " Fitzgerald told the Delaware County Daily Times.
The distinction could mean that cops can boycott the concert simply
by not going to it. Then there's the latest twist in the ongoing Mumedia
wars:
Fitzgerald said Sting's publicist has denied the singer and international
activist supports Abu-Jamal.
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Philly Daily News - November 1, 1999
Sting draws fire over Abu-Jamal
Cops to stage protest over Brit rocker's Mumia support
by Christine Bahls
Daily News Staff Writer
In two weeks, rocker and international activist Sting will perform
at the Tower in Upper Darby. And some local cops plan to be
outside - sending him a message.
It'll have the name of Mumia Abu-Jamal written all over it.
Delaware County police are upset about the entertainer's position
on Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Philadelphia police
officer Daniel Faulkner. Sting has called for a new trial.
"Sting opened his mouth," said Chester City police officer Ed
McClellan, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 19.
"Let them come on," said Pam Africa, coordinator of International
Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. "All they're
doing is exposing themselves . . . They prove why the death penalty
has to be abolished."
The impetus behind the protest is FOP Lodge 27, representing at
least 900 retired and active Delaware County police officers, said
lodge president Joseph Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald said lodge leaders
will be meeting soon to work out the logistics, which
include calling on fellow officers from the surrounding counties.
"We are supporting . . . anybody who's against the Mumia
Abu-Jamal movement," McClellan said.
It will be a quiet demonstration, Fitzgerald said. "It's not going to
be out of hand."
If the cops are there, "We will be there," Africa said. "We will
always be where our supporters are at."
On Dec. 9, 1981, Faulkner was gunned down near 13th and
Locust streets. He was killed after the 25-year-old officer had
pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother in a traffic stop. Abu-Jamal
reportedly passed by and spotted the two. Officers found Faulkner
on the ground, shot at close range in the face. Abu-Jamal was
lying nearby; he had been injured by a bullet from Faulkner's gun.
Abu-Jamal's gun, with five spent shells, was also found. He was
convicted a year later and the appeals have never stopped.
Abu-Jamal, now 45, has contended he had an unfair trial for
many reasons. He has never testified in any of the legal proceedings.
Last week, a federal judge stayed the execution of Abu-Jamal, which
had been scheduled for Dec. 2. It will be next year before the
judge decides whether to hold a hearing on the latest appeal.
Abu-Jamal, a former journalist, has become a cause celebre, and
has garnered support from entertainers, politicians and, as Africa put
it, rich people, poor people, black people, white people, all kinds of people.
Sting, former head of the band Police, has long been an activist, supporting
environmental, health and human rights causes. According to Africa, he
signed a letter urging a new trial for Abu-Jamal.
McClellan said that at the national FOP annual convention in August, the
membership voted to boycott anyone who supported Abu-Jamal. Because
of that vote, McClellan said, he expects officers from throughout the area
to be at the Tower Nov. 14. He said his lodge, representing 100 officers,
will discuss the event at its Nov. 9 meeting.
Usually, cops are called to keep the peace at demonstrations. Who will do
the honors for them at the Sting concert?
Fitzgerald giggled at the question.
"We would police ourselves, I guess."
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Send e-mail to cbahls@phillynews.com
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