Call on the Obama Administration to Investigate Mumia's Case

I first learned about Mumia Abu-Jamal in 1995 after reading Live from Death Row, which remains for me the sharpest and most well-observed critique of the American prison system I've ever encountered. In the 15 years since its publication, Mumia has continued his prodigious and profound journalistic work under the most oppressive conditions imaginable. His latest book, Jailhouse Lawyers, is another must-read for any activist seeking to understand how law actually operates in America's "hidden, dank dungeons."

But while his journalism deserves more attention, Mumia remains best-known in the mainstream media as the man convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.

Mumia has steadfastly maintained his innocence over the years. Unfortunately, DNA is not available in Mumia's case, so no side will ever have scientific proof of his innocence or guilt. The full story behind the evidence that exists is complicated, and I recognize that reasonable minds can differ on its conclusions. Still, though, I believe most credible evidence supports Mumia's claim of innocence. (In reaching this conclusion, I've found the tireless reporting of Linn Washington -- who's covered the story since 1981 -- particularly persuasive.)

I'm not alone in this view, either. Mumia has the backing of many prominent supporters and thousands of grassroots activists. And now, activists are calling on the Department of Justice to undertake an investigation into his case. They hope to meet with Attorney General Eric Holder on April 26, when they'll urge him to investigate the extensive history of civil rights violations Mumia had suffered even before the time of the crime, and through his trial until today.

Mumia's efforts to obtain release or a new trial are bitterly opposed by small, if vociferous groups usually associated with Philadelphia's Fraternal Order of Police and Officer Faulkner's widow, Maureen. Yet putting guilt or innocence aside, it's practically impossible to deny that Mumia had a shockingly unfair trial. The canonical analysis of the troubling problems with Mumia's trial remains the 2000 report issued by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International. In addition to describing the police corruption and racial tension in Philadelphia at the time, the report also meticulously documents the pernicious prejudice, bias and misconduct that plauged Mumia's highly politicized trial and sentencing.

And yet Mumia's had little success in the courts. Most recently, the Supreme Court threw out a federal ruling that had set aside his death sentence. Although this is certainly a setback, the court's hostility doesn't reflect on the validity of Mumia's claims. From my time litigating cases at the Innocence Project, I can attest that courts have many times upheld the convictions of actually innocent people through all state and federal appeals. In 251 cases, DNA has proved to a moral and scientific certainty that courts can get it wrong. Though there's no DNA in Mumia's, the courts are still getting it wrong.

To support these critical efforts, I'm asking Change.org members to read and consider signing the petition to Holder above. The petition calls upon Holder's office to launch a "full and credible" inquest into to Mumia's case, given the "well-documented instances of race-based misconduct by local and state authorities" involved. Mumia's fate shouldn't be left to the all-too-fallible courts.

Over the past 30 years of his imprisonment, Mumia has rightly been called the "voice of the voiceless." Now it's time for us to lend our voices to the chorus crying out against a potentially fatal miscarriage of justice.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Beach/PrisonRadio 1992