Third graders write get well wishes to cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal–
(Michelle Malkin)
Last week New Jersey third grade teacher Marylin Zuniga had her class write get well wishes to cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Today New Jersey teacher Marylin Zuniga was suspended.
The New Jersey Herald reported:
A New Jersey school district has suspended a teacher following reports that she assigned her third-grade class to write “get well” letters to a man convicted of killing a Philadelphia policeman.
Orange School Superintendent Ronald Lee said in a statement released Friday that school administrators “vehemently deny” any knowledge of Marilyn Zuniga’s assignment. Lee says preliminary inquiries found Zuniga did not seek approval nor were parents notified.
The letters were delivered to Mumia Abu-Jamal (MOO’-mee-ah ah-BOO’ jah-MAHL’). The former Black Panther is serving life in prison for the 1981 murder of white Philadelphia Officer Daniel Faulkner. He claims he is the victim of a racist justice system.
A supporter and history professor, Johanna Fernandez, brought him the letters.
More on Mumia Abu-Jamal……
On December 9, 1981, at approximately 3:55 a.m., Officer Danny Faulkner, a five year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, made a traffic stop at Locust Street near Twelfth Street. The car stopped by Officer Faulkner was being driven by William Cook. After making the stop, Danny called for assistance on his police radio and requested a police wagon to transport a prisoner. Unbeknownst to him, William Cook’s brother, Wesley (aka Mumia Abu-Jamal) was across the street. As Danny attempted to handcuff William Cook, Mumia Abu-Jamal ran from across the street and shot the officer in the back. Danny turned and was able to fire one shot that struck Abu-Jamal in the chest; the wounded officer then fell to the pavement.
Mumia Abu-Jamal stood over the downed officer and shot him four more times at close range, once directly in the face. Mumia Abu-Jamal was found still at the scene of the shooting by officers who arrived there within seconds. The murderer was slumped against the curb in front of his brother’s car. In his possession was a .38 caliber revolver that records showed Mumia had purchased months earlier. The chamber of the gun had five spent cartridges. A cab driver, as well as other pedestrians, had witnessed the brutal slaying and identified Mumia Abu-Jamal as the killer both at the scene and during his trial.
On July 2, 1982, after being tried before a jury of ten whites and two blacks, Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering Officer Danny Faulkner. The next day, the jury sentenced him to death after deliberating for two hours. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania heard the defendant’s appeals and upheld the conviction on March 6, 1989.
