Former Black Panther and convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal murdered Philadelphia police officer Danny Faulkner in 1981, so naturally he has become a folk hero for the left. Mumia, now serving a life sentence, was originally sentenced to death but that was changed because he’s the victim you see.
Mumia is speaking via video at the commencement for a tiny Vermont hippie school called Goddard College. Philadelphia police are holding a vigil at the site of the murder to remember Danny Faulkner while his killer speaks.
Sentiment from #Philly. Meanwhile, #MumiaAbuJamal speaking at a Vermont college. Silence for 17 mins. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/vWbeAnCYxd
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) October 5, 2014
#NOW: @PhillyPolice and the #FOP gathering for vigil honoring Maureen/Dan Faulkner. #Mumia speaking now. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/On12YRce5p
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) October 5, 2014
Mumia Abu-Jamal to speak to college graduates
Goddard, a low-residency school where students, staff and faculty spend eight days on campus twice a year, holds 20 commencement ceremonies every year, so students in each degree program can individualize their graduations and choose their speaker.
The school, which has about 600 students between the ages of 18 and 18, says the graduates chose Abu-Jamal as a way to “engage and think radically and critically.”
Goddard students design their own curriculums with faculty advisers and do not take tests or receive grades.
Mumia will be speaking to approximately 20 graduating students who will likely be moving on to lucrative careers in the hating America industry.
Silent vigil for slain Phila Police Ofc Daniel Faulkner murdered 1981. #MumiaAbuJamal speaking @ VT college via video pic.twitter.com/j4JY1Pcrnf
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) October 5, 2014
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#NOW: @PhillyPolice hold prayer vigil where Ofc. Daniel Faulkner died at hands of #MumiaAbuJamal. pic.twitter.com/0R3TDbjrps
— Dave Kinchen?? (@DaveKinchenUSA) October 5, 2014
Minutes before the silent vigil began at 13/Locust recognizing the sacrifice of Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. pic.twitter.com/4mf7CrUbLz
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) October 5, 2014
Widow of deceased @PhillyPolice officer Daniel Faulkner speaks on Mumia graduation speech: http://t.co/QABDFLS4NA pic.twitter.com/3HhpReoENc
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) October 5, 2014
Honoring a Hero, @PhillyPolice Officer Daniel Faulkner #4699, we will never forget the sacrifice he made on 12-9-81. pic.twitter.com/K57OsruvHQ
— P/O Mike Duffy (@PPDMikeDuffy) October 5, 2014
Police cadets honoring slain Phila officer Daniel Faulkner as his killer speaks at a college in Vermont today. #inq pic.twitter.com/m0WKmOvKMo
— Julia Terruso (@JuliaTerruso) October 5, 2014
Danny Faulkner’s widow Maureen released a statement which is worth reading.
MUMIA ABU-JAMAL TO SPEAK TO GRADUATES, OFFICER’S WIDOW RELEASES STATEMENT
Once again, my family and I find ourselves being assaulted by the obscenity that is Mumia Abu-Jamal. On Sunday October 5th, my husband’s killer will once again air his voice from what masquerades as a prison, and spew his thoughts and ideas at another college commencement. Mumia Abu-Jamal will be heard and honored as a victim and a hero by a pack of adolescent sycophants at Goddard College in Vermont. Despite the fact that 33 years ago, he loaded his gun with special high-velocity ammunition designed to kill in the most devastating fashion, then used that gun to rip my husband’s freedom from him–today, Mumia Abu-Jamal will be lauded as a freedom fighter.
Undoubtedly the administrators at Goddard who first accepted, then enthusiastically supported Abu-Jamal as their speaker will be moved by his “important message” when, if one distills that message to its basic meaning, it amounts to nothing more than the same worn out hatred for this country and everyone in law enforcement that Mumia Abu-Jamal has harbored his entire life.
Many at Goddard College have said that this is a matter of Abu-Jamal’s First Amendment right to speak and be heard. What a convenient way to dodge their responsibility to take a moral position on this situation. This is not a matter of First Amendment rights — it’s a matter of right and wrong. Across the country, people have been voicing their disgust with the wrong that the college is about to commit by allowing a convicted cop-killer to speak to them. Is this the message to be heard? How could they allow him to speak when Danny no longer has a voice?
It is my opinion that all murderers should forfeit their right to free speech when they take the life of an innocent person. I have repeatedly seen college administrators deny conservative and religious speakers access to their campuses when even the tiniest minority feel their message is in some way offensive. What could be more offensive than having a person who violently took the life of another imparting his “unique perspective” on your students?
Let’s be honest. The instructors, administrators and graduates at Goddard College embrace having this killer as their commencement speaker not despite the fact that he brutally murdered a cop, but because he brutally murdered a cop. Otherwise, like so many other speakers that have been denied access to college campuses across the country, Goddard’s administration would have lived up to their moral responsibility and pulled the plug on this travesty long ago.
Shame on Goddard College and all associated with that school for choosing to honor an arrogant remorseless killer as their commencement speaker. Unfortunately, this is something that I am certain they will be proud of for the rest of their lives.
Maureen Faulkner
Proud to participate in the silent vigil recognizing the ultimate sacrifice made by Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. Never forgotten.
— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) October 5, 2014
@TNestel3 Those we remember never die, they live in our hearts and in our thoughts. REMEMBER. NEVER FORGET. pic.twitter.com/TT6bnzuQHe
— DOROTHY BAILEY (@dorothe500) October 5, 2014
Murder is wrong. Free speech is right. Sometimes these exist together. #Duality #truth #complexity
— Samantha Kolber (@SamanthaKolber) October 2, 2014
Shut up, hippie.
@SamanthaKolber Daniel Faulkner's right to free speech was taken away by your commencement speaker. #DanielFaulkner pic.twitter.com/vUQkIM3IFb
— Richard Anderson (@blkgld155) October 4, 2014
Exactly.
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