
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 14, 1994                   TAG: 9405160146
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HUNTINGDON, PA.                                LENGTH: Medium

CONVICTED KILLER OF POLICEMAN NEW COMMENTATOR FOR NPR

Mumia Abu-Jamal- journalist, black activist, convicted police killer- will take to the airwaves Monday for National Public Radio to describe life at the prison where he awaits death.

Police in Philadelphia believe NPR is giving a monster a soapbox.

Abu-Jamal, who was once a mainstream radio news reporter, is no stranger to controversy. He is a former Black Panther and supporter of the radical group MOVE.

He was accused of shooting police Officer Daniel Faulkner to death in 1981 after Faulkner stopped Abu-Jamal's brother for driving the wrong way on a street. Abu-Jamal, who was on duty as a cab driver and saw the traffic stop, denied shooting Faulkner but was convicted and went to prison in 1982.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Abu-Jamal's appeal and the state Supreme Court twice rejected his case. No death date has been set. Gov.Robert P. Casey traditionally waits until all appeals are exhausted.

Since then, Abu-Jamal has been at the center of protests and counterprotests. Supporters say he was singled out for prosecution because he is black and because of his political activities; they have staged rallies as far away as Germany and Australia. Some congressmen and activist celebrities such as actor Ed Asner have spoken out on his behalf.

NPR said it won't allow Abu-Jamal to discuss his own case. His short commentaries, to run in the afternoon on "All Things Considered," are a way for NPR to broaden its coverage of crime and punishment, said Ellen Weiss, the popular show's executive producer.

Weiss said she first heard of Abu-Jamal through his work at the Prison Radio Project.

"We read his material and evaluated its content. He is a good writer and brings a unique perspective to the air," she said. Since going to prison, Abu-Jamal has been published by The Yale Law Journal.

Officer Michael Lutz, president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, responded angrily to NPR's plans.

"I was under the impression he was supposed to be punished," Lutz said.

"This man is a coldblooded killer whose appeals went to the highest court in the land ... and he's getting a radio show out of the deal," Lutz said. "It's not fair to the family of the slain officer to have this going on."

by CNB