Pro-Mumia supporters plan rally on 35th anniversary of officer’s murder

Thirty-five years ago, on Dec. 9, 1981, 25-year-old Philly cop Daniel Faulkner was shot to death at 13th and Locust streets.

That death led to the conviction on murder charges of Mumia Abu-Jamal. To markthe 35th anniversary of Abu-Jamal’s arrest,supporters are planning a march through Center City on Friday.

Abu-Jamal, who activists call a “political prisoner,” is currently serving a life sentence at a state prison in Mahanoy. The protest organizers say Abu-Jamal’s health is in danger as state prisons are not providing him with anti-viral medications for his hepatitis C.

“Abu-Jamal is experiencing increased symptoms of the deadly hepatitis C virus,” organizers said. “His deteriorating health is again approaching alarming levels as occurred in March, 2015, when he was rushed to the hospital unconscious.”

Supporters of Abu-Jamal are currently suing the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to get him new medication and the DOC is not commenting on Abu-Jamal’s medical condition.

Activists plan to gather at the Mayor Frank Rizzo statue at 15th and JFK at 3 p.m. and marchto Gov. Tom Wolf’s officeandthe Philadelphia D.A.’s office before ending at Arch Street United Methodist Church for an indoor rally and panel discussion.

The Philly police department’s union did not respond to inquiries as to whether any memorial for Faulkner will be held or for comments about the march.