The Abu-Jamal Case Is Still a Scandal

The reality of the U.S. prison system is appalling.

Nearly 30 years to the day after he was arrested in Philadelphia, Mumia Abu-Jamal is finally leaving death row. His sentence for murdering a policeman in 1981 — a charge he has always refuted — has been changed to life imprisonment.

So the 58-year old will be allowed to live. Although the word came late, it’s still good news. The change came about primarily because of the stubborn and highly politicized defense efforts of the black human rights activist and journalist. Without that one trait that sets Abu-Jamal apart from other inmates on America’s death rows, he would have long since been executed and forgotten.

At the same time, the commutation of the sentence is the result of a decades-long legal battle and unprecedented international solidarity campaign, as well as increasing domestic protests against capital punishment in the United States. To that extent, the refusal to execute Abu-Jamal is a bit of delayed revenge.

At the same time, the case remains scandalous because, instead of dispelling all doubts about Abu-Jamal’s innocence, the Philadelphia justice system has decided to hermetically seal the affair in a leaden coffin. It prefers to simply close the door on the campaign to save America’s most prominent death row inmate, in effect depriving him of any possibility of a new trial and the possibility of someday walking out of prison. The decision implies that Abu-Jamal will spend the rest of his days stewing behind bars. All this despite the fact that there are indications that his original judge was influenced by racist motives, despite the fact that witnesses were suborned, and despite the fact that many witnesses later appeared uncertain of their original testimonies.

Abu-Jamal’s reduced sentence may be reason for celebration but the reality about America’s prison system remains just as disturbing. Together with China, Iran, North Korea and Yemen, the United States leads the world in the number of executions. A majority of the U.S. population clings resolutely to the death penalty, as does their democratically elected president.

The clock is still ticking for 3,300 death row inmates across the country. Abu-Jamal’s sentence reduction from death to life in prison may be some small victory, but it’s by no means a breakthrough.