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Who is Mumia Abu-Jamal? Colin Kaepernick seeks release of cop killer, Internet says 'he's wrong on this one'

'Mumia has been in prison longer than I’ve been alive. Since 1981, Mumia has maintained his innocence,' said Colin Karpernick

The former 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, has called for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal who was convicted for killing a police officer and US Army veteran David Faulkner in 1981. While speaking at a virtual news conference on Monday, November 16, Kaepernick had spoken of Jamal and called upon his release to the Philadelphia district attorney’s office. He had claimed that he was framed after he fell prey to police brutality. 

During the press conference, Kaepernick shared, "Mumia has been in prison longer than I’ve been alive. Since 1981, Mumia has maintained his innocence. His story has not changed. Mumia was shot, brutalized, arrested, and chained to a hospital bed."

Kaepernick had emphasized that the Black Lives Matter movement has demanded that Jamal be released from prison so that his legacy matters. "We’re in the midst of a movement that says Black Lives Matter, and if that’s truly the case, then it means that Mumia’s life and legacy must matter," Kaepernick said. 

"And the causes that he sacrificed his life and freedom for must matter as well," he added. According to Newsbusters, Jamal was a former member of the Black Panthers and had four witnesses testify that he murdered Officer Faulkner. The publication had reported, "Employed by a radio station, Abu-Jamal was a member of the Black Panthers. During a routine traffic stop in Philadelphia in 1981, Faulkner stopped a vehicle belonging to Abu-Jamal’s younger brother William Cook."

"A physical confrontation ensued, and Abu-Jamal, who was nearby at the time, shot Faulkner in the back and in the face, the latter shot while the officer lay bleeding on the ground. Four witnesses testified to this," the publication had added. 

"Abu-Jamal was also shot in the confrontation and, while recovering in a hospital, admitted he shot the policeman and said he hoped Faulkner would die," the report continued. 

Kaepernick had made headlines in 2016 when he took the knee during the national anthem. He had sat during the playing of the US national anthem before the game as a protest against racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic oppression in the country. 

Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since 2016. Since leaving NFL, Kaepernick has been engaged in many organizations and he also founded the 'Know Your Rights Camp' which aims to teach young children about self-empowerment, American history and legal rights.

Kaepernick shared, "People of color have been targeted by police. So that’s a large part of it, and they’re government officials. They are put in place by the government. So that’s something that this country has to change. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable. Make those standards higher. You have people that practice law and are lawyers and go to school for eight years, but you can become a cop in six months and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist."

Many social media users commented on the news of Kaepernick demanding Jamal be released and seemed to slam him. One such user shared, "And Daniel Faulkner has been dead longer than Mumia has been in prison. I can understand someone saying 40 years is long enough - but I disagree. But claiming Mumia is innocent is madness."

Another added, "Yeah he’s really wrong on this one. I don’t have a problem with kneeling but I know this case and the Mumia Abu Jamal belongs in jail for life."