- The Washington Times - Thursday, April 9, 2015

Mumia Abu-Jamal, the former Black Panther convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer 34 years ago, has been the recipient of get-well cards from elementary school students from Orange, New Jersey, as he recovers from a diabetes-related illness.

Marylin Zuniga, a third-grade teacher at Forest Street School, had her students craft the letters to the 60-year-old inmate, who was rushed to the hospital March 31 for low blood sugar related to diabetes, Fox News reported.

“We shared a touching moment with Mumia in an effort to raise his spirits,” said Baruch College Professor Johanna Fernandez, who delivered the letters to Abu-Jamal, The Daily Mail reported Thursday. Ms. Fernandez also delivered a second batch of letters from high school students in the Philadelphia Student Union.

Abu-Jamal is serving a life sentence for the 1981 murder of Officer Daniel Faulkner. His advocates insist he is the victim of a racist justice system and a flawed trial.

Richard Costello, political coordinator for the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, told Fox News it was “outrageous that any teacher would use a group of innocent 7-year-olds to promote a twisted agenda glorifying murder.”

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

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