The Framing of Kevin Cooper, on San Quentin’s Death Row

–An interview with J. Patrick O’Connor

By Hans Bennett, Prison Radio

In this interview, author J. Patrick O’Connor discusses his newly released book Scapegoat: The Chino Hills Murders and The Framing of Kevin Cooper, explaining why he is convinced of Kevin Cooper’s innocence. O’Connor asserts that the police and prosecution orchestrated an obvious frame-up that continues to be upheld by federal appeals courts, albeit with the blatantly unfair rulings by US District Court Judge Marilyn Huff blocking critical forensics tests that had been ordered by the US Ninth Circuit Court in 2004.

This week, O’Connor launches a California book tour, beginning in the San Francisco Bay Area (view schedule here). On Monday, O’Connor sat down for a video interview with Prison Radio, where he discusses aspects of this story not addressed in the text interview below (watch video here). Marking the book release, Prison Radio has recorded a special message from Kevin Cooper himself (listen here). To learn more about Cooper’s case and what you can do to help, visit www.savekevincooper.org.

Prison Radio: How did you get involved in Kevin Cooper’s case?

J. Patrick O’Connor: During the fall of 2008, I was in the Bay Area on a book tour for The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal.  During the tour, supporters of Kevin’s approached me at various venues and asked me to consider writing a book on Kevin’s case.

PR: How did you go about writing this book? Read the rest of this entry →

The Next Step Is Freedom

By Noelle Hanrahan, Prison Radio

(Photo of Mumia Abu-Jamal, taken by Prison Radio)

My dear friends, brothers and sisters — I want to thank you for your real hard work and support. I am no longer on death row, no longer in the hole, I’m in population. This is only part one and I thank you all for the work you’ve done. But the struggle is for freedom!

– From Mumia. Ona Move. Long Live John Africa!

Monday, January 30, 2012. Mumia Abu-Jamal is off death row and out of solitary because you called and wrote and faxed and emailed. He is out of the “hole”.  We did it. This was an international effort, including the delivery of over 5000 petitions, thousands of letters, and the threat of legal action. Because of your solidarity and actions, tonight Mumia called and recorded “Of Idiots and Sages”, a new essay on forced sterilization written on a scrap of paper at SCI Mahanoy from lockdown. Mumia gives all of you a shout out and tells it how it is. Hear both at prisonradio.org.

Mumia has been held in solitary confinement on death row for over 29 years. Imagine visiting with a thick plexiglass barrier between you and your mother, wife, daughter or son, for three decades.

Politicans from Tom Corbett (Gov. of PA), to Ed Rendell (former Governor), to Seth Williams (the Philly DA), and prison authorities John Wetzel (Secretary of Corrections) and John Kerestes (superintendent of Mahanoy), tried to keep Mumia silent and in the hole.

On Dec. 14th he was transferred from SCI Greene to SCI Mahanoy in Frackville PA, a medium security facility where he was thrown in the hole. But you delivered the message: You would not let Mumia and others in the RHU remain there and be silenced. It took six weeks. But the prison got real heat, backed down and transferred him to General Population.

Today, when you read this, Mumia will hug his wife for the first time in nearly three decades.

Read this full article, including a message from Mumia’s wife, Wadiya A. Jamal, by clicking here.

–Prison Radio first began recording Mumia Abu-Jamal’s radio essays in the early 1990’s and we continue to this day. Our mission is to challenge unjust police and prosecutorial practices which result in mass incarceration, racism, and gender discrimination by airing the voices of men and women victimized by an unjust criminal justice system. Our website www.prisonradio.org features Mumia’s essays and much more, including the latest news about his case. To receive our email newsletter, please sign up on the bottom of our website’s front page.