NAPO Press Release  

January 25, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: JODY HEDEMAN COUSER
January 25, 1999      (202) 842-3560

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is outraged with a concert planned for January 28, 1999, proceeds from which will be donated to the defense fund of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a convicted cop killer. The concert scheduled for January 28 at the Meadowlands complex in New Jersey, will feature the Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Bad Religion. Abu-Jamal sits on Pennsylvania's Death Row for killing Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.

"This is simply outrageous," said Robert T. Scully, NAPO's executive director. "A convicted cop killer sits on Death Row, and he is being regarded as a hero? What has our society come to?" continued Scully. "On that night in 1981, Officer Faulkner was on the streets protecting the citizens of Philadelphia when he was murdered by a cold-blooded killer. Those involved in planning this concert to benefit his murderer should be ashamed of themselves. What they ought to be planning is a concert to benefit Officer Faulkner's widow," said Scully.

The concert is receiving national attention. New Jersey state troopers will have to patrol the concert as a function of their official police duties, and Governor Christie Whitman is urging ticket holders not to attend the concert. Concert promoters will reimburse ticketholders who no longer are interested in attending the concert. The state cannot sue to block the concert because of a 1997 ruling by a federal judge. The state had tried to block a concert by Marilyn Manson at the complex, but the judge ruled that the complex was a public venue.

Robert T. Scully is available for broadcast and print interviews. To schedule an interview, please contact Jody Couser at (202) 842-3560.

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States that serves in Washington, DC to advance the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. Founded in 1978, NAPO now represents more than 4,000 police unions and associations, 250,000 sworn law enforcement officers, 3,000 retired officers and more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.

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