Mumia Abu-Jamal, once known as Wesley Cook , currently sits on Pennsylvania’s death row. Abu-Jamal has been there for nearly three decades and now awaits three milestones. His new book, “Jailhouse Lawyers,” will be released next month and he’s also awaiting a pair of Supreme Court decisions, which could come in the next two weeks, all according to CNN.com. Abu-Jamal, a former cab driver and radio reporter, is also a former Black Panther who was sentenced to die for gunning down a Philadelphia police officer 28 years ago. The high court will decide whether he deserves a new hearing to determine whether his execution should go forward. Many prominent groups and individuals, including singer Harry Belafonte and the NAACP, are cited on his Web site as supporters. Others counter that Abu-Jamal is using his skin color to escape responsibility for his actions.—BB
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