[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 77 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S5967]]
 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 102--CONDEMNING THE DECISION BY THE CITY 
OF ST. DENIS, FRANCE, TO NAME A STREET IN HONOR OF MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, THE 
    CONVICTED MURDERER OF PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICER DANNY FAULKNER

  Mr. SANTORUM submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 102

       Whereas on the night of December 9, 1981, Police Officer 
     Danny Faulkner was shot and killed in cold blood during a 
     traffic stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
       Whereas in the process of arresting the driver of a car 
     traveling the wrong way down a one-way street, the driver's 
     brother appeared from across the street and proceeded to open 
     fire on Officer Faulkner while his back was turned away;
       Whereas the driver's brother was identified as Mumia Abu-
     Jamal;
       Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal shot Officer Faulkner 4 times in 
     the back;
       Whereas, although seriously injured, Officer Faulkner 
     returned fire, striking his attacker;
       Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal was undeterred and stood over 
     Officer Faulkner and shot him in the face, mortally wounding 
     him;
       Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal attempted to flee, but collapsed 
     several feet from the slain Officer Faulkner, murder weapon 
     in hand;
       Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal was charged and convicted of first 
     degree murder by a jury of his peers;
       Whereas Mumia Abu-Jamal has had numerous legal appeals, 
     including appeals to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court and 
     the United States Supreme Court, and his conviction has been 
     upheld each time;
       Whereas, on April 29, 2006, the municipal government of St. 
     Denis, a suburb of Paris, dedicated a street in the honor of 
     Mumia Abu-Jamal; and
       Whereas the official recognition and celebration of a 
     convicted murderer of a police officer of the United States 
     is an affront to law enforcement officers across the Nation: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) condemns the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer 
     Danny Faulkner;
       (2) urges the municipal government of St. Denis to take 
     immediate action to change the name of Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal 
     and, if such action is not taken by the municipal government 
     of St. Denis, urges the Government of France to take 
     appropriate action against the city of St. Denis to change 
     the name of Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal; and
       (3) commends all police officers in the United States and 
     throughout the world for their commitment to public service 
     and public safety.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution to 
condemn an action that I find terribly appalling. On April 29, 2006, 
the municipal government of St. Denis, France, named a street in honor 
of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted killer of Philadelphia Police Officer 
Danny Faulkner. Representative Fitzpatrick has introduced a similar 
resolution in the House of Representatives.
  On the morning of December 9, 1981, Officer Danny Faulkner, a 5 year 
veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, made a traffic stop at 
Locust Street near Twelfth Street. The car stopped by Officer Faulkner 
was driven by William Cook who was driving the wrong way down a one way 
street. William Cook's brother, Mumia Abu-Jamal, was across the street. 
As Faulkner attempted to handcuff William Cook, Abu-Jamal ran from 
across the street and shot the officer in the back. Faulkner was able 
to fire one shot that struck Abu-Jamal in the chest; the wounded 
officer then fell to the pavement. Mumia Abu-Jamal stood over the 
officer and shot him four more times at close range, including one 
directly in the face. Abu-Jamal was found at the scene of the shooting 
by officers who arrived there within seconds.
  Official ballistics tests on the fatal bullet confirmed that Officer 
Faulkner was killed by a bullet identical in type, brand, and caliber 
to the bullet found in Abu-Jamal's gun. Witnesses to the brutal slaying 
identified Abu-Jamal as the killer both at the scene and during his 
trial. In July 1982, Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering Officer 
Danny Faulkner and was sentenced to death. Abu-Jamal has had numerous 
legal appeals, including to the PA State Supreme Court and the U.S. 
Supreme Court, and his conviction has been upheld each time.
  I am outraged that the municipal government of St. Denis, France 
would make such a thoughtless and insensitive decision as to name a 
street after the murderer of a Philadelphia police officer. This is a 
monumental insult to the memory of Danny Faulkner, to his family, and 
to the courageous men and women who put on a police uniform every day 
to protect our communities. Officer Danny Faulkner gave his life to 
keep our nation's streets safe. St. Denis lawmakers have made the 
chilling decision of choosing to support a cold-blooded killer over a 
police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
  I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in condemning the murder of 
Officer Faulkner, and urging the municipal government of St. Denis to 
take immediate action to change the name of ``Rue Mumia Abu-Jamal.'' If 
such action is not taken, this resolution urges the French Government 
to take appropriate action against the city of St. Denis to change the 
name of the street. Finally, this resolution appropriately commends all 
police officers for their commitment to public service and public 
safety. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

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