Their August 11 Release:
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
309 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.E. WASHINGTON DC 20002
PHONE: (202) 547-8190 FAX: (202) 547-8190
GILBERT G. GALLEGOS
JAMES O. PASCO, JR.
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BERNARD H. TEODORSKI
CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: TIM RICHARDSON
11 AUGUST 1999
(202) 547-8189
F.O.P. Attacks Supporters of Convicted Cop Killer
Today the nation's largest organization of law enforcement officers announced a nationwide boycott against those businesses and individuals that continue to support convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. The announcement came after the unanimous passage of a resolution by the more than 3,000 delegates attending the 54th Biennial national conference of the Fraternal Order of Police in Mobile, Alabama.
National President Gilbert G. Gallegos called the passage of the resolution a victory for the memory of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, who was murdered by Abu-Jamal in December 1981. "Danny Faulkner's widow Maureen, has led a tireless crusade against Abu-Jamal, and we wanted to let not only her, but the entire community know, that she has the strong support of the Fraternal Order of Police."
Abu-Jamal was convicted by a jury of his peers and sentenced to death for the 1981 murder of Officer Faulkner. Since then, the members of the Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and Philadelphia Lodge #5 have been outspoken in their search for justice for their brother officer.
After passage of the resolution, introduced on the floor of the Conference by Florida National Trustee Pete Fire and seconded by Pennsylvania State President Mike Lutz, Gallegos announced the organization's plans for a boycott. Gallegos said the F.O.P. plans to have a continuously updated list of firms and individuals that support or lend assistance to the cause of freeing Abu-Jamal on the organization's web site.
We want to provide our members and the general public with the information they need to inflict economic punishment on the supporters of this cop-killer," Gallegos said.
"Too many businesses have put profits ahead of seeking justice for the family of Daniel Faulkner, and too many uninformed individuals have conspired to keep Abu-Jamal from getting what he deserved," Gallegos said. "We will use every means at our disposal to put these companies and individuals at an economic disadvantage for their continued support of this cowardly cop-killer."
The F.O.P. boycott comes on the heels of a massive rally and concert, featuring several prominent musical artists, held to support the cause of freeing Abu-Jamal and the June 1999 commencement address by Abu-Jamal to the graduates of Evergreen State College in Washington Sate.
"This is about right and wrong," Gallegos said. "It is wrong to allow companies and individuals to profit from the murder of an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice trying to protect and serve the citizens of his community. And we will not rest until Abu-Jamal burns in hell."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the nation's largest organization of law enforcement professionals, with over 283,000 members.
[posted 8/19/99]
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