(AllHipHop News) Goddard College’s decision to select Mumia Abu-Jamal to give a prerecorded speech to its graduating class sparked controversy across the nation. Jamal was convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, but the 60-year-old ex-Black Panther repeatedly appealed his conviction on the grounds he did not receive a fair trial.
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Police organizations were outraged that the Vermont college selected Jamal to speak to his alma mater. Goddard has now released the transcript of Jamal’s speech, and the majority of the address focused on the former political activist and journalist challenging the graduates to fight for social change.
Jamal was originally sentenced to death, but that ruling was later changed to life in prison. He has released several book since being incarcerated including Life From Death Row, Faith Of Our Fathers, and The Classroom and The Cell.
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To read Mumia Abu-Jamal address visit here. Watch NBC Philadelphia’s coverage of the police protests below.