Teacher suspended after students write notes to ailing cop killer
ORANGE, N.J. – A New Jersey school district suspended a teacher for asking her third-grade class to write “get well” letters to a sick inmate convicted of killing a Philadelphia policeman.
Orange School Superintendent Ronald Lee said in a statement Friday school administrators “vehemently deny” any knowledge of Marylin Zuniga’s assignment. Lee said preliminary inquiries found Zuniga didn’t seek approval nor were parents notified.
The letters were delivered to Mumia Abu-Jamal. The former Black Panther is serving life in prison for the 1981 murder of white Philadelphia Officer Daniel Faulkner. His family said he was hospitalized last month to be treated for complications from diabetes.
A supporter, Johanna Fernandez, said Abu-Jamal was released from the hospital April 1 and was returned to the prison. She said she brought him the letters.