Former Black Panther turned journalist and socialist political activist, Mumia Abu Jamal was convicted of killing a police officer in 1981. He was on death row until 2001 due to a very questionably administered trial where evidence was lost, non-existent, or contradictory. He is highly articulate and controversial figure who remains incarcerated indefinitely. A number of high-profile figures in the music biz have campaigned for his release, including Primal Scream, Rage Against the Machine and Chumbawamba.