Former Black Panther Mumia Abu–Jamal has had his death sentence repealed by a US Federal Appeals Court. According to the BBC the jury's instructions for considering mitigating circumstances were found to be flawed by the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals.

Abu–Jamal has long been in the spotlight in the punk/activist music scene, drawing support from disparate bands like Anti–Flag, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Indigo Girls, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and more.

Apparently Abu–Jamal's supporters are not pleased with the verdict calling it a "devastating decision" and protests are expected tomorrow in San Francisco and elsewhere in April. The organization called The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu–Jamal is aiming for a complete retrial of the case, instead of the new sentencing hearing granted by a 2001 federal judge.

The court has upheld Abu–Jamal's conviction for killing a Philadelphia police officer. More information can be found at Wikipedia.