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12/8 arrests in philly update

by repost
Report on Arraignment of those arrested on 12/8/01 Mumia demonstration
in Philadelphia, by Debra Sweet Refuse & Resist! (corrections encouraged)
Wednesday 12/12/01

Report on Arraignment of those arrested on 12/8/01 Mumia demonstration
in Philadelphia, by Debra Sweet Refuse & Resist! (corrections encouraged)

Six people were arraigned on a long list of felony and misdemeanor
charges, including felony assault, inciting to riot, and conspiracy. A
seventh was let out of jail with no charges, reportedly because no officer
was there to sign a complaint. 5 officers signed a total of 8 complaints
against the six (one person has three complaints). I do not have a list of
what each is charged with.

All six were present in court, with Philadelphia lawyers Michael Coard,
Michael(?) Krassner, Paul Hedsecker, and Shaun Nolan representing various
ones.

Present in court for support were family members and representatives of
International Concerned Family and Friends of MAJ, the Haitian Coalition,
Refuse & Resist, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the Revolutionary
Communist Youth Brigade, the Free Mumia Coalition of NY, and several people
from R2K legal who worked on the defense of those arrested last year at the
RNC. (apologies for leaving anyone out).

A "major case" prosecutor is assigned to their cases. He brought in 5
cops in uniform, and a Ms. Kennedy, their civilian witness who may have been
the woman holding a "fry Mumia" sign on Saturday. The judge declined, for
unknown reasons, to proceed with a preliminary hearing, which both sides
said they were ready for. He offered the defense an opportunity to have the
hearing held yesterday before a judge chosen by lottery, and they declined.

The judge set a "status hearing" for Friday, December 21, at which time
a preliminary hearing will be set. The prosecutor demanded that all
defendants should appear on that date. The defense argued that four were
from out of town, had shown up yesterday in good faith, and would appear for
important hearings, but should not have to come in for a minor hearing. The
judge is allowing the defendants to skip that appearance.

Afterward, most of the supporters and defendants were able to talk
together about how to fight these charges. The following proposals were
made:
1)That a coalition including the defendants, or
their representatives, and interested organizations be set up to "win the
dropping of charges against all six defendants, and the release of Mumia
Abu-Jamal". This coalition is not to replace any ongoing work on Mumia's
behalf, but to specifically fight these cases in a way that brings even more
people into the battle for justice for Mumia. The proposed first meeting of
that group will be Thursday December 20, 7pm at the American Friends Center,
15th & Cherry in Philadelphia. All interested organizations and individuals
invited to attend.
2) All organizations and individuals should
continue to raise funds for paying back bail funds fronted this weekend, and
for ongoing legal expenses.
3)Tthat a subgroup of this coalition be organized
to coordinate the legal cases.
4) Defendants from other cities should be
encouraged to organize groupings in their own cities, along with their own
organizations, to be part of fighting these charges.
5) The Campaign to End the Death Penalty will
draft a statement condemning the police attack on the December 8 march, for
circulation to organizations and prominent individuals to sign.
6) The photo of the cop holding a gun to a
protester's head, now being widely circulated on the internet, should be
developed as a flyer and poster to graphically emphasize the brutality and
anger the police showed towards the march.
7) That all concerned pay attention to the
guidelines for discussing the events of December 8 suggested by ICFFMAJ.
Statements online, on the phone, in public meetings, on in writing about
what any action a march participant may have taken in response to the action
of the police, or any action a person thinks they saw, or heard about, are
strongly discouraged, and should be stopped. People who witnessed the police
attack on the march are strongly urged to get in touch with ICFFMAJ and
arrange to give their information appropriately.
8) Everything done to defend those arrested on
December 8th should be done in a way to bring more people into the movement
for justice for Mumia. We should reach out even more broadly to people who
don't yet know about the case, and use this unprovoked police attack to
explain the importance of stopping his execution and freeing him from death
row.
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