Calls you can make to support arrested RNC Protesters

ACTION ALERT

SUPPORT ARRESTED RNC PROTESTERS! TAKE ACTION BY
CALLING NOW!

Thousands of people have been arrested protesting the Republican
National Convention in NYC. Many prisoners are being held under
appalling and extremely unhealthy conditions at a temporary detention
center at Pier 57.

We're asking everyone to call and demand prisoners be immediately
released or transferred to a safe and sanitary facility. Call the
Police Commissioner at (646) 610-5410 or (646) 610-5000 or Mayor
Bloomberg at (212) 788-7418.

END HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
Medics treating people being released report chemical burns, allergic
reactions, severe respiratory problems, skin infections, rashes, welts,
wounds and cuts -- all caused by the grossly unsanitary conditions of
Pier 57. Arrestees are being housed in a former bus garage, the floor
covered in motor-oil and grease.

With nowhere else to sit or sleep, people are laying in this toxic
residue. People are coming out of jail with their skin and clothes
covered in a thick black sludge. One person went into toxic shock from
so much motor oil being absorbed through their skin. Many have no
access to food, water, phones or lawyers. Prisoners also report the
bathroom lacking toilet paper, toilet seats or stall doors. This
morning, United for Peace and Justice organized a rally to protest
these appalling conditions.

ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE LAWYERS
As well as this medical crisis, please also call to demand that
everyone have access to meet with experienced lawyers from the National
Lawyers Guild (NLG) well before their arraignment. Arrestees
participating in jail solidarity through not giving their names are not
being allowed to meet with experienced lawyers. Public Defenders often
have no experience with jail solidarity; these people need to be able
to meet with NLG lawyers.

CALL NOW - PRESSURE POLITICIANS
We're asking for your support by calling to demand that all arrestees
be immediately released, or transferred to a cleaner, safer facility
and Pier 57 be closed. This is especially crucial for arrestees with
asthma, emphysema and other respiratory problems. Demand that all
prisoners be able to meet with experienced lawyers from the NLG well
before their arraignment, including those who have not given their
names.

Demand Pier 57 be closed, and prisoners transferred!
Demand access to experienced lawyers! Call:

The Police Commissioner: (646) 610-5410 or (646) 610-5000
Mayor Bloomberg: (212) 788-7418
The District Attorney: (212) 335-9000
The Court Administration: (212) 428-2500

JAIL SOLIDARITY
If you are in NYC, you can help out by coming down to the jail to
welcome protesters as they are being released. Most are being released
from the Courthouse at 100 Canal Street, or around the building at 125
White. Take the 4,5,6 or N,R trains to Canal.

UPDATES
To follow some of the events around the RNC protests, check NYC
Indymedia at http://nyc.indymedia.org/

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
If you want to financially support the legal defense of people
arrested
during the RNC protests, you can contribute money through the following
groups:

United for Peace and Justice
(212) 868-5545, http://www.unitedforpeace.org.
(Specify the donation is for legal defense.)

Anarchist People of Color Prisoner Defense Fund
http://www.illegalvoices.org/apoc/

National Lawyers Guild
http://www.nlg.org/contribute/contribute.htm

If you or someone you know has experienced medical problems from police
misconduct during the RNC or from the conditions at detention
facilities, call Medical Activists of NY at 1-888-744-7856. If you or
someone you know has been arrested, you can call the National Lawyers
Guild legal hotline at (212) 679-6018.

Thank you for your help! Pass this message on and distribute as
widely as possible!