Support Jamal Holiday!!

Jamal Holiday, a black protestor from Manhattan, is facing serious felony assault charges after a plainclothes police detective was injured at the Poor People's March, August 30. The detective, William Sample, was perhaps the most violent and reckless of a number of cops who attacked, injured and endangered peaceful demonstrators. At least one person in the crowd pulled Sample off his motorcycle, which he had driven into the crowd. The detective was then hit and kicked, and suffered bruises and a concussion. The next day, Holiday was arrested when NYPD say they saw someone wearing the same clothing as a protestor caught on video tape involved in the assault. Police claim Holiday admitted to beating up the cop.

Anti-racist activists need to unite in supporting Holiday, rather than bickering over whether Holiday is actually guilty of beating up the cop. Whether he did or not, he was profiled, and no matter what, the cop was endangering and injuring people, running them over with his motorcycle, and he had to be taken down and put out of commission. Cops react violently to being knocked down-- the detective may have had a gun, so his assailant did well in knocking the cop unconscious.

The white activists and University of Arizona students who were arrested for allegedly lighting the dragon on fire already have a support group, a website, and benefit concerts. Too often in the past, our movement has abandoned our allies when they are not white, and not from the middle class.

Anyone who knows how to get in touch with Jamal Holiday or support him, please post it far and wide!