from Instagram
Spotted on North 2nd Street, near Callowhill
Graffiti: RIP Alton Sterling ACAB
Black Lives Matter & RIP Philando Castile FTP
from Instagram
Seen in North Philly #repost @mrgrtnolan #blacklivesmatter #americawasnevergreat #amerikkkawasnevergreat
from Instagram
Seen in South Philly #rip #philandocastile #ftp #repost @randonzachary
Police Intimidation Last Night in Lead Up to DNC
from Facebook
“The attack on comrade Rufus Farmer last night was nothing short of the legal snatching of Blk/Brown bodies that occur daily in our communities under police occupation/militarization especially, when recording their interactions. They proved our bodies are nothing to be respected, and we’re just commodities to create more capital in an oppressive system that wants nothing more than to see our blood distributed into the soil like fertilizer.
Rufus Farmer is guilty of nothing short of living while Blk, breathing while Blk, walking while Blk, speaking while Blk, and demanding his freedom, while Blk.
The officer stated to him, “I’m going to take you somewhere there isn’t any cameras.” Which was the back of the precinct, pulled him to his knees on the croncrete, shoved his knee into his chest and throat area, and broke his toe, gave him a bogus citation for $300 and parking ticket for allegedly leaving his car unattended. They stated to him the knew he wasn’t a criminal because they know he’s a “professional protester,” what ever that means.
This happened at the hands of the 25th district, which is one of the two most violent districts in this city, as cited in the 2015 DOJ report, and they lived up to that reputation.
The Kenney administration will not get away with criminalizing citizens with this citation act and the 25th district will see the people’s response, we must all stand in unity when anyone in our activist community have been assaulted, as we know they are the voices of the voiceless, and they speak words that empower all those in hearing distance. The Brown community thanked our comrades for their voices and have already stated they will stand with us in court, with the video footage they have.
And lastly, Rufus Farmer was wearing a Free Mumia Abu-Jamal shirt!”
Negotiated Management Policing in Philadelphia
from Praxis
“The only thing we want is for these events to go off without a hitch. We certainly don’t want any violence. People have a right to protest. Our job is to protect their right to protest.” – Charles Ramsey, Philadelphia Police Commissioner from 2007 to 2016
Regardless of how much patriotic propaganda surfaces about Philadelphia, the city fails to fully suppress the pervasive histories of violence against radical dissidents throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The reign of Frank Rizzo throughout the 1970s, the 1985 MOVE bombing, and the heavy-handed repression of protesters at the Republican National Convention in 2000 all serve as examples of Philadelphia’s most polarizing incidents. However, political policing practices have changed considerably over the past fifteen years. PPD leaders are increasingly aware of the damaging effects that repression against protesters has on the legitimacy attributed to the police. Although we continue to see abusive policing tactics in response to dissent throughout the country, Philadelphia’s police increasingly emphasize the softer side of political repression, posing new challenges for radical dissidents.
Some Posters at Pride
Submission
Philadelphians Against Police As Pride Marshals Planning Meeting
from Facebook
Between 2007 and 2013 alone, the Philadelphia Police shot 382 people and 88 of them were killed. 81% of the people shot by cops were Black. There’s no pride in racist police violence, and no place for cops at Pride, yet Philly Pride Presents has chosen to honor GOAL (Gay Officer Action Alliance) as one of this year’s Pride Grand Marshals.
As members of Philadelphia’s queer and trans communities, we are deeply concerned about the blatant disregard for Black life expressed in this decision and the impact it will have on accessibility and safety at Pride for Black and Brown queer and trans folks profiled and targeted by the police.
Sign the petition demanding that Philly Pride Presents rescind their decision to honor GOAL (https://www.change.org/p/philly-pride-presents-philadelphians-against-police-as-pride-grand-marshals-2016), and join us on May 26th as we strategize next steps that honor queer and trans resistance to racist state violence and the struggle for liberation for us all.
WHAT: Meeting to strategize next steps in response to Philly Pride Presents’ decision to honor GOAL as Pride Grand Marshals
WHEN: 6-8pm on Thursday, May 26th
WHERE: Leeway Foundation, 1315 Walnut St # 832, Philadelphia, PA 19107
We hope to see you there!
Some Photos of the aftermath of the May Day March in Solidarity with Prisoners
Submission
Here’s a few pictures taken after the May Day March in Solidarity with Prisoners took place.
Chris Hedges Finally Comes Around at the May Day March In Solidarity with Prisoners
Submission
Chris Hedges decided to skip his scheduled keynote speech at the boring official May Day demonstration that wanted better wages, opting to participate in the May Day march in solidarity with prisoners instead. There weren’t that many of us and the sight of this despicable fool somewhat reduced morale at first. He really brought the party though.
With a t-shirt tied securely to his head, Chris led the charge through Squirrel Hill behind a banner reading “Prisoners to the Streets.” Not wanting to be seen with Mr. Hedges, we covered our faces too and hoped no one would recognize the “cancer of occupy” marching side by side with the very person who had diagnosed us as such.
We put up lot of anti-prison and anti-repression stickers while passing prisoner strike flyers to the passersby strolling in the rain. A few strangers expressed that they were “about revenge” (in reference to a banner we were carrying that said revenge) and understood because they had family members who had been sent upstate.
In a completely unprecedented act, Chris Hedges also put up a few “fuck the police” stickers and did something mean-spirited as we passed a police substation. Good for him! He also brought some anti-everything music that brought the mood up despite the bad weather. Didn’t know Mr. Hedges had it in him but at the end of the day we’re glad he came out and got down.
No arrests 🙂
Fuck work and prisons 🙂
A Day After Police-Involved Shootout Killed Man and Wounded Officer, Chester Mayor Urges Community to ‘Practice Patience’
from mainstream media
Chester’s mayor urged residents in his city to be patient and show restraint on Sunday, a day after a police-involved shootout left an officer injured, a man dead and a second man wounded.
During a news conference Sunday morning, Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland praised the hospital that saved Police Capt. Alan Davis’ life, offered prayers to the man injured in the shooting and asked that the community show restraint as authorities investigate the incident.
Davis was shot in the chest and arm. He was in stable condition on Sunday. Police have not identified the man who died in the shooting or the man who was wounded.
“If we go through the process, then the truth will be revealed,” Kirkland said. “So we’re asking the Chester community once again to practice restraint, practice patience and understand that once this is done … the truth will come out.”
The shootout began as a traffic stop when Chester Police responded to a report of a possibly stolen vehicle at Union and Parker streets just after 4 p.m. Saturday, officials said. When officers arrived, at least one person inside opened fire, according to authorities.
“When the officers tried to stop it they didn’t cooperate and there ended up being shots fired from the car and then back at the car,” said Chester Police Chief James Nolan.
Captain Davis and the second suspect, a 19-year-old man, were taken to the Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Davis, a 26-year veteran of the police force, is currently in stable condition. Family members of the 19-year-old man who were outside the hospital told NBC10 he is stable as well. They also claimed the man is innocent and that police “got the wrong car.”
A large crowd of community members gathered at the scene of the shooting Saturday evening. NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal reports a confrontation and fight occurred between police officers and some members of the crowd leading to pepper spray being used. Police told NBC10 the scuffle began when the crowd pushed up against the barrier as officials removed the man’s body from the scene. Police detained two people during the scuffle and say they have the situation under control.
Police continue to investigate the shooting. Residents told NBC10 they’re concerned about transparency during the investigation in light of another deadly police-involved shooting in February.
“The question is back to the police,” said Pastor Calvin Williams. “Who was at fault? Are ya’ll gonna tell the truth? All we want is the truth. We the people of the city of Chester, we want the truth this time.”
Eddie Africa Denied Parole
from Free the MOVE 9!
Four UCD Buildings Attacked
from It’s Going Down
In the early morning of March 3rd, four University City District buildings had their locks glued and a camera removed. Anti-police and anti-gentrification slogans (“NO COPS,” “NO CONDOS,” “FREE BIG FREEDIA” etc) were painted as well.
University City District is an organization funded in part by University of Pennsylvania that polices and “maintains” space in West Philadelphia.