#PhillyisBaltimore: Philadelphia’s Response to the Baltimore Uprisings

  • May 8, 2015 4:17 pm

from FTW, WTF

Written by: Trayvon Martin Organizing Committee (TMOC) and Action Against Black Genocide (AABG)

Baltimore has risen up following the police murder of 25 year old Freddie Gray. On April 19th, Freddie Gray died of spinal injuries sustained in the back of a police van following his racially biased arrest. Video of his arrest went viral, sparking riots and protests across Baltimore. After days of demonstrations, the six police officers involved in his murder have been charged by Baltimore’s State Attorney, Marilyn J. Mosby –- one officer with second-degree murder, and the others with assault and involuntary manslaughter. But here in Philadelphia, despite nearly weekly demonstrations and at least a dozen arrests, the police have yet to even release the names of the officers involved in the murder of Brandon Tate Brown, a black man shot by police during a car stop in Mayfair in December last year. Security footage of Brandon’s fatal encounter with police remains firmly in the hands of the PPD, while the internal investigation has cleared the officers of any wrongdoing and returned them to street duty. 1 As rage whips across the nation after yet another racialized police murder, those in Philadelphia continue to ask #WhoKilledBrandonTateBrown. The Philadelphia Coalition for REAL Justice, a coalition of activists and organizers forged in the heat of the Ferguson uprisings, called a march on Thursday April 30th in solidarity with the Baltimore uprising and the people claiming the streets there.

Anti-Police Graffiti Spray-Painted On Garage Door In Old City

  • May 4, 2015 1:21 am

from mainstream media

May 3, 2015 8:32 AM

Authorities are working to figure out who spray-painted an “anti-police” message on a garage door in Old City Philadelphia.

It was discovered around 6 a.m. Sunday on Bank Street between Market and Chestnut Streets.

The graffiti, spray-painted in red, reads “Cop Lives Don’t Matter.”

It’s unclear when the vandalism actually happened.

Police are investigating.

JUSTICE FOR REKIA BOYD!! STP stands with SOUL in demanding an end to violence against Black women

  • April 27, 2015 1:30 am

from Serve the People PHL

With the nation’s eyes turned towards militant resistance in Baltimore, Saturday, 25 April, STP – PHL took to the streets of West Philadelphia, joining comrades from SOUL and other organisations to voice collective outrage over the acquittal of the off-duty police officer who murdered Rekia Boyd.

Under SOUL’s directive, comrades used the internationally-attended sporting event known as the Penn Relays to cause major disruptions to automotive traffic on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, performing sit-ins, die-ins and street blockades in direct confrontation with the festive atmosphere of the events. “We are not sorry for inconveniencing you,” demonstrators asserted. “Being Black in this country is an inconvenience.”

Last Night in Baltimore

  • April 27, 2015 12:45 am

from anarchistnews

Unsurprisingly, corporate media covering Saturday’s events in Baltimore are covering up the extent of last nights riot. In our opinion primarily due to the fact that what took place was a direct result of the State’s complete tactical failure policing the streets. Were they to acknowledge what ACTUALLY happened would be to admit to all of America (as they were watching or reading on their screens) that they have no ability to control us when we really rage. They simply don’t have enough pigs.

No doubt we will see top level reshuffling of whoever orders the pigs around in Baltimore as a result, because they fucked up big time last night. Or we will be seeing the National Guard on the streets of Baltimore by next week.

The State is terrified of the possibility of this being THE trigger. The one they can’t contain.

On Saturday April 25th, the Baltimore Police Department along with the Maryland State Troopers had no control whatsoever of the vast majority of downtown Baltimore till well past midnight.

Pack the Courts: Justice for the Ten Arrested at Philly Cop Town Hall!

  • April 19, 2015 11:09 pm

from facebook

On Thursday [April 23] at 11 am at the Criminal “Justice” Center at 1301 Filbert St.

The “Philly 10,” the 10 activists arrested at a Police Town Hall meeting will be at court to challenge charges of “disorderly conduct.” We need your support to show Police Chief Charles Ramsey and the Philly PD that criminalizing legitimate protest is unacceptable and that we are standing firm and will not let them trample on our first amendment rights to free speech.

Please show up at 1pm for an important pre-rally, following by court proceedings and a press conference/demonstration afterwards. More information on this page as things develop.

Disempower, Disarm, Disband the Police: Building an Anti-Police Movement

  • April 12, 2015 4:52 pm

from facebook

Join Unity & Struggle NYC, Trayvon Martin Organizing Committee Philly, and Action Against Black Genocide for a panel on building and strategizing an abolitionist anti-police movement. Unity & Struggle will briefly present an overview of the political moment we are in to set the context for a discussion of how a “disempower, disarm, disband” campaign would look in Philly. Recommended (but not required) reading is Unity & Struggle’s “Ferguson and Beyond” zine, available on their website.

TMOC Philly is an anti-state anti-capitalist organization based in Philly.

Action Against Black Genocide is an organization oriented towards ending police violence against black people.

Blog at fighttowinthefuture.wordpress.com

Unity & Struggle is a national anti-state anti-capitalist organization. Writings can be found at
unityandstruggle.org

[April 18 at 5pm at Arch Street United Methodist Church 55 N Broad St]

Man Wounded in Police-Involved Shooting in Philadelphia

  • March 25, 2015 3:19 pm

from mainstream media

A Philadelphia police officer has shot and wounded a man who allegedly pointed a gun at the officer, a day after the Justice Department issued a report on police shootings in the city.

Police say the officer shot the 24-year-old man during a foot pursuit Tuesday night in the city’s Nicetown section.

Officers had been called to the area on the report of a shooting and found a 23-year-old man with gunshot wounds, lying next to a bullet-ridden minivan.

Police say the 24-year-old man tried to flee the scene and during a pursuit pointed a gun at police and an officer opened fire.

The shooting comes a day after the Justice Department issued a report on police shootings in Philadelphia, citing poor training for officers’ justification for deadly force.

Becoming Rebels

  • March 19, 2015 9:47 pm

From FTW/WTF

On February 28th, we participated in a “Day of Outrage” march in Bridgeton, New Jersey in response to the execution of Jerame Reid by Bridgeton police on December 30th, 2014 at a traffic stop. Police claimed he had a gun despite both his hands being visible to officers in the video (more details can be found here). This march gave us a snapshot of our movement’s strengths and weaknesses, as well a lesson in our enemies’ strategy. In the interest of advancing the struggle for a free society we offer this assessment of our actions, and some points on how to move forward.

D.A.: No charges against police in shooting of Brandon Tate-Brown

  • March 19, 2015 9:07 pm

from Mainstream Media

Two Philadelphia police officers have been cleared in the shooting death of Brandon Tate-Brown during a car stop in Mayfair on Dec. 15, District Attorney Seth Williams said Friday.

“In this case the facts show a tragedy, a terrible tragedy, but not a crime,” Williams said.

Philadelphia Officer Shot Dead In The Head Trying to Stop A Robbery

  • March 11, 2015 4:23 am

from mainstream media

A Philadelphia police officer was shot in the head and killed after he and his partner exchanged gunfire with two suspects trying to rob a video game store, city officials said Thursday.

The slain officer, Robert Wilson III, fired back even as he was being shot by suspects on either side of him. One was struck and taken to a hospital while the other was in custody, police said.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, red-eyed as he spoke at an evening news conference, said he had met the 30-year-old Wilson and his partner when they took part in a recent pilot program in which officers wore body cameras.

“I knew him, had met him. He was one of the best police officers this city has to offer, period,” Ramsey said, standing beside the mayor, the district attorney and other city officials.

Justice by Any Means Necessary #WhoKilledBrandonTateBrown

  • February 19, 2015 5:07 pm

from facebook

Feb 21st marks the 50th Anniversary Malcolm X assassination. Still today we are attacked by the very ones we pay to protect us.

On Dec 15th Brandon Tate Brown was shot in the back of the head during a routine traffic stop in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia. Since then Mr. Brown’s family has not received any information regarding who shot him and the details leading up to his death.

[February 21 at 2pm at 6600 Frankford Ave]

Police dept. clears cops in Brandon Tate-Brown death

  • February 18, 2015 2:53 pm

from mainstream media

The two Philadelphia police officers involved in December’s shooting death of a Mayfair man during a routine car stop have been cleared of wrongdoing by the department and returned to street duty, the Daily News has learned.

Brandon Tate-Brown, 26, died early Dec. 15 after two officers stopped him on Frankford Avenue near Magee, allegedly because Tate-Brown was driving a 2014 Dodge Charger with its headlights off. The officers said Tate-Brown resisted being handcuffed, violently struggled with them and then lunged for a handgun inside his car, prompting one officer to shoot him.

But TV footage of the scene minutes later shows the car’s headlights on, and Tate-Brown’s family say they believe he was stopped for “driving while black” and shot in the back of the head by a racist cop. They disputed cops’ claim he had a gun in the car and suggested it was planted. Nearby stores’ surveillance cameras recorded the incident, but police have refused to release the footage, saying it was part of an open investigation.

What is white supremacy? A Teach-in, Q&A, and Discussion

  • February 16, 2015 2:44 pm

from facebook

White supremacy is one of those things we think we might know all about, but do we really? Over the past 500 years white supremacy has been a force that has shaped countless lives, yet it is a topic rarely discussed by the general population. How can a topic that is rarely talked about be well understood?

The recent uproar over Arizona State’s The Problem With Whiteness course shows us that in depth discussions and study of white supremacy as a social force are taking place in the academy. These sort of discussions should be available to everyone.

We will hear two presentations; one from Daryle Lamont Jenkins of One People’s Project, and another from Philly Antifa followed by a Q&A and a facilitated discussion. Both One People’s Project and Philly Antifa are actively working to expose and thwart the agenda of white supremacist organizations both here in the tri-state area and beyond.

Daryle will go into detail about how the white supremacist agenda fits into recent events, including the non-indictments of killer cops and the phenomenon of pro-police rallies. Philly Antifa will give an overview of their work and will show us how to recognize white supremacist symbols and code words.

We will also explore the subtle differences between crude white supremacy (KKK, neo-Nazi’s, etc) and the more invisible white supremacy that functions on the every day systemic level.

One other thing to keep in mind going into this event, and something that should be of unique concern, is the fact that white supremacists hold high positions in the federal government. This past December it was revealed that Congressman and majority whip Steve Scalise gave a speech to the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO), a notorious white supremacist group founded by former KKK leader David Duke. After this scandal broke, David Duke threatened to expose other high ranking government officials with white supremacist ties if investigations against Scalise proceeded. The story has since disappeared from the headlines.

February 21st, 6pm
4722 Baltimore Avenue
Light refreshments will be provided

Please email starspray21@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns

Sponsored by One People’s Project, Philly Antifa, and Deep Green Philly

Rally Against Racism & Repression

  • January 10, 2015 8:12 pm

from facebook

[January 16th 5pm 30th Street Station]

Justice for Mike Brown, Eric Garner, Brandon Tate-Brown, and all victims of Killer Cops! Defend Our Movement from Repression!

Ferguson stood up and resisted the murder of Mike Brown, and youth all around the country stood up and answered the call. But now the police are fighting back with a public witch-hunt as well as the harassment and arrest on trumped-up charges of TMOC and other organizers around the country for taking a stand against police murder in NYC.

We talk back. We turn up. We stand tall. With Ferguson-for Brandon, for every black body in America robbed of its right to live- for every injustice that we are growing sick and tired of. We are done with your police/media slander campaigns.

Mike Brown is still dead.
Darren Wilson is still free.
The Grand Jury was a sham.
We’re still mad!
We’re still demanding justice!

We are sick with anger.
It is too late for containing it.
Not another. Not another. Not one more.
We will turn down for nothing until justice is OURS!

Hands Up – Fight Back!

Trayvon Martin Organizing Committee (TMOC), Philadelphia

Help Jordan pay medical costs from philly ferguson protest

  • January 9, 2015 3:26 pm

from YouCaring

Jordan is a  26 year old Hudson Valley NY resident, musician, naturalist, anarchist and environmental activist…

On August 23rd Jordan was arrested while attending a demonstration in solidarity with those protesting in Ferguson, MO following the murder of Michael Brown. He was shot with a taser gun, tackled to the ground, arrested, and non-consensually brought to the hospital for injuries that the police had inflicted.  He has since been slapped with a large emergency room bill, and he is also being forced to pay $1,500 in other fees.

We have been making every effort to fundraise for Jordan and have already raised some money.  However, we still have a large amount left to raise.  Please help us out to whatever extent you are able!  If you would prefer to mail a check, please contact us for a mailing address.  Thank you!