Negotiated Management Policing in Philadelphia

  • June 23, 2016 3:58 am

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.

Our Moves for DNC – Training Dates, Hotline and More

  • June 19, 2016 6:11 pm
 from Up Against The Law

rundnc

First off….Laws are Changing

We highly advise that you keep abreast of the many changes to laws regarding protesters by checking the ACLU’s DNC Page here https://www.aclupa.org/issues/freespeech/dnc/

 

 

Go Deeper  – Get Fully Prepped for Protest

 

Attend our Know Your Rights Training

Four public Know Your Rights trainings will specifically address protests for the DNC. These trainings will provide activists with Know Your Rights information for protest in Philadelphia during the DNC.

ALL TRAININGS TO BE HELD AT ARCH STREET METHODIST CHURCH, CORNER OF BROAD AND ARCH ST., 55 N. BROAD ST 19107.

 

  • Saturday, July 9, 2016: 2:00pm-4:45pm
  • Saturday, July 16, 2016: 2:00-4:45pm
  • Wednesday, July 20, 2016: 6:30pm-8:30pm
  • Saturday, July 23, 2016: 2:00pm-4:45pm

Hotline starts July 23

Arrest Hotline 484-758-0388

Beginning Saturday, July 23, 2016 throughout the DNC, and after if needed, we will staff a 24 hour arrest hotline.

hotline-blingThis phone hotline will be used by legal observers and protesters to report arrests and incidents of police misconduct. Folks arrested can also call into the hotline to report their own arrest. We will make every effort to contact friends and loved ones of those arrested to keep them informed as to what is happening to folks. We will help direct folks to jails for jail support, and we will track all arrestees through the jails/bail hearings until they are released.

We will be working with the NLG/ACLU organized and trained legal observers (the green hats!) to assist us in reporting arrests and gathering information from potential witnesses/video/photo evidence.

 

Lawyers are Ready

For folks that are arrested, Up Against the Law has teamed up with approximately 20 private criminal defense attorneys who have agreed to represent protesters arrested during the DNC. These attorneys are some of the best criminal defense attorneys in the city and have been vetted in advance to advocate for activists in the way that activists choose.

Up Against the Law will continue to support anyone post arrest during the DNC by working with the attorneys to gather evidence, maintain contact, and assist with communication between lawyers and activists. This will include post arrest meetings with Up Against the Law and lawyers and making ourselves available to answer simple questions (not legal advise) regarding any pending criminal/civil cases.

 

WHAT WE DO NOT DO:

We do NOT have a bail fund or post bail for anyone arrested.

We strongly encourage all groups to have their own bail fund. If bail is needed, we are happy to explain the bail process which we do in our trainings. Philadelphia does not use bail bonds. Bail is paid directly to the courts. Bail can be posted 24/7.  Cash only after 5pm, credit/debit cards, cash, certified checks can be used to post bail M-F, 8:00am-5:000pm.

Eddie Africa Denied Parole

  • March 11, 2016 11:27 pm

from Free the MOVE 9!

When The Move 9 became eligible for parole in 2008 The Pennsylvania Parole Board took on the responsibility of officials of this system in keeping innocent Move Members in prison for the rest of their lives . From 2008 up until as recent as this past week all of The Move 9 have been denied parole.  . We received a call last night from our brother Eddie Africa who was calling to let us know he was denied yet again by The Pa Parole Board and was given a two year hit where he would not go before the board again until 2018 .
The Parole Board has cited the issue of Eddie being a risk to the safety of the community.At Eddie’s parole hearing the parole board was presented with a petition of 300 signatures of members of the community who would welcome him on parole into the community and who in fact felt no threat to their safety with Eddie in the community . It’s obvious that this community that the parole board is talking about is none other than the law enforcement community across the country who have mobilized against parole for Move Members .
This clearly shows that The Parole Board has no regards to the community and their input on anything as they only value the input of law enforcement officials who they are obviously  working in conjunction with to keep our family in prison . Eddie sounded strong as always and he has not been deterred by this and neither are we . The fight continues to win parole for our family as we prepare for our sisters may 2016 parole hearings . There will be more information to follow in the next couple of days on the next steps we are taking .
In the meantime we urge people to sign The Petition we aimed at US Attorney General Loretta Lynch as we demand that The Justice Department investigate the wrongful and ongoing imprisonment of The Move 9 . People can go to https://www.causes.com/campaigns/92454-free-the-move-9.

Self-Defense Class & Anti KKK Fundraiser

  • February 11, 2016 4:05 pm

from facebook

Come through and learn some self defense and boxing basics in a chill environment from Philly’s own Ronnie Vega! It’s pay what you can and all the money is going toward Stephen Loughman’s case against the KKK (more info on that below). All experience levels are welcomed and encouraged to attend. No corny macho shit.

Philly Antifa will be here helping out with gear and showing a short film about Stephen’s case. Gloves, handwraps, and pads will be available, but if you have your own please bring them.

[February 18 at 6pm at LAVA 4134 Lancaster Ave]

The Age of Extremes- Climate Change, Terrorism, and Capitalism: A Talk and Discussion with Journalist Arun Gupta

  • December 4, 2015 6:37 pm

from facebook

Award-winning journalist Arun Gupta, in conversation with Sally Eberhardt, will discuss the state of America on the eve of the 2016 election. In recent years Gupta has gone undercover to police conventions, investigated the migrant crisis in Tijuana, stood on the frontlines of “Blockadia,” uncovered an FBI terrorist-entrapment plot, examined profiteering in the prison industry, traveled through the marijuana industry in California, infiltrated the Tea Party, covered Occupy Wall Street, and told the stories of Iraqi refugees, low-wage workers, and Black Lives Matter activists.

With more hot air than action coming out of the U.N. summit on climate change in Paris, Gupta will explain how terrorism, capitalism, and climate change are interconnected, and why there needs to be credible alternatives to capitalism or most Americans will continue to fall for demagogues like Donald Trump or pro-Wall Street, pro-war Democrats like Hillary Clinton.

Arun Gupta contributes to outlets including the Washington Post, The Nation, In These Times, The Guardian, The Progressive, YES! Magazine, Telesur, ZNet, Counterpunch, and Al-Jazeera America.

This event is free. The space is wheelchair accessible though the bathroom is not.

[December 11 at 7pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Me and My Friends Don’t Go to Jail

  • December 3, 2015 12:42 pm

from facebook

How do we keep fighting when our struggles are targets of repression? In other words, what is security culture, and how does it apply to our everyday lives? This workshop, the second in a series called “Anarchist Interventions,” will seek to practically engage with these questions. We’ll feature short presentations and interactive discussions on how to reduce risk of arrest or harassment, communicate more safely, and how this relates to the local context of political action and activism in Philly. This conversation feels especially pressing to us in light of state and autonomous attacks on Black Lives Matters movements by white supremacy.
[December 10 at 7:30pm at A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave]

Updates on Mumia, Eddie Africa

  • September 21, 2015 8:05 pm

from Final Straw Radio

In more prisoner news:

Mumia Abu-Jamal is contuing to be denied the medical care that he needs to survive his stay in prison at SCI-Mahone in Frackville, PA.

Hepatitis C is a dangerous liver disease which is growing among poor people and especially rampant in prisons. Mumia found himself diagnosed with Hep-C, as well as type-II diabetes and other medical circumstances, in August of this year. Drugs released within the last 18 months show remarkable cure-rates of 90-95%, but based on costs of $60-85K for a 12 week course, jail and prison authorities here (and in jails and prisons across the U.S.) are denied the incarcerated access to them.

Court Support for Freddie Grey Protesters

  • September 1, 2015 5:27 pm

from facebook


PLEASE DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST @[null:#BLACKLIVESMATTER]! We need as many people as possible to get to the court by 8 a.m. sharp. There will be a picket line between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. at the request of Aljebu-Lan (Key) Marcus and Attorney J Wyndal Gordon, who are urging that the community do as much as possible to bring publicity to his case. If you cannot attend because of work or other difficulties please call States Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s office to ask that all charges be dropped @ 443-984-6000 or email mail@stattorney.org,
The State has been adding charges to many of the defendants and Marcus now has additional charges of resisting arrest and interfering with an arrest on top of disorderly and failure to obey.
Both Marcus and Malachi are members of the Philly Coalition for Real Justice. Malachi is also a member of Action Against Black Genocide and Marcus is a member of the Trayvon Martin Organizing Committee. They were both arrested during the Saturday, April 25th protest in downtown Baltimore.
The State has been adding charges based on a horrific witch hunt of protesters and youth in the community so in many cases charges continue to change. At their last court date, the judge was handing out jail sentences on disorderly conduct charges, many times on very, very small charges to people who simply were in the wrong place at the wrong time. In addition, many of these defendants had very poor legal counsel.
We need to continue to demand AMNESTY FOR ALL YOUTH!
[September 8 at 8am at 700 E. Patapsco Ave. Baltimore]

Anarchist Prisoner Posters Downtown

  • August 29, 2015 9:05 pm

from instagram


Nice use of free posters spotted downtown. #anarchistprisoners

Fundraiser for Anti-Fascists Stephen Loughman and Eddien Patterson

  • August 23, 2015 1:07 pm

from facebook

null

Antifa Philadelphia will be hosting a short informational event/fundraiser for southern Antifascists Stephen Loughman of Virginia and Eddien Patterson of South Carolina, who are facing legal repression for their alleged involvement in routing the Klan and Nazis in Charleston in July. We will show a few short videos about the events surrounding his arrest and then collect some money for their legal support.

There will be food and Antifa merch for sale as well, including brand new Philly Antifa t-shirts.
[August 30 at 6:30pm at A-Space 4722 Baltimore Ave]
Here is the full call and background from Stephen’s support committee:

“On Monday, July 27th, our friend and comrade, Stephen Loughman, was arrested and charged with “breach of peace” for his support the week before at an anti-KKK rally in Columbia, SC on July 18th, 2015. Local activists had called on folks from across the southern region to help South Carolina’s communities stand against the Klan and other hate groups, who like many groups were trying to use the Confederate flag debate as a recruitment tool.

Crashing the Party: Revisiting the RNC 2000 with activist and author Kris Hermes

  • August 13, 2015 5:16 pm

from facebook

This August marks the 15-year anniversary of direct action against the prison-industrial complex and arrest of hundreds of activists during the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. In response, dissidents confronted new forms of political repression by pushing legal boundaries and establishing new models of collective resistance.

Join activist and author Kris Hermes for a discussion on his new book, Crashing the Party: Legacies and Lessons from the RNC 2000, an engrossing combination of social history and courtroom drama that explains the origins of contemporary protest policing and the creative political resistance used to overcome it. Hermes will discuss his experiences on the ground in Philadelphia and how they relate to the movement today. Books will be available for purchase and signing following the discussion!
[August 20 at 7pm at Wooden Shoe Books 704 South St]

Tyree Carroll needs our support at his Pre-Trial Conference

  • August 6, 2015 10:47 am

from facebook

Tyree Carroll remains in jail. His pre-trial conference is THIS WEDNESDAY. Let’s pack the court to help get him out! Meet us at Criminal Justice Center Room 805 (Judge Michael Erdos). [August 12 at 8:30am at 1301 Filbert St]

Immediately following the conference will be a press conference outside the courthouse.

7pm that night we will demand #Justice4Tyree at the 14th Police District’s regularly scheduled Police Service Area Meeting at Wister Playground, 4971 Baynton Street.

We must stand together and remind the system and those who work for it that BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!

Visit the #Justice4Tyree FB page for more information and join to stay updated. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1654305488121306/

Court Support for Freddie Grey Protesters

  • August 3, 2015 7:44 pm

from facebook

PLEASE DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST @[null:#BLACKLIVESMATTER]! We need as many people as possible to get to the court by 8 a.m. sharp. There will be a picket line between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. at the request of Aljebu-Lan (Key) Marcus and Attorney J Wyndal Gordon, who are urging that the community do as much as possible to bring publicity to his case. If you cannot attend because of work or other difficulties please call States Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s office to ask that all charges be dropped @ 443-984-6000 or email mail@stattorney.org,

[August 10 at 8am at 700 E. Patapsco Ave. Baltimore, MD]

Crashing the (LAUNCH) PARTY! Legacies and Lessons of the RNC 2000 by Kris Hermes

  • July 23, 2015 2:49 pm

from facebook

What: Celebrate the publication of Crashing the Party: Legacies and Lessons from the RNC 2000 by Kris Hermes!

Hear the author, as well as former RNC arrestees, legal workers, and lawyers speak about their experiences from 2000, and how those experiences are relevant for today’s activists, street demonstrations, and movements for social change.

*Join us for free food, drinks, music, video footage, an historic slideshow, and a raffle!*

When: 2-4pm on August 1st, the 15th anniversary of direct action against the prison industrial complex and the arrest of hundreds of hundreds of activists in downtown Philadelphia

Where: William Way LGBT Community Center: 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19107

Cost: FREE!

Let’s work together to demystify and resist the legal system! Bring your friends and help spread the word!

Delbert Africa Denied Parole

  • June 28, 2015 9:33 pm
from MOVE 9 Parole

Earlier this Week we found out that our Brother Delbert Africa was denied parole by The Pa Parole Board and was given a two year hit . One of the reasons they cited for Delbert being  denied in their own words he is a risk to the safety of the community . This is unacceptable anyone who has ever met Delbert or has come in contact with him can tell you that Delbert Africa is nowhere near a threat to the safety of the community even The Superintendent Of SCI Dallas who along with Delbert’s Counselor recommended Delbert For Parole so The Parole Board has to come with something better than this . People in the community who The Parole Board are saying are at risk all wrote letters of support for Delbert’s Parole.

In Fact Their is a risk to the safety of people in the community but it’s not Delbert Africa or the rest of The Move 9.  It’s The Police known murderers of our children . The police that murdered Move Men, Women, And Move Children on May 13th 1985 walk the streets with immunity. The police who murdered Brandon Tate Brown in Philadelphia are still walking the streets with their identities protected. Akai Gurley,  Eric Garner, and so many others safety has been put at risk by these foul murderers who walk the street and continue to be a risk to the community as a whole’s safety . It’s obvious a person who has kept down gang  and racial violence in prison is far from a threat to the community at large .

It’s obvious that officials want our family to die in prison you can look no further than the examples of Merle and Phil Africa dying in Prison . We cannot allow another person to die in these dungeons . We are urging people to please take the time to sign this petition that we have aimed at The United States Justice Dept you can go to the website at https://www.causes.com/campaigns/92454-free-the-move-9. We are demanding now that the justice dept look into the unjust imprisonment of The Move 9 as a whole. Our goal is to reach 25,000 signatures as a whole so we have some serious work to do as a whole and your help is needed now more than ever.

Ona Move

The Justice And Accountability Campaign