ANTIRACISM MARCH IN PHILADELPHIA

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News from  International Action Center (iacenter@xxxxxxxxxxxx)

MILITANT MARCH TARGETS OFFICES OF
PHILADELPHIA DA AND POLICE CHIEF

Hundreds of protesters marched from the site of the "Unity 2000" Rally
in Philadelphia Sunday July 30 to the offices of District Attorney Lynne
Abraham and Police Commissioner John F. Timoney.

The march, organized by the International Action Center, protested
brutality in Philadelphia and to demand a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
The also demanded an end to the racist death penalty.

Demonstrators carried signs saying "Stop Police Brutality" with pictures
of victims Thomas Jones, who is recovering in the hospital from a police
beating, and Robert Brown, who was shot to death by the police in
Philadelphia's Amtrak station. "Not One More Lynching" said other signs
against the death penalty featuring photos of Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham,
an innocent man executed by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, and Mumia
Abu-Jamal, who is fighting for a new trial from Pennsylvania's death
row.

The multi-racial protest, which included many young people, marched
through the streets to rally outside DA Abraham's office.  Despite being
surrounded by police, including many on horseback, the demonstrators
then continued their militant march to Timoney's office in police
headquarters. Along the route, protesters held sit-ins outside hotels
housing Republican delegates, where they spoke out and chanted against
the death penalty and police brutality.

"The militant outpouring of young people to this protest against the
brutal beating of Thomas Jones and the summary execution of Robert Brown
shows again the rising tide of opposition to police brutality," said
Larry Holmes, a leader of the International Action Center.  "More than
ever, people recognize the link between the death penalty, which George
W. Bush has used to execute over 135 people--including an innocent man,
Shaka Sankofa (Gary Graham)--and police brutality in Philadelphia. That
link is racism."

The protest also called for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was
prosecuted by DA Abraham in 1983. "DA Abraham wrongfully went after
Mumia Abu-Jamal with all the resources of her office," said Berta
Joubert, a leader of the Philadelphia International Action Center.
"Today people demanded that the DA prosecute the real criminals--the
Philadelphia police--for their racist attacks on Mr. Jones and Mr.
Brown."