>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >International Action Center >39 West 14th Street, NY, NY 10011 212-633-6646 >fax: >212-633-2889 >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >http://www.iacenter.org > >For Immediate Release >Contact: Deirdre Sinnott & Monica Moorehead 212- >633- >6646 >Philadelphia: Berta Joubert-Ceci 215-724-1618 > >August 3, 2000 > >HUNDREDS OF PROTESTORS BEING ILLEGALLY HELD AND >TORTURED >IN PHILADELPHIA JAILS > >A state of martial law exists in Philadelphia. >Over 400 >activists are being physically and mentally abused >in >Philadelphia jails for the so-called crimes of >protesting against the prison industrial complex, >the >racist Republican convention, and for demanding >the >freedom for political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal. >Among >the 400+ are 8 members of the International Action >Center. Many people have been held since their >arrest on >Tuesday, August 1. > >Sara Flounders, co-director of the IAC, stated, >"These >hundreds of heroic activists have become the >direct >targets of a repressive system they were >protesting >against almost three days ago when they were >arrested by >Philadelphia police. > >"Clearly human rights violations are being >perpetrated >against the detainees by the cops. For instance, >the >cops are telling the detainees that there are no >lawyers >to represent them and the lawyers have been told >that >there are no detainees who want to see them. This >is a >misinformation campaign and an attempt to >demoralize the >activists." > >While many of the people who were arrested >presented >their ID in order to speed along their arraignment >process, supporters outside the RoundHouse police >precinct are being told that there is no record of >the >people inside. > >A R2K legal network press conference held today >revealed >several different types of police torture. >According to >R2K this includes "sleep deprivation by overnight >handcuffing in awkward positions; the use of pepper >spray to coerce arrestees into attending arraignments; >stripping of prisoners' clothing; beatings; denial of >essential medication; denial of food, water and access >to the bathroom for extended periods," and much more. > >"The mainstream media wants to paint a picture of calm >and police restraint in the face of the massive and >militant demonstrations that have occurred over the past >few days," said Flounders. > > "What has happened in the streets and what is >happening in jail now tells a different story. >There >have been pre-emptive arrests, random searches of >cars >and people and attempts to shut down the >Independent >Media Center. The illegal and unconstitutional >actions >taken by Philadelphia will not go unchallenged. >Philadelphia is clearly not the 'city of brotherly >love' >but the city of fascistic police tactics." >--30-- > > >International Action Center >39 West 14th Street, Room 206 >New York, NY 10011 >email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >web: www.iacenter.org >CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org >phone: 212 633-6646 >fax: 212 633-2889 >------- End of forwarded message ------- >International Action Center >39 West 14th Street, Room 206 >New York, NY 10011 >email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >web: www.iacenter.org >CHECK OUT THE NEW SITE www.mumia2000.org >phone: 212 633-6646 >fax: 212 633-2889 > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
