>cops attacked Jones. But the nature of the attack was still >racist in character. Why? The main targets of police >misconduct and violence are historically and socially >people of color and the poor. > >It's the same with all forms of racist and class >repression. > >Take the death penalty. As death-row revolutionary and >journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal has said, as far as the death >penalty in the United States is concerned, "Millionaires >need not apply." The death penalty is reserved strictly for >the poor and especially those who are not white. > >Guilt or innocence is not the main criteria for whether a >person receives a lethal injection or not. The apparent >innocence of Shaka Sankofa, also known as Gary Graham, did >not save him from being unjustly executed at the hands of >Gov. Bush. > >Capitalist laws exist to protect the actions of the police >and the entire repressive state apparatus. For instance, if >someone who is poor or a person of color is convicted of >killing a cop, in most states the death penalty >automatically applies. > >But in almost every case where a cop kills someone from an >oppressed community, a woman or a gay, lesbian, bisexual or >transgender person, either no criminal charges are made or >the police are exonerated by grand juries. > >This shows that the cops are an elite force that stands >above all the laws governing workers in capitalist society. >The ruling billionaire class relies on this force to >protect its private property and the profit system, at the >expense of millions of poor and working people. > >The Jones beating poses an immediate dilemma for the >Philadelphia ruling establishment because they have spent >millions of dollars to attract more tourists and businesses >to the "City of Brotherly Love" by getting personalities >like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby to participate in >television advertisements. > >And then there's the upcoming Republican Convention. The >Philadelphia police will once again be playing a dual role >before, during and after the convention. They will act as >the protectors of the Republican delegates and repressors >of the protestors coming to Philadelphia to exercise their >right to assemble and their right to free speech. > >It will be very important for demonstrators to show >solidarity with the besieged Philadelphia Black community >by demanding "Justice for Thomas Jones" and "Jail killer >cops." > >[Moorehead is Workers World Party's 2000 presidential >candidate.] > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 23:06:05 -0400 >Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII >Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT >Subject: [WW] "Make Bush Pay for Killing Sankofa" >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the July 27, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >`MAKE BUSH PAY FOR KILLING SANKOFA": DEATH -PENALTY >FOES TO MARCH ON PHILLY'S "WALL STREET" > >By Greg Butterfield > >Fighters against the death penalty have called for a march >on Philadelphia's financial district Aug. 2. Their demands >are "Avenge Shaka, free Mumia," "Fight back against police >terror" and "Shut down capitalism." > >Hundreds of protests and meetings are planned before and >during the July 31-Aug. 4 Republican National Convention in >Philadelphia. That's where Texas Gov. George W. Bush will >receive the Republican nomination for president. > >Anti-racist activists say the Aug. 2 action is one of the >most important. > >"The ruling class, George Bush and all the politicians who >support the death machine want to close the book on the >case of Shaka Sankofa (Gary Graham)," said Larry Holmes of >Millions for Mumia/International Action Center, the group >that initiated the protest. > >"They want everyone to forget that there was a Black >revolutionary executed in Texas, and that he was innocent. > >"But we won't let Shaka be forgotten," Holmes said. "The >fight for justice for Shaka is the same as the fight for >Mumia Abu-Jamal and all the sisters and brothers on death >row." > >Philadelphia is the hometown of Black freedom fighter Abu- >Jamal, who is on death row. Supporters maintain he is a >political prisoner who was framed for the 1981 killing of a >police officer. > >The Aug. 2 demonstration will gather at 15th and Market >streets at noon and march to the Stock Exchange in Center >City. > >By targeting the area called "Philadelphia's Wall Street," >protesters want to expose how big business profits from >police terror, prison labor and the death penalty. > >"The expansion of private prisons is considered by many >experts to be the most profitable industry in the U.S. >today," says a call to action by the IAC. The group names >American Express, Microsoft and Salomon Smith Barney as >examples of monopolies that "profit off prison sweatshops." > >The IAC asserts that "the prison-industrial complex cannot >be separated from the killing machine called death row. > >"The decision [to kill Sankofa] was voiced by the reigning >Republican governor of Texas, arch-racist George Bush. But >Bush was merely echoing the concerns of the bankers and >corporate CEOs he represents. > >"Al Gore or Bill Gates could just as well have been the >executioner. > >"What young people and working people really need is to >build a movement against this system--against capitalism-- >because it's beyond reform." > >`NOT ONE MORE LYNCHING!' > >Millions for Mumia/IAC, International Concerned Family & >Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Texas Death Penalty >Abolition Movement have also called for a "Not one more >lynching" contingent at the big Unity 2000 rally and march >on July 30. > >The contingent will raise the cases of Sankofa, Abu-Jamal >and police brutality victim Thomas Jones. > >"When scores of Philadelphia cops were captured on >videotape beating and nearly lynching Thomas Jones July 12, >it served as a vivid reminder that police brutality and >murder are not rare occurrences," said Holmes. "This is a >system of institutionalized racism and violence. > >"Shaka Sankofa, Mumia Abu-Jamal and Thomas Jones are >connected," Holmes said. "They are all victims of racist >police terror, which is nothing more than the extension of >lynch law and Jim Crow." > >No one knows exactly how the police will react to the >convention demonstrations now that the world has seen the >brutal beating of Jones. > >Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney and Mayor >John Street are scrambling to control the bad publicity. >They know the whole world will be watching to see how the >cops handle protesters at the convention. > >But earlier threats to arrest demonstrators still stand. >Holmesburg Prison, a century-old dungeon, will be reopened >to hold protesters. > >The only permits have been given to two protests scheduled >for the weekend before the convention. > >Protesters say they'll take to the streets no matter what. >Thousands of youths, community activists and union members >are expected to take part in the activities. > >Imani Henry, a coordinator of Rainbow Flags for Mumia, >said, "All across the country, Rainbow Flags had >contingents in lesbian, gay, bi and trans pride marches to >build for the protests at the Republican and Democratic >conventions. > >"We're calling on lesbian, gay, bi and trans people to >come join the `No more lynchings' contingent at Unity >2000," he said. "And our members are organizing other >communities to join in as well." > >Buses are planned in several East Coast cities for those >who want to join the anti-death-penalty group on July 30. > >In New York, buses leave at 7 a.m. from the International >Action Center at 39 W. 14 St. Call (212) 633-6646 to >reserve a seat. Tickets cost $20; $15 for people on fixed >income. > >For transportation from the Baltimore/Washington area, >call (410) 235-7040. For Boston and Providence, R.I., call >(617) 522-6626. In Buffalo, N.Y., call (716) 855-3055. > >KEY ACTIONS > >Listed below are some of the actions that Millions for >Mumia/IAC and other revolutionary and anti-racist groups >are focusing on. Readers who want to march with the IAC >should look for the Shaka/Mumia signs and banners. > >Times and locations of some events are subject to change. >Stay in touch with the IAC in Philadelphia at (215) 724- >1618 and New York at (212) 633-6646. > >JULY 29: "Save Health Care" demonstration organized by the >Philadelphia Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care. The >group's Web site calls for health care before profits, >patients' rights and access to health care for all. The >IAC will march with an AIDS activist contingent organized >by Philadelphia ACT UP. > > Gather 11 a.m. at Franklin Square near 6th and Race >streets. March steps off at noon. Rally 1:30 p.m. at Love >Park. > >JULY 30: Unity 2000 march for "Justice and Democracy Now." >The "Not one more lynching" contingent will gather at 9:30 >a.m. on JFK Blvd. and 20th street. Look for the signs and >banners. > >JULY 30: "U.S. Navy Out of Vieques" protest in nearby >Camden, N.J. at 5:30 p.m. Contact the IAC for time and >location. > >JULY 31: "March for Economic Human Rights" organized by the >Kensington Welfare Rights Union. Gather 11 a.m. at City >Hall. March steps off at noon for the First Union Center, >site of the Republican Convention. > >Police denied a permit for this poor people's march. It >could be the first big showdown with police over the right >to protest during the convention. > >AUG. 1: Day of Nonviolent Direct Action Against the >Criminal In-Justice System organized by Philadelphia >Direct Action Network, New York Free Mumia Coalition and >Hunter College Student Liberation Action Movement. > >This will be a time for many people to take direct action >and risk arrest on behalf of Abu-Jamal and other victims of >the cops, courts and prisons. If you would like to be part >of an "Avenge Shaka, free Mumia" affinity group, contact >the IAC. > >AUG. 2: "Avenge Shaka, free Mumia" march called by the IAC. >Gather noon at 15th and Market streets. March to >Philadelphia's financial district. Time and location are >subject to change; contact the IAC. > >For daily updates on actions and transportation, visit the >Web sites www.iacenter.org and www.mumia2000.org. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 23:06:05 -0400 >Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII >Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT >Subject: [WW] Milwaukee Protests Bush >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the July 27, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >MILWAUKEE PROTESTS BUSH > >By Phil Wilayto >Milwaukee > >Texas Gov. George W. Bush's July 17 campaign stop in >Milwaukee was met by demonstrators condemning the execution >of Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham and calling for an immediate >end to the death penalty. > >It was Bush's first visit to Wisconsin since Sankofa's >June 22 execution. That state-sponsored lynching met with >worldwide condemnation. > >While Bush wined and dined at a $500-per-plate Republican >Party fundraiser at the Midwest Express Center, over 70 >people kept up a loud and spirited picket line outside. >They chanted, "Gov. Death, you can't hide, we charge you >with genocide!" > >Ten people held up large signs spelling out the name "Gary >Graham." A banner read, "Bush, Gore, Clinton: Abolish the >racist death penalty!" > >All the local media covered the protest. But as soon as >reporters left to hear Bush's speech inside, police moved >to shut down the protesters' sound system. > >When organizers argued that they had a constitutional >right to free speech and had used the system dozens of >times before, cops seized the equipment and arrested >student activist Bryan Pfeifer. > >A delegation went to the police station to support Pfeifer >while the protest continued. He was released with a >municipal citation. > >The protest was called by the A Job Is A Right Campaign. >Other participating groups included Muhammad Mosque No. 3, >AFL-CIO Union Summer organizers and interns, Justice for >Janitors members, the Latino organizations Federation for >Civic Action and Education for the People, Casa Maria >Catholic Worker, Milwaukee Greens, Workers World Party and >several religious activists. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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