Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Support the Warrens in Court Monday, March 3 at 9:00 am

The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition urges you to show your support for freedom fighters Michael Tarif Warren and Evelyn Warren this coming Monday, March 3rd at 9AM

Monday, March 3, 2008
Michael Tarif & Evelyn Warren

9:00 a.m.
Criminal Court, AP2, 6th Floor
120 Schermerhorn Street
Brooklyn, New York

Take the 2,3,4 or 5 train to Borough Hall or the A or F trains to Jay St./Borough Hall.

The Warrens were assaulted by NYPD near their home when peacefully observing & taking notes as a cop assaulted a young man.

http://www.justiceforwarrens.org

WHAT HAPPENED?

11/30/07: Video interview by TotalBlackTV.com
(this is the first 2 minutes of interview, view rest at TotalBlackTV.com)
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Attorney Michael Tarif Warren and his wife Evelyn were driving along Vanderbilt Avenue around 6 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2007 when they stopped at a red light. While stopped in traffic they witnessed NYPD officers pursuing a young man. They put their vehicle in park and exited their vehicle to see what was happening. They saw the young man on the ground with his hands cuffed behind him surrounded by police officers who were kicking him viciously.

Then Sgt. Talvy, who appeared to be in charge, kicked him in the head and stepped back some distance away. He placed his hand on his handgun on his right hip.

"Not only as people of conscience and moral decency, but as lawyers, we thought this is outrageous." They arrived and stood "more than ten feet away," he said. We returned to the vehicle almost immediately because we were ordered to do so. Outside the vehicle, Mr. Warren said to Sgt. Talvy, "Why are you beating him, he's handcuffed, he's not a threat. Take him to the precinct."

They returned to their car, and Ms. Warren began to write down the license plate numbers of the police vehicles as the Warrens watched the NYPD put the bleeding young man in a car. When Sgt. Talvy came over to the car Mr. Warren told him we were lawyers. Sgt. Talvy struck Ms. Warren while both Warrens were in the vehicle. Sgt. Talvy was punching Mr. Warren repeatedly in the head, looking as if he had no intention of stopping, repeatedly punching him through the window and shouting, "Get out of the car!" Sgt. Talvy dragged Mr. Warren out of the car, ripping his shirt and pants. Ms. Warren, very upset, asked "Why are you doing this?" Sgt. Talvy then punched her in the face. Both were arrested and taken to the 77th precinct charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

Quickly, word of the Warrens arrest spread, and several hundred people descended on the 77th Precinct demanding his release. Organizations including the December 12th Movement, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, Malcolm X Grassroots, International Action Center, CEMOTAP, the Muslim community, the Haitian community and many others were present and several media outlets were on hand.

NYC Councilman Charles Barron, Attorneys Roger Wareham, Reginald Haley, and Marisa Benton began negotiating their release with Brooklyn's top brass, including Community Affairs Chief Douglas Zeigler, Brooklyn Borough Commander Chief Gerald Nelson, and 77th Precinct Executive Officer Michael Marino. At approximately 10:30 PM Evelyn Warren was released with a summons. Michael Warren was released with a DAT at 11:30 PM.

Councilman Barron and other community activists are demanding Talvy be fired and that Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hines "drop the charges (against the Warrens) and charge the police." He stated, "Police who murder and assault us must be charged with crimes and put in jail. That is the only deterrent."

Evelyn Warren added, "We are professionals, if they do this to us in broad daylight on a crowded street, what do they do in the dark when no one is around? That's what I'm concerned about. Officer Talvy must go and Police Commissioner Kelly must go, because his policy allows this behavior to continue."

If charges against them are not dropped, Michael and Evelyn Warren vow to take the case to trial and use it as a community mobilizing and educating tool to fight police brutality.

This report largely taken from an article by Amadi Ajamu published by the NYC Indymedia Center on June 23, 2007. Thank you, Sister Amadi.

Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org

Questions and comments may be sent to claude@freedomarchives.org

New Link for MOVE 9 Parole Board Letters

The link previously listed for getting the names of parole board members is dead.

Use this link instead: http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/pbpp/site/default.asp

Here are the names:

Catherine C. McVey, Chairman

Charles Fox

Michael L. Green

Jeffrey R. Imboden

Matthew T. Mangino

Benjamin A. Martinez

Gerard N. Massaro

Judy Viglione

Lloyd A. White

Below is the entire e-mail, (w/updated link). Thanks so much!

URGENT CALL FOR THE MOVE 9!

Phil Africa says that the MOVE 9 can really use letters and calls to the PA Parole Board this month and next [February & March]. Letters supporting their release can make a big difference. The Board will be having a hearing in April.

After THIRTY years, our brothers and sisters are finally up for parole. If not given probation this year, they may all be forced to serve another SEVENTY. They have almost completed their minimum sentence [of the 30-100 year sentence]. Let's bring them home where they belong in August 2008!

This April parole hearing is SO important. Letters and calls to the Parole Board now can really help. Phil is asking that folks send copies of their letters to him. He wants to take a pile of copies of our letters to the hearing as a show of public support.

It is probably a good idea for folks to send letters to each of the nine Board members. The chairperson was appointed by Ed "1985 Bomber" Rendell so don't count on her getting your message to the whole Board. Their individual names are on this web page:

http://www.pbpp.state.pa.us/pbpp/site/default.asp

Letters can all be sent to this address:

[name of Board member],
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole
1101 South Front Street, Suite #5100
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2517
Phone: (717) 787-5699

Please send copies of the letters to Phil at:

William Phillips Africa #AM-4984
SCI-Dallas
1000 Follies Road
Dallas, PA 18612

For supporters to brush up on the history of MOVE and the "MOVE 9," this recent 45-minute talk by Ramona is great:

http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2007/08/27830.php

Letters and phone calls to the Board are needed NOW. Let's bring 'em HOME. 30 years is too much already.
70 more is unthinkable.

Peace All! Ona MOVE!!!

Dave

Hans Bennett is a Philadelphia photojournalist mostly focusing on the movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners. An archive of his work is available at insubordination.blogspot.com and he is also co-founder of "Journalists for Mumia," created to challenge the long history of corporate media bias, whose website is: http://www.Abu-Jamal-News.com