Philly tribunal: Witness to police brutality

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5) Reduce the workweek to 30 hours with no cut in pay, and cut the retirement age to 55. Provide unemployment and retirement payments at the We propose an EMERGENCY CONGRESS OF LABOR to discuss and take 6) To combat inflation: A sliding scale of wages and pensions that match1) Bail out the people, not the bankers! Open the account books of the es the rises in comsumer prices. To combat high medical costs: A free, unibanks to full public inspection. Nationalize the banks to be supervised by 7) Immediate citizenship for all undocumented workers. No job discrimi2) No foreclosures! No forced evictions! Cancel usurious debt payments, nation; equal pay for equal work — regardless of gender, sexual orientaand reduce mortgage payments in proportion to their capitalist-caused 8) Nationalize manufacturing, big agribusiness, energy, and transporta3) Full employment at union wages! An emergency public works program tion corporations and place them under the control of elected committees to employ all jobless workers and youth! Employ people to build what we need — low-cost quality housing, efficient mass transportation, cheap and renewable sources of power, schools, clinics — and to conserve our water, CONGRESS should organize ACTION COMMITTEES in every workplace and neighborhood threatened by the crisis. These committees can draw up 4) Immediate and full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq & Afghanistan!

Close all U.S. bases abroad! No money for the military — use funds instead 10) To put all these measures into effect, we need a LABOR PARTY — for public works! Convert the war industries to making products for peo- based on a fighting union movement and all people who are oppressed and Editor: Michael Schreiber International Editor: Gerry Foley Canada Editor: Barry Weisleder Socialist Action (ISSN 0747-4237) is published monthly by Socialist Action Publishing Association, P.O. Box 460501, San Francisco, CA 94146-0501. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Socialist Action, P.O. BOX 460501, San Francisco, CA 94146-0501. RATES: For one year (12 issues, 1st-class mail): U.S., Canada, Mexico — $20. All other countries — $30. Money orders and checks should be in U.S. dollars.

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PHILADELPHIA—The Black community here has responded to brutal police beatings and abuse with united organized action.

The Askia Coalition Against Police Brutality was formed after Askia Sabur suffered head trauma, a broken arm, and an injured back when beaten by police using metal batons.

Askia was waiting for take-out food when police ordered him to leave the sidewalk.

Askia told the police it was too hot to wait for his order indoors. He was asked for his ID, then attacked while reaching into his back pocket for his wallet. Witnesses who tried to stop the violence managed to record the horrific event on video even though one of the cops reportedly drew a gun and pointed it at them. Askia required six staples in the back of his head and continues to suffer pain.

The Askia Coalition, made up of community people and diverse organizations in the Black community, is mobilizing with marches, leafleting, posting, and street-held “people’s courts.”

On Oct. 26, a troop of police arrived on Conestoga Street, where Askia and his extended family have homes. Supposedly in pursuit of a “male shooter,” they forced open the door of Askia’s 80-year-old grandfather. When Tonya, a young cousin who also lives in the house, arrived home from a breast cancer awareness event, she was physically and verbally abused; then (Photo) Protesters against police brutality took over the streets in Philadelphia’s Black community for “people’s courts.”

A WORKERS’ ACTION PROGRAM TO FIGHT THE CRISIS steps to implement the following demands — workers’ committees.

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Name Address City Phone E-mail she was arrested in her own house.

Unintimidated, the ACAPB went on to organize a well attended and effective “People’s Tribunal” event. Witnesses to pervasive abuse testified that the problem goes beyond that of “a few bad apples.” Responsibility for systemic problems in some police districts goes to the top.

It was pointed out that Internal Affairs, the police commissioner, the D.A., and Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter—Mr. Stop and Frisk himself—all fail to protect the people. Several speakers felt that police behavior, particularly toward youth, was aimed at “people reState Zip 9) To mobilize support for the demands it adopts, the EMERGENCY more concrete demands than the ones outlined above. • Ashland, Ore.: [email protected] • Ashland, Wis.: [email protected] • Boston: bostonsocialistaction@gmail. com (781) 630-0250 • Carrboro, N.C.: (919) 967-2866, [email protected] • Chicago: P.O. Box 578428 Chicago, IL 60657, [email protected] • Connecticut: (860) 478-5300 • Duluth, Minn.:

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In particular, people felt that Philadelphia’s threeyear-old unconstitutional “stop and frisk” policy fostered abuse while failing to protect people from crime. Annette Dickerson of the Center for Constitutional Rights reported that in New York City it was shown that 80% of people selected to be stopped were African American or Latino.

During the testimony, Abdus Sabur, Askia’s father and a member of the Nation of Islam, related what his family has been going through. Others described incidents of being tasered, having a tooth punched out, frequent abusive language, and disregard for the law. Diop Olugabala of the Uhuru movement showed a video of rough treatment and arrests at a City Hall hearing on cutbacks.

Supporters of death-row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal also gave testimony. Ramona Africa related the ordeal of the MOVE family in their ongoing struggle for justice in the legal system.

The judges—Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League, the African American police officers association in Philadelphia; and Inez Rogers, assistant council general of the Universal Negro Improvement Association-ACL Legal Defense Fund—both spoke powerfully in finding the Philly police guilty as charged.

The Askia Coalition Against Police Brutality meets on Mondays, 6 p.m., at the Conestoga Recreation Center, 5301 W. Media St., in West Philadelphia. Readers in Philadelphia who wish to help victims record and report abuse, pursue legal action, end oppressive procedures like “stop and frisk,” educate on abuse avoidance, and continue to mobilize against brutality are all welcomed to help with the work.

The ACAPB will be showing support for Askia and Tonya at their court hearing, 8 a.m., on Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Criminal Justice Center across from City Hall. They will be holding community control of police and abuse avoidance workshops on Feb. 25-27. For more information, call (215) 300-6480. n For info about Socialist Action and how to join: Socialist Action National Office, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610, [email protected], (510) 268-9429 Socialist Action newspaper editorial offices: [email protected] Website: www.socialistaction.org WHERE TO FIND SOCIALIST ACTION • Philadelphia: [email protected] • Portland, Ore.: (503) 233-1629 [email protected] • Providence: [email protected], (401) 419-1706 • San Francisco Bay Area:

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