So instead of going after "big fish", cold blooded killers like Kaboni Savage, it turns out, according to the Daily News, an "elite" narcotics squad led by Jeffrey Cujdik raided local bodegas and tabacco shops 22 times to crack down on that terrible threat to public safety, little plastic baggies. Plastic baggies that literally anyone with an internet connection and a check card can order for less than a penny a piece in a dizzying array of custom designs.

We've discussed this case on YPP before, but this mindbogglingly goofy waste of police resources it seems to extend on a scale unimagined before.

This video and news release below is from Phillyimc.org, and is written by the Uhuru Solidarity Movement.

This is the new I-Witness video. WARNING: it is very graphic:

I-Witness Video is a group dedicated to using video to protect protestors’ civil liberties. In an email message to the Indypendent, Forman writes, “The video is extremely disturbing and clearly shows Iraq War Veteran Nick Morgan at the moment when his head was crushed to the sidewalk under a police horse. This story has been completely ignored in the media. He was legally, peacefully … standing on the sidewalk when the event occurred.”

I just received this from Peltier's support committee. Peltier is imprisoned nearby in Lewisburg and needs our help more than ever. Go here for all the embedded links: http://phillyimc.org/en/node/74530

Watch Indident at Oglala:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=387726205259162082

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New British Film About Mumia Abu-Jamal Showing in NYC this week

--An interview with Livia Giuggioli Firth, co-producer of "In Prison My Whole Life"

In Prison My Whole Life Trailer

Twin Cities Indymedia (twincities.indymedia.org) reports that journalists from the IMC and Democracy Now have been detained as pre-RNC repression is stepped up. Importantly, there was a break-in into the garage of Communities United Against Police Brutality organizer Michelle Gross, while she was under detainment at the Convergence Center last night. Those who committed this act did not take any things thieves would like, but papers were clearly rifled through.

Check out this collection of recent articles about the MOVE 9. Through journalists for Mumia, I helped in the campaign to grant parole (starting a petition and sample letter for the parole board) via move9parole.blogspot.com and was very disaapointed with the denial. Also, check out this video I made.

Pam and Ramona Africa in Detroit II MOVE Still Looking For Philadelphia Justice II Tragedy at Powelton

Video and Photo-essay: At The Liberty Bell for Mumia on July 4

--"Fourth of You Lie" protest exposes hypocrisy of Independence Day

by Hans Bennett

VIEW PHOTOS HERE

Hi YPP folks, I hope you enjoy this article by Philadelphia Tribune columnist Linn Washington Jr. who was the only journalist to cover our event, despite emails and faxed press-releases sent everywhere we could think of... Washington also talks about some interesting Philadelphia history to provide a context for Mumia's frameup.
Best,
Hans

NEW FRAME ON FRAMING BY POLICE

By Linn Washington Jr.

Many Philadelphians rudely reject the premise meticulously detailed in the new book by veteran journalist J. Patrick O’Connor: police and prosecutors framed Mumia Abu-Jamal placing an innocent man on death row.

O’Connor provides solid proof for his premise from the very place considered by those convinced of Abu-Jamal’s guilt as their holy-writ: the official transcripts of court proceedings in this case sparking outrage internationally.

Hi YPP,
this is my new article I'm releasing on the eve of our BIG EVENT! If you're not busy, please come and check out our event Wednesday, June 25, 7pm, at The A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Avenue. (Parking nearby and also accessible via the #34 Trolley) Author J. Patrick O'Connor will be in town to speak about "The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal" and to sign copies of his new book for the audience. This event is a fundraiser for Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal, currently raising money to print the next issue of the newspaper, to be released on July 4. There will be books available for purchase, from which all proceeds will go towards the fundraiser.
Best,
Hans

Can the Media Continue to Ignore "The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal"?

Hi YPP folks, check out these updates on the June 13 arrests. This first article summarizes accounts from the Daily News, City Paper, and Phawker blog, and will appear in my newspaper to be released on July 4. Also pasted below is an account of an arrestee.

If you're not busy, please come and check out our event Wednesday, June 25, 7pm, at The A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Avenue. (Parking nearby and also accessible via the #34 Trolley) Author J. Patrick O'Connor will be in town to speak about "The Framing of Mumia Abu-Jamal" and to sign copies of his new book for the audience. This event is a fundraiser for Journalists for Mumia Abu-Jamal, currently raising money to print the next issue of the newspaper, to be released on July 4. There will be books available for purchase, from which all proceeds will go towards the fundraiser.

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Police Critics Illegally Arrested, Home Seized

By Jeff Rousset, Abu-Jamal-News.com

Hi folks, I just got this email from Prometheus Radio...

Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:19:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Prometheus Radio Project
Subject: Police critics arrested, home seized in police raid.

Police critics arrested, home seized in police raid.

June 13th, 2007. Philadelphia Police descended upon the home of homeowners
who have been questioning police tactics in Mayor Nutters new "stop and
frisk" program. 4 residents were arrested in their home at 17th street and
Ridge Avenue, and the police are in the process of sealing the building.
The homeowners are being held at the police station, no charges have yet
been filed.

Homeowners had been circulating petitions calling upon Mayor Nutter and
Police Commissioner Ramsey to attend community meetings on the use of
excessive force, surveilance cameras, and the new "stop and frisk"
policy. The mayor and police chief have declined to attend these community

I want to share this stunning new article that Philadelphia journalist Linn Washington Jr. (who I did an interview with in a recent diary) wrote for Counterpunch. Washington has been covering police brutality and corruption in Philly since the Frank Rizzo era of the 1970s---and what a crazy time that was.

As if this recent scandal of the video-taped beating of 3 black suspects wasn't bad enough, Washington reveals some very scary inconsistencies and contradictions in the official police account of what happened before the videotaped beating. Something is really being covered up!

Read the article in full here: http://www.counterpunch.org/washington06052008.html

This is a good one from a local Philly writer----below is an excerpt.

Police declare 'open season' on Black community
By Betsey Piette
Philadelphia
Published May 14, 2008 11:55 PM

Since 2006, police have fatally shot 35 people in Philadelphia, more than in any similar period since 1980. Already in 2008 there have been three reported deadly shootings by police, including one of an unarmed bystander killed by a cop who fired 11 shots into a house where a number of people, including children, were celebrating New Year’s Eve.

Showing little concern for victims of police brutality, John McGrody, vice president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, said that “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” means nothing to him. (Philadelphia Daily News, May 8)

In the same issue of the Daily News, columnist Michael Smerconish, a former attorney for the FOP, openly advocated that police should shoot suspects to save the time and expense of jury trials!

Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Thugs
[col. writ. 5/8/08] (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

The scene is as common as sunlight: cops beating Black men in the streets.

This time, captured on videotape from a hovering helicopter, a malevolent swarm of cops pull occupants from a car, and then proceed to beat the paste out of the men, kicking, punching, and slamming with a club. At least 15 cops are seen in the broadcast beatdown; an average of 5 to 1.

Within moments of its broadcast came the predictable defense: cops in Philly are "stressed."

One need not even await such defenses anymore: just put a tape on speed dial, and repeat.

If ever there was irony, the three car occupants were charged with aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy.