International
Action Center
39 West 14 Street Suite 206
New
York NY 10011
Contact: Larry Holmes (212) 633-6646
Philadelphia (215) 724-1618
Berta Joubert (215) 724-1618
NEWS
RELEASE July 30, 2024
Militant
march targets offices of Philadelphia district attorney and police
chief; demands
justice for Thomas Jones, Robert Brown; a new trial for Mumia
Abu-Jamal; and an end to the death penalty
On Sunday, July 30, hundreds of protesters marched from the site
of the "Unity 2024" Rally to the offices of Philadelphia District
Attorney Lynne Abraham and Police Commissioner John F. Timoney.
They marched to protest police brutality in Philadelphia and to
demand a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.
They
also demanded an end to the racist death penalty. The march was
sponsored by the International Action Center. Demonstrators carried
signs saying "Stop Police Brutality" with pictures of victims
Thomas Jones, who is recovering in the hospital from a police
beating, and Robert Brown, who was shot to death by the police
in Philadelphia's Amtrak station.
"Not
One More Lynching" said other signs against the death penalty
featuring photos of Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham, an innocent man
executed by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, who
is fighting for a new trial from Pennsylvania's death row. The
multi-racial protest, which included many young people, marched
through the streets to rally outside DA Abraham's office.
Despite
being surrounded by police, including many on horseback, the demonstrators
then continued their militant march to Timoney's office in police
headquarters. Along the route, protestors held sit-ins outside
hotels housing Republican delegates, where they spoke out and
chanted against the death penalty and police brutality.
"The
militant outpouring of young people to this protest against the
brutal beating of Thomas Jones and the summary execution of Robert
Brown shows again the rising tide of opposition to police brutality,"
said Larry Holmes, a leader of the International Action Center.
"More than ever, people recognize the link between the death penalty,
which George W. Bush has used to execute over 135 people-including
an innocent man, Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham-and police brutality
in Philadelphia. That link is racism."
The
protest also called for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was
prosecuted by DA Abraham in 1983. "DA Abraham wrongfully went
after Mumia Abu-Jamal with all the resources of her office," said
Berta Joubert, a leader of the Philadelphia International Action
Center.
"Today
people demanded that the DA prosecute the real criminals-the Philadelphia
police-for their racist attacks on Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown."
International
Action Center
39
West 14th Street, Room 206
New
York, NY 10011
email:
iacenter@iacenter.org
fax: 212 633-2889
web:
www.iacenter.org
phone:
212 633-6646
