By MUMIA ABU-JAMAL "The name Eric Garner has become a catch word for the state of black America for decades, if not centuries, who can barely breathe free air."
Mumia: I Can’t Breathe, Part 2
Category: Police & FBI
Outrage in the Streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul
On-the-ground report from a comrade in Minneapolis on the protests of George Floyd's murder. #JusticeForGeorge
The Blue Plague and Black Death
George Floyd’s death by Blue Plague in Minneapolis was widely condemned by the same parties that have encouraged and funded the spread of the fatal contagion.
[Updated] The Plague of Racist Cop Murders: Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and the COVID-19 Pandemic
By JEFF MACKLER George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many more Black people have been murdered by racist cops every day. Meanwhile, Black people are dying of COVID-19 at a rate 3 times higher than whites.
Cops attack “Celebrate Pride & Fight Fascism” rally in Toronto
By MITCHELL SHORE — TORONTO — On Sat., June 22, members of Socialist Action (Canada) joined union members, feminists, LGBTQI+ activists, anarchists, and others at the “Celebrate Pride—Fight Fascism” rally near Toronto City Hall. We were there to protest against the anti-immigrant group PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the West), the Canada Yellow Vests, … Continue reading Cops attack “Celebrate Pride & Fight Fascism” rally in Toronto
Eric Garner case finally heard — in a cops’ court
By MARTY GOODMAN UPDATED: July 18 — On the 5th anniversary of the police murder of Eric Garner, July 17, the "Justice Department" announced, as the five-year statute of limitations expired, that they would not prosecute Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who had placed a chokehold on Garner, causing his death. The decision to end a civil … Continue reading Eric Garner case finally heard — in a cops’ court
Bronx NYPD settles with Copwatch
By MARTY GOODMAN — NEW YORK — Jose Lasalle of the Bronx’s Copwatch Patrol Unit (CPU) was awarded a $925,000 settlement with the NYPD on two lawsuits he filed. Cops were caught with their pants down because Lasalle had audio and video to prove his case against the Bronx’s PSA 7 police station. Lasalle had … Continue reading Bronx NYPD settles with Copwatch
Justice for Connecticut police victims!
By RUWAN MUNASINGHE — HARTFORD, Conn. — On Dec. 14, 2017, Hartford lost one of its greatest legends when 20-year-old Zoe Dowdell—also known as Gangstalicious—was shot and killed by New Britain police. Caleb Tisdol and Noah Young (also known as “Skinny), the others in the car, were convicted on various charges and are currently incarcerated. … Continue reading Justice for Connecticut police victims!
Philadelphia DA’s office stonewalls at hearing for Mumia Abu-Jamal
By JOHN LESLIE The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office continues to stonewall in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. At a court hearing on April 30, prosecutors failed, once again, to produce a memorandum allegedly signed by former Philadelphia District Attorney and retired Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille. Under the 2016 Williams v. Pennsylvania … Continue reading Philadelphia DA’s office stonewalls at hearing for Mumia Abu-Jamal
Why my brother, Mumia, should be set free
By KEITH COOK Reprinted from the Philadelphia Inquirer (May 1, 2018). I was stationed in Europe 37 years ago when I received the call that all black families dread. My little brother, Mumia Abu-Jamal, had been shot by the police and was fighting for his life. Mumia was the kindest and gentlest of my five … Continue reading Why my brother, Mumia, should be set free
Democrats Extol the FBI and National Security State
By BARRY SHEPPARD The most effective way to counter Donald Trump’s reactionary policies is through mass action. The Democratic Party hopes to steer movements and individuals opposed to Trump into support of its candidates. While this trap of “lesser evil” politics has proved to be a failure over and over again for the past eight … Continue reading Democrats Extol the FBI and National Security State
Two police corruption convictions in Baltimore
By JOHN LESLIE Two Baltimore police detectives, Daniel Hersl and Marcus Taylor, were convicted in a federal trial last month that resulted from an investigation into the police department’s corrupt “Gun Trace Task Force.” A total of eight members of the Baltimore police department were originally accused, with six of them pleading guilty before going … Continue reading Two police corruption convictions in Baltimore
All Out for Mumia on Jan. 17! Fill the courtroom & rally in the streets of Philadelphia
By MOBILIZATION FOR MUMIA Mumia Abu-Jamal will have another hearing in open court on Wed, Jan. 17 at 9 a.m. at the Criminal (in)Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia before Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker, courtroom 1108. In a court case that could eventually lead to Mumia’s freedom, Judge Leon Tucker has ordered the District Attorney’s … Continue reading All Out for Mumia on Jan. 17! Fill the courtroom & rally in the streets of Philadelphia
Police corruption is rife from Baltimore to Philadelphia
By JOHN LESLIE In mid-November, federal agents arrested a Philadelphia police officer, Eric Snell, for allegedly acting as a middleman for a drug ring run by a Baltimore police firearms task force. In addition to the drug charges, Snell is accused of possession of illegal firearms and threatening the children of one of the accused … Continue reading Police corruption is rife from Baltimore to Philadelphia
Recalling the Greensboro Massacre
By JOHN LESLIE On Nov. 3, 1979, members of the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party (ANP) attacked an anti-Klan march in Greensboro, N.C., that was organized by the Communist Workers Party (CWP). Five members of the CWP were murdered and 10 others were wounded with the collusion of federal and local law … Continue reading Recalling the Greensboro Massacre
What is the role of police under capitalism?
By JOHN LESLIE On June 9, 2017, a Philadelphia police officer, Ryan Pownall, shot David Jones multiple times in the back as he ran away. Pownall had stopped to search Jones, who had been riding a dirt bike. While police claim that Jones had a gun, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, he “had already dropped … Continue reading What is the role of police under capitalism?
Thousands protest “not guilty” verdict for Philando Castile’s killer
By JOHN SCHRAUFNAGEL — ST. PAUL, Minn. — Four to five thousand people rallied at the State Capitol and marched through the streets of St. Paul on June 17, outraged over the unfair trial and unjust verdict in the case of Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Many said they had been hopeful but were not surprised that … Continue reading Thousands protest “not guilty” verdict for Philando Castile’s killer
Jimmy Dennis: Free at last!
By JOHN LESLIE On May 13, Jimmy Dennis was released after more than 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The crime and the frame-up On Oct. 22, 1991, Chedell Williams and her friend, Zahra Howard, went to the Fern Rock Transportation Center in Philadelphia to buy a transpass. Outside of the … Continue reading Jimmy Dennis: Free at last!
The unmitigated corruption of capitalist politics
By JEFF MACKLER “The evidence is in,” say gleeful Democratic Party cheerleaders. Donald Trump was elected president because his Russian spy collaborators stole 20,000 secret e-mails from Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer servers, including e-mails from Hillary Clinton’s national campaign chair, John Podesta. The stolen e-mails demonstrated proof positive that the Democratic Party, violating its … Continue reading The unmitigated corruption of capitalist politics
Family and community demand answers in Connecticut police brutality case
By CHRIS HUTCHINSON The police shooting of 18-year-old Ra’Shamel Rogers on March 9 in Waterbury, Conn., has mobilized community members in support of his family to demand answers and a transparent investigation. Ra’Shamel was unarmed and shot three times, twice in the abdomen and once in the lungs. Police are trying to justify the shooting … Continue reading Family and community demand answers in Connecticut police brutality case
Mumia wins court victory for prison medical care
By JEFF MACKLER “It’s a Knock Out Punch,” says Mumia. “We did something that’s never been done before,” says Pam Africa, chair of International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. On Jan. 3, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Mariani granted the motion filed by innocent political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal for a preliminary injunction ordering the … Continue reading Mumia wins court victory for prison medical care
Somali youth sentenced in ‘Minneapolis Terror Trial’
By KAREN SCHRAUFNAGEL MINNEAPOLIS—The show trial dubbed by our local capitalist media, “Minnesota’s Terror Trial,” ended in November with the sentencing of the nine young men (eight Somali and one Oromo) who pled to or were convicted of charges relating to alleged attempts to join the “designated foreign terrorist organization” ISIS (the Islamic State). The … Continue reading Somali youth sentenced in ‘Minneapolis Terror Trial’
New Wave of Racist Cop Killings Spark Outrage
By MARK UGOLINI — UPDATED, Oct. 6 — The deeply racist character of police operations in Black communities is again on display with four more horrific murders by cops occurring within just 15 days of each other. The latest victims are Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla.; Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C.; Alfred Olango in … Continue reading New Wave of Racist Cop Killings Spark Outrage
Charges dismissed against Baltimore killer cops
By MARK UGOLINI On July 27, Baltimore prosecutors dropped remaining charges against three cops awaiting trial for involvement in the death of Freddy Gray. Gray, a 25-year-old Black youth, died of injuries sustained while in police custody a week following his arrest on April 12, 2015. Officers Garret Miller, William Porter, and Sgt. Alicia White … Continue reading Charges dismissed against Baltimore killer cops
Anti-racist protests challenge killer police
By JEFF MACKLER — Jeff Mackler is the 2016 presidential candidate of Socialist Action. — Five hundred and seventy one and counting have been killed by U.S. cops this past year, an all-time high in recent decades, according to figures posted in the U.S. edition of the British-based Guardian newspaper.* The majority murdered were Black, … Continue reading Anti-racist protests challenge killer police