Blaze the Freedom Trail!

Event
Tuesday, August 8, 2000
Massachusetts State House, Front Steps, 1:00 p.m.

See and hear parts of the conference online at WBUR.

Contact: Matt Borus, Email: mborus@aol.com

BOSTON, MA - August 8, 2000. On Tuesday, August 8, Boston City Councilman Chuck Turner and Erica Sagrans, a recently released Boston activist, joined Boston family and friends of six imprisoned Bostonians to call for the unconditional release of all nonviolent demonstrators incarcerated in last week's Philadelphia demonstrations. Over 75 supporters attended the 1:15 pm press conference together with activists, lawyers, concerned citizens, and members of the Boston press.

As police brutality escalates, prison conditions worsen and due process is circumvented, over 300 nonviolent demonstrators remain in prison. The demonstrators were arrested last week for their participation or attempted participation in non-violent direct actions surrounding the Republican National Convention to expose the brutality and injustice of the United States Criminal Justice System.

In a calculated effort to discourage and criminalize political activism, Philadelphia courts have set exorbitant bails as high as $1,000,000. In a unified reaction to police brutality and neglect, some prisoners have refused food and drink for at least three days. One mother has been arrested protesting the cruel treatment of her incarcerated son. As Philadelphia police continue to neglect and abuse some prisoners, recently released activists are speaking out. Philadelphia's Independent Media Center has reported several first hand accounts of arrestees (see www.phillyimc.org ). Tuesday's Press Conference will showcase this injustice in reports by victims of past police-brutality, and family and supporters of the currently incarcerated Bostonians.

The United States Criminal Justice System boasts the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the world. In an attempt to shine the public light of scrutiny on this fundamentally unjust system the Boston activists unwittingly became victims themselves.

Detailed Synopsis:

The press conference held today at the State House steps at 1:15pm was a huge success, as supporters and news media from around Boston converged to hear the speakers talk about their experiences in Philadelphia, issues around the exercise of civil rights and the current attacks on civil liberties, and support work for those still in prison practicing jail solidarity.

Turnout was high for lunch time, and camera crews were ubiquitous.

Among the speakers were members of the R2K Task Force of the Boston Global Action Network, activists from the Next Movement, City Councillor Chuck Turner representing South End and Roxbury, parents and friends of jailed activists, a lawyer from the National Lawyers Guild, and an activist from the Rainforest Action Network.

Taken together, all these voices reflected the diversity of the movement as well as its beautiful unity, built on human solidarity and friendship, respect for human rights, and the courage to stand up for the truth. So love, truth, and courage were on prominent display, demonstrating the activists' code of honor.

Since then, WBUR has run a short blurb on the press conference in the afternoon of August 8, and short segments were presented on WBZ 4 and WCVB 5 on the 5:30 and 6:00 pm shows respectively. On August 9, the Boston Herald ran a large article on the rally.

Organization for the press conference was amazing, especially since it was first suggested and planning put into action on Saturday, press contacts were made yesterday, and the final list of speakers only readied this morning. People worked on press outreach, the press release, and signs throughout the weekend, while information packets for the press were prepared these last two days. Each of the speakers were also contacted and asked to prepare short statements which they delivered so professionally.

Let's keep up the solidarity work. We are learning as we go along, which is in itself impressive, and hopefully this press conference will further put the pressure to get our boys and girls, our friends and loved ones, back home.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."








		This page was last updated on August 9, 2000 Released Boston RNC Protester and City Councillor Condemn Philadelphia Jail Conditions: Family and Supporters Rally in Front of Massachusetts State House Steps Event Tuesday, August 8, 2000 Massachusetts State House, Front Steps, 1:00 p.m. See and hear parts of the conference online at WBUR. Contact: Matt Borus, Email: mborus@aol.com BOSTON, MA - August 8, 2000. On Tuesday, August 8, Boston City Councilman Chuck Turner and Erica Sagrans, a recently released Boston activist, joined Boston family and friends of six imprisoned Bostonians to call for the unconditional release of all nonviolent demonstrators incarcerated in last week's Philadelphia demonstrations. Over 75 supporters attended the 1:15 pm press conference together with activists, lawyers, concerned citizens, and members of the Boston press. As police brutality escalates, prison conditions worsen and due process is circumvented, over 300 nonviolent demonstrators remain in prison. The demonstrators were arrested last week for their participation or attempted participation in non-violent direct actions surrounding the Republican National Convention to expose the brutality and injustice of the United States Criminal Justice System. In a calculated effort to discourage and criminalize political activism, Philadelphia courts have set exorbitant bails as high as $1,000,000. In a unified reaction to police brutality and neglect, some prisoners have refused food and drink for at least three days. One mother has been arrested protesting the cruel treatment of her incarcerated son. As Philadelphia police continue to neglect and abuse some prisoners, recently released activists are speaking out. Philadelphia's Independent Media Center has reported several first hand accounts of arrestees (see www.phillyimc.org ). Tuesday's Press Conference will showcase this injustice in reports by victims of past police-brutality, and family and supporters of the currently incarcerated Bostonians. The United States Criminal Justice System boasts the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the world. In an attempt to shine the public light of scrutiny on this fundamentally unjust system the Boston activists unwittingly became victims themselves. Detailed Synopsis: The press conference held today at the State House steps at 1:15pm was a huge success, as supporters and news media from around Boston converged to hear the speakers talk about their experiences in Philadelphia, issues around the exercise of civil rights and the current attacks on civil liberties, and support work for those still in prison practicing jail solidarity. Turnout was high for lunch time, and camera crews were ubiquitous. Among the speakers were members of the R2K Task Force of the Boston Global Action Network, activists from the Next Movement, City Councillor Chuck Turner representing South End and Roxbury, parents and friends of jailed activists, a lawyer from the National Lawyers Guild, and an activist from the Rainforest Action Network. Taken together, all these voices reflected the diversity of the movement as well as its beautiful unity, built on human solidarity and friendship, respect for human rights, and the courage to stand up for the truth. So love, truth, and courage were on prominent display, demonstrating the activists' code of honor. Since then, WBUR has run a short blurb on the press conference in the afternoon of August 8, and short segments were presented on WBZ 4 and WCVB 5 on the 5:30 and 6:00 pm shows respectively. On August 9, the Boston Herald ran a large article on the rally. Organization for the press conference was amazing, especially since it was first suggested and planning put into action on Saturday, press contacts were made yesterday, and the final list of speakers only readied this morning. People worked on press outreach, the press release, and signs throughout the weekend, while information packets for the press were prepared these last two days. Each of the speakers were also contacted and asked to prepare short statements which they delivered so professionally. Let's keep up the solidarity work. We are learning as we go along, which is in itself impressive, and hopefully this press conference will further put the pressure to get our boys and girls, our friends and loved ones, back home. WE LOVE YOU!!! "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein "My silences have not protected me. Your silence will not protect you." - Audre Lourde "They first came for the Communists and I didn't speak up - because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up - because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up - because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up - because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me - and by that time no one was left to speak up." - Pastor Martin Niemoeller