How much daily humiliation, intimidation, hostility and assault can we label “normal” before the homegrown sociopathic criminal behavior of might makes right takes us down to the level of Cro-Magnons? We already beat or kill each other for cheap DVDs and parking spaces. How low can we go?
Here was my morning wake-up: watching a 78+ year old man with a cane struggle to keep himself erect on a crowded subway while “adults” comfortably read, play Sudoku or close their eyes in bliss to the music on their IPods. But most of all I am disgusted at the moral depravity of a nation that accepts war and torture of innocent people to maintain a gas-guzzling life style. Can you accept living "free" in the Unites States of Terrorism?
Now read this about the re-incarceration of elderly black people for crimes which were dismissed 30-odd years ago. From The SF Gray Panther Party comes this report:
Defense Motion on Statements Made under Torture Denied
[…] In front of a packed courtroom, SF 8 presiding Judge Moscone denied a significant defense motion asking that statements made under torture by Harold Taylor in 1973 be precluded from consideration in this case. In 1975 a Los Angeles judge ruled these same statements inadmissible in a trial that ultimately resulted in Harold Taylor's acquittal. That case involved a police attack on a car of Black activists in which all three – Ray Boudreaux, John Bowman and Harold Taylor – were fired upon and shot multiple times. After Harold Taylor's acquittal, charges were dismissed against Boudreaux and Bowman.
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR)
PO Box 90221
Pasadena, CA 91109
(415) 226-1120
FreetheSF8@riseup.net
http://graypantherssf.igc.org/SF8.htm
August 11, 2007 at 11:39:55
Free The San Francisco 8: Former Black Panthers in Prison Need Your Support
by Ron Jacobs
http://www.opednews.com/
Eight former Black Panthers are currently in prison in California on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Similar charges were thrown out back in 1975 after it was determined that the evidence used to indict the men was extracted by police torture. Two of the men have been held as political prisoners the past thirty years in New York State prisons, but the other six have been living regular lives, working and raising families. A ninth man is still being sought by the police.
These men, known collectively as the San Francisco 8 (SF 8) are being held on $3 million bail each. This bail is considered excessive and the men, their legal team and their supporters are trying to get it reduced so that those members of the SF 8 who are not currently serving time can go home during the upcoming legal proceedings. The struggle to gain these men's freedom is gaining but will require much more public support. In a manner similar to the campaign waged in 1971-1972 to free Angela Davis and the ongoing campaign to free Mumia Abu Jamal, this campaign must become a widespread and international campaign.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_ron_jaco_070806_free_the_san_francis.htm
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