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 Trial Run 10/26/00 - by Gwen Shaffer - City Paper Four months have passed since the Republican Convention, but Philadelphia is still attracting national attention. Members of Congress, labor unions, clergy and civil rights organizations are calling on District Attorney Lynne Abraham to drop charges against protesters arrested during the Republican National Convention. The first of nearly 200 trials began Wed., Oct. 25. About 21 of those trials involve felony charges. The R2K Legal Collective on Tuesday attempted to deliver a stack of more than 100 letters to Abraham and Mayor Street, asking the city to reduce or drop all of the charges. A row of police officers blocked the entrance to the district attorney's building. Demonstrators then marched over to City Hall, where they asked City Councilman Angel Ortiz to deliver the package. A similar bundle was left with a security officer outside of Street's office. Among the letters was one signed by U.S. Reps. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), John Conyers (D-MI) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), praising "courageous, intelligent and determined" demonstrators. "The police response to these protests was disproportionately harsh, and apparently aimed at preventing free expression," they write. "We urge the city of Philadelphia to end its campaign to cast non-violent, peaceful protesters as violent criminals." About 400 political activists — as well as bystanders, legal observers and medics — were arrested during the Republican Convention. Misdemeanor cases were given bails much higher than normal, ranging from $10,000 to $1 million. Some of those arrested were jailed for up to two weeks for acts of civil disobedience, which generally result in summary charges. Some hope to embarrass the city into dropping charges. In its letter to Abraham, municipal labor union District Council 47 points out that the Pennsylvania State Police infiltrated and spied on activist groups. "Knowing that there is this potential for spectacle which does far more harm than good for Philadelphia, we are urging you to reduce... the fines and punishments... so as to end this situation as quickly and quietly as possible," the DC 47 letter says. Many of the activists facing trial in upcoming weeks say the district attorney's office has yet to turn over the evidence against them — leading them to believe not much exists. "My attorney has been requesting discovery since September," says Jamie Graham, who will be tried Nov. 8. Charges against him include disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, failure to disperse and conspiracy to obstruct justice. "Everything we have that is discoverable has been turned over to defense," says Cathie Abookire, a spokesperson for Abraham. The District Attorney has not responded to negotiation efforts, says Marina Sitrin of the R2K Legal Collective. |
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