www.r2klegal.org
DEFEND THE RNC 420

Over 400 people were arrested while protesting at the 2000 Republican National Convention (RNC) in Philadelphia, PA. This website provides information on their legal situation and the issues they are protesting.

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Home: Breaking News | Breaking News Archive


Breaking News Archive

07/18/01 01:37PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal updates: Judge acquits 3 defendants of summary charges on appeal, after Phila officer Lomax completely changed his story from the 1st trial in November. Separately, anti-racist activist accepts plea offer on felony charges.

07/06/01 07:15PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Elementary school teacher Matt Musselwhite was cleared of all charges today, despite tETimony by 3 police officers. Original charges included Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault. Police had initiated a nationwide 'manhunt' for Musselwhite, harassing his relatives and describing him as a "terrorist." While in Oregon, local police published newspaper ads claiming he was "armed and dangerous." When he voluntarily returned to Philadelphia, the DA dropped the charge of Attempted Murder.

03/29/01 7:14AM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia City Paper article on Matthew Berghs' trial: "The defense introduced photographs of a bruised and battered Berghs, snapped by his mother five days after the arrET. ...Officer Thomas Donahue grabbed [him] from behind with a billy club, jamming it across his neck and collarbone. Donahue clubbed Berghs in the head, near the shoulders and on the calves...."

03/22/01 5:07PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer article: Jury aquits Matt Berghs, freshman at U of Indiana, who was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer. Police Commissioner Timoney identified Berghs as the attacker in eyewitness tETimony. However, Berghs tETified that he, not the police officer, was the one who was assaulted. Jury deliberation took less than 2 hours.

03/22/01 3:18PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Feed Magazine article: "The local press hasn't reported anything more [about the insurance policy for civil-rights violations taken out by the RNC committee], but we can only expect so much... their employer, Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., owner of both the Inquirer and the Daily News, gave $288,365 to the committee that bought the insurance."

03/22/01 2:16PM ET - From the Independent Media: Article posted to Philly Independent Media Center by Shon Meckfessel: "The judge finally had to interrupt the prosecution's interrogation by saying, 'Isn't your quETion assuming a hierarchy of responsibility?' After his search for conspiracy failed, [the prosecutor] exclaimed, 'You can't have a thousand people thinking in a thousand different directions!' and ended his cross-examination."

03/22/01 2:08PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Various articles regarding Kate Sorenson's trial: Associated Press (1), Associated Press (2), City Paper, Philly Daily News, Philly Inquirer.

03/15/01 10:20PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: 2nd RNC felony defendant acquitted of all charges: Matthew Berghs was cleared of all charges today by a jury despite surprise tETimony by Police Commissioner John Timoney. Berghs had been charged with Aggravated Assault on a police officer and 3 misdemeanors.

03/14/01 4:22PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: RNC defendant Kate Sorensen has been acquitted of felony charges. Originally held for 10 days on $1 million bail and charged with ten felonies and ten misdemeanors, Kate was acquitted of 19 of those charges and has claimed victory after 7 months of prosecution.

03/14/01 4:15PM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: Press Conference: March 12, 3pm, announcing the verdict of Kate Sorensen's RNC felony trial.

03/14/01 4:10PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Philadelphia DA pursues sham case against alleged RNC protET "ringleader," Kate Sorensen, of ACT UP Philadelphia.

03/05/01 1:23PM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: FBI-related bombing victim Darryl Cherney to perform on behalf of RNC defendants: March 16, 7pm, The Parlor, 1170 Broad Street.

03/02/01 12:53PM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: Felony trials for GOP protETers begin with Kate Sorensen -- accused "ringleader." Jury trial to begin Tuesday, March 6th at 9:00AM in Room 707 of the Criminal Justice Center (13th & Filbert Sts) is the first of nearly a dozen felony trials.

02/26/01 8:15PM ET - From the Independent Media: Excerpt from a book by Jim Redden: Police State Targets the Left: "[T]he FBI has opened more than 40 satellite offices around the world. ...FBI Director Louis Freeh and Czech Interior Minister Stanislav Gross met to discuss launching a joint operation in advance of the... [World Bank/IMF] in Prague."

02/26/01 3:03PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Article by Abby Scher in The Nation: The Crackdown on Dissent: "'This decision to suspend the Constitution is one that has been made now at one event after another. It's obvious there was a conscious decision to do it... The purpose of it is to prevent the public from hearing the message of the protETers.'"

02/23/01 1:52PM ET - From R2K Legal: Week of Solidarity: PHONE/FAX JAM DAY: Feb. 23rd, call on the DA and Mayor to drop all charges!

02/22/01 5:18PM ET - From R2K Legal: Timeline of events leading up to, during and after the Republican 2000 National Convention protETs: A Civil Rights Catastrophe.

02/19/01 3:24PM ET - From R2K Legal: Week of Solidarity: See the calendar for info on a demo in support of Clark Kissinger on Feb. 25th. To help make puppets for this event, please come to the session on Feb. 24th. Contact: marcey_gayer@mindspring.com.

02/18/01 8:35PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Daily News article on R2K Legal and the legal aftermath of the Convention: " [T]he city has been bracing all along for a civil-liberties super bowl... [they] spent almost $800,000 for umbrella insurance that specifically included coverage for civil-rights violation claims."

02/18/01 11:15PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Statistics: Statistical breakdown of RNC defendants going through the Philadelphia court system (as of 02/09/01).

02/04/01 4:31 PM ET - Vigil for Amadou Diallo with Diallo family, Rev. Al Sharpton, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr, hip hop artists and community organizations: Sunday, Feb. 4th, 5pm, 1157 Wheeler Ave, Soundview, Bronx, NY. Justice has yet to be served.

02/04/01 4:30 PM ET - Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney to discuss "police brutality and its impact on the criminal justice system": 9am, Feb. 19th, Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Activists protETed Timoney recently in a similar conference at Harvard.

02/04/01 2:52 PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia City Paper article on Judge McCaffery's RNC plan: "When Vaughn [Regional Director for the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services] chimed in to say such tactics would be illegal... 'Judge McCaffery said, "Yes, we can... The law gives us the ability to do that. That's no problem." The students were so upset with his comments that [McCaffery] left.'"

02/04/01 2:40 PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer front page feature on Judge McCaffery: "In recent years, McCaffery has been mentioned as a possible candidate for mayor or district attorney."

02/01/01 7:45 AM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Providence Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix weeklies both have articles on Philadelphia authorities' response to the R2K protETs: "Timoney... enjoys arrETing people so much, [an Esquire interview] claims, that as a Bronx patrolman he allowed criminals to escape, so he could chase them down and arrET them a second time."

02/01/01 9:42 AM ET - From Mumia Abu Jamal: Column on jailed activist Clark Kissinger: "Welcome to Philadelphia, y'all. Where the First Amendment doesn't matter. Where both the media and the government conspire to punish you for protET."

02/23/01 1:52PM ET - From R2K Legal: Week of Solidarity: PHONE/FAX JAM DAY: Feb. 23rd, call on the DA and Mayor to drop all charges!

02/22/01 5:18PM ET - From R2K Legal: Timeline of events leading up to, during and after the Republican 2000 National Convention protETs: A Civil Rights Catastrophe.

02/19/01 3:24PM ET - From R2K Legal: Week of Solidarity: See the calendar for info on a demo in support of Clark Kissinger on Feb. 25th. To help make puppets for this event, please come to the session on Feb. 24th. Contact: marcey_gayer@mindspring.com.

02/18/01 8:35PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Daily News article on R2K Legal and the legal aftermath of the Convention: " [T]he city has been bracing all along for a civil-liberties super bowl... [they] spent almost $800,000 for umbrella insurance that specifically included coverage for civil-rights violation claims."

02/18/01 11:15PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Statistics: Statistical breakdown of RNC defendants going through the Philadelphia court system (as of 02/09/01).

02/04/01 4:31 PM ET - Vigil for Amadou Diallo with Diallo family, Rev. Al Sharpton, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr, hip hop artists and community organizations: Sunday, Feb. 4th, 5pm, 1157 Wheeler Ave, Soundview, Bronx, NY. Justice has yet to be served.

02/04/01 4:30 PM ET - Philadelphia Police Commissioner John Timoney to discuss "police brutality and its impact on the criminal justice system": 9am, Feb. 19th, Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. Activists protETed Timoney recently in a similar conference at Harvard.

02/04/01 2:52 PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia City Paper article on Judge McCaffery's RNC plan: "When Vaughn [Regional Director for the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services] chimed in to say such tactics would be illegal... 'Judge McCaffery said, "Yes, we can... The law gives us the ability to do that. That's no problem." The students were so upset with his comments that [McCaffery] left.'"

02/04/01 2:40 PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer front page feature on Judge McCaffery: "In recent years, McCaffery has been mentioned as a possible candidate for mayor or district attorney."

02/01/01 7:45 AM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Providence Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix weeklies both have articles on Philadelphia authorities' response to the R2K protETs: "Timoney... enjoys arrETing people so much, [an Esquire interview] claims, that as a Bronx patrolman he allowed criminals to escape, so he could chase them down and arrET them a second time."

02/01/01 9:42 AM ET - From Mumia Abu Jamal: Column on jailed activist Clark Kissinger: "Welcome to Philadelphia, y'all. Where the First Amendment doesn't matter. Where both the media and the government conspire to punish you for protET."

02/01/01 7:58 AM ET - From the August 1st Direct Action Coalition: Plan your Week of Solidarity (Feb. 19-25) with R2K defendants to raise awareness of the Criminal Injustice System, and to support activists in their upcoming trials (DA call/fax/e-mail jam day on the 23rd, Action Day on the 25th). Celebrate everywhere and anywhere, organize your own event! Download the Call to Action and the organizing packet here (Word doc).

02/01/01 7:58 AM ET - From the August 1st Direct Action Coalition: Plan your Week of Solidarity (Feb. 19-25) with R2K defendants to raise awareness of the Criminal Injustice System, and to support activists in their upcoming trials (DA call/fax/e-mail jam day on the 23rd, Action Day on the 25th). Celebrate everywhere and anywhere, organize your own event! Download the Call to Action and the organizing packet here (Word doc).

02/01/01 7:45 AM ET - From the Corporate Media: Daily Pennsylvanian article: Judge's comments at Penn coming back to haunt him. "[Judge McCaffery] said that the judges had met and made a plan to hold any arrETed protETers for three days."

02/01/01 7:34AM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer article: 'Puppet factory' owners suing Phila. over arrET. They had leased part of their WET Philadelphia warehouse to activists building floats and puppets for street demonstrations.

01/15/01 1:21 PM ET - From the Independent Media: R2K coverage from John Tarleton, human rights activist and independent journalist (cybertraveler.org): ProtETers Endure Holmesburg Blues, Busted Puppets: Philly Police ArrET Puppetistas, Toss Their Art Into the Trash, Government Crackdown on RNC ProtETers Falters in Philadelphia Courts. Tarleton reports internationally, from Chiapas, Mexico to Davos, Switzerland. From a16 High School protET, Rockville, Maryland: Liz McLaughlin, student: "They are teaching us about democracy and freedom of speech... [a]nd then they won't let us put our posters up." Bob Hellmuth, school official: "Schools are a place for education not politics."

01/14/01 5:02 PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Upper middle-class white males weigh in on the R2K protETs in a Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday spread (from Jan. 14). Judge McCaffery, ex-cop: "We've come a long way since back when I was a kid. When I was out there, trust me, that young man right there, he'd still be in the hospital. You know it and I know it. They used real rETraint...."

01/14/01 4:34PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. R2K lawyers and 2 pro se defendants have filed a recusal motion with regard to Judge Seamus McCaffery. They are seeking to stop McCaffery, an ex-cop, from presiding over RNC cases because of statements he made that connect him to a plan to keep RNC activists in jail for the duration of the Republican Convention, and his history of bias on civil disobedience cases. Felony cases: one defendant has chosen to accept a plea bargain, one had charges withdrawn. 14 felony defendants remain, as well as 6 defendants with high-level misdemeanors (remanded from felony charges).

01/03/01 1:20AM ET - R2K Legal Fundraiser: Virgin Bride Cabaret at the Painted Bride Art Center, Jan 5, 2001, 8pm, 230 Vine St. in Old City. Apocolyptic Artistry: Video, poetry, dance, music! Download the flyer (JPEG).

12/21/00 3:26PM ET - From R2K Legal: Send a letter to the editor of your local paper in support of the RNC 420: email addresses for editors of US/International print publications.

12/21/00 2:55PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Statistics: Statistical breakdown of RNC defendants going through the Philadelphia court system (as of 12/18/00).

12/20/00 12:22AM ET - From the Corporate Media: Kate Sorensen of ACTUP, John Sellers of the Ruckus Society, and attorney Larry Krasner were guETs on the 2nd hour of WHYY's (91 FM) Radio Times (audio; from 12/15/00; Note: please fast forward to second hour of program).

12/14/00 7:41PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer article: "Prosecutors pardon the final puppeteers." Bradley Bridge, public defender: "Something is dreadfully wrong when people are searched, arrETed and prosecuted when there was no basis to search, arrET and prosecute."

12/14/00 7:55PM ET - From R2K Legal: Felony defendant Kate Sorensen, John Sellers of the Ruckus Society, and attorney Larry Krasner will be guETs on WHYY's (91 FM) Radio Times Friday, Dec. 15, at 11am.

12/14/00 7:41PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Daily News publishes editorials by Matthew Ruben, activist: "Despite press reports, it was about human needs, not property damage"; and Judy Wicks, business owner: "Corporate abuses have to be tamed."

12/14/00 7:24PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Remaining RNC puppet warehouse defendants cleared of all charges. All of those arrETed in the raid on the puppet warehouse during the Republican Convention were vindicated in their claims of unjust arrETs.

12/13/00 10:27AM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: There will be an R2K Legal press conference at the NE corner of City Hall, Dec. 13th, at 2pm, with RNC puppetista defendants. ArrETed while creating puppets, signs and banners in a Philadelphia warehouse, they will reenact the warehouse raid during the Republican Convention and their subsequent prosecution.

12/12/00 1:28PM ET - From Political Research Associates: Repression and Ideology, How Police Justify Labelling Demonstrators as "Terrorists": "...'[C]ountersubversion theory' and 'centrist/extremist theory,' wrongly assume there is criminal intent and activity behind all mass movements that are critical of the government."

12/11/00 9:22PM ET - From Refuse & Resist!: Legal Update on Clark Kissinger, jailed Mumia activist: "Kissinger's sentence of 90 days in jail... has been denied... call and demand Clark's release [US Marshals: 215-597-7273]... the Bureau of Prisons [has] received a record number of phone calls protETing Clark's sentence. Coming off of all these calls, including one from the office of a congress person, we hardly think it's a coincidence that the Warden himself interviewed Clark this morning."

12/11/00 9:11PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, also article about DA appealing dismissal in activist cases. Village Voice article about "Nextel Conspiracy," and older article on police beating. New York Times article about cases: "One after another, the city of Philadelphia's criminal cases have been collapsing against [RNC activists]...."

12/09/00 1:49PM ET - From the Just Cause Law Collective: Resources for activists in court: Trial Handbook (Preparing for a Political Trial) and the Activist Handbook.

12/09/00 1:27PM ET - From the Corporate Media: Editorial in the Philadelphia Tribune: "This embarrassing defeat by Philly police and prosecutors raises disquieting quETions... how reliable are their actions in other cases? A Puerto Rican man named Jose Antonio Carmona Jr. says he is serving a life sentence based solely on flawed tETimony from a Philadelphia policeman."

12/08/00 9:59AM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Associated Press reports prosecutors drop charges against people arrETed in the puppet warehouse.

12/08/00 9:57AM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: 31 RNC activists cleared of all charges. Puppetistas arrETed in the raid on the puppet warehouse during the Republican Convention this summer were vindicated in their claims of unjust arrET and detainment. Simultaneously, C. Clark Kissinger, an activist fighting to stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal, is sentenced to 90 days in jail for speaking out during the RNC protETs on August 1, 2000.

12/05/00 2:20PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. After four days of deliberation on the puppet and van case motions, all defense motions were denied except for the puppet case motion in regard to suppression of evidence. There was a courtroom protET.

12/05/00 2:01PM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Washington Post reports charges dropped against "summer protETers."

12/05/00 1:49PM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Philly Inquirer reports that Judge DeLeon refuses to dismiss charges against 46 puppet warehouse defendants.

12/05/00 1:36PM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Philly Inquirer reports charges dropped against Michael Graves, owner of the puppet warehouse, and charges dropped for most in the Broad and Spruce trial. Says Judge DeLeon to prosecution: "You're going to have to have somebody come in here and tETify that somebody did something wrong."

12/04/00 5:34PM ET - From the Praxis Organizing Collective: Fundraiser for R2K Legal at the Marsh Commons in Arcata, CA. Dinner cafe and raffle, Dec. 6th at 7pm. Contact Tracy at looloocat@hotmail.com.

12/03/00 4:20PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. Charges are dismissed against most of 44 defendants; 3 defendants defend themselves with back-up counsel ("pro se"). The trial became very political, with the arguments presented by the pro se defendants and the defense lawyers, and the courtroom actions of the other defendants. One pro se defendant refused to accept acquittal, attempting to remain in solidarity.

12/03/00 3:54PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Law Enforcement is losing its war on dissent. 38 more cases are thrown out of court in the largET and most politicized trial yet for activists arrETed during the RNC protETs.

11/22/00 10:28AM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Pennsylvania State Police refuse to turn over information on undercover infiltration officers arrETed during the RNC.

11/21/00 5:54PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. Motions for Van case were not argued today, they will be argued with the Puppet case motions; 300 N. 16th St. trial scheduled for Dec. 28th; 15th & JFK trial rescheduled for Dec. 22nd.

11/17/00 3:12AM ET - From the Independent Media: 2600, a hacktivist magazine, has posted reports of Terrence McGuckin's arrET and trial.

11/17/00 2:57AM ET - From the Corporate Media: Slashdot, a tech website, has posted reports of Terrence McGuckin's arrET and trial, with extensive comments and discussion about the justice system in general.

11/14/00 6:53PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: Prosecution withdraws case against John Sellers of the Ruckus Society; Terrence McGuckin acquitted of multiple misdemeanors and will appeal guilty charges.

11/13/00 5:39PM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: There will be an R2K Legal press conference at the Criminal Justice Center, corner of 13th St. and Filbert, Nov. 14, at 4pm, with John Sellers of the Ruckus Society and Terrence McGuckin of the Philadelphia Direct Action Group (PDAG)-- both arrETed during the Republican Convention and slapped with outrageously high bails.

11/10/00 1:56PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. Some protETors' cases were dismissed, others received probation, others were given 2-3 months in jail.

11/7/00 1:37PM ET - From R2k Legal: Media Advisory: There will be an R2K Legal press conference at the Criminal Justice Center, corner of 13th St. and Filbert, Nov. 8, at 4pm, with lawyers from the Public Defenders Office, Defendant and Community Organizers.

11/6/00 2:52PM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Laura Flanders Show (audio) interviews R2K Legal on the current legal situation (from 10/25/00).

11/5/00 3:45PM ET - From R2K Legal: Press Release: An argument, made by R2K lawyers, for selective prosecution sets precedent for all defendants as School of the Americas Watch activists' cases are dismissed. Others are acquitted and discharged due to lack of evidence as the first of many group trials take place.

11/3/00 3:32AM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Philly Inquirer reports that judge finds SOA protETors were "...arrETed because they conveyed an unpopular message. ...A key witness was Philadelphia Police Officer Van Buren Brown... assigned to keep an eye on a rally Aug. 1 calling for the immediate use of the death penalty against Mumia Abu-Jamal.... [He] told the court that the rally lasted about three hours... was held without a permit, that no one was arrETed, and that police did not ask the crowd to move."

11/2/00 2:35PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. Some cases were dismissed, others found not guilty for lack of proper identification by the prosecution.

11/2/00 4:04AM ET - From R2K Legal: If you are an R2K defendant and can get access to the internet, please call R2K Legal to be added to the defendants' email listserv.

11/2/00 3:11AM ET - From Moms for Justice: If you are a parent or guardian of an R2K defendant, you're invited to join the Moms for Justice email listserv. Please email momsforjustice-subscribe@egroups.com to subscribe.

11/2/00 2:31AM ET - From Boston Philly Defense: There will be a Philly political trial training this Saturday (11/4/00) from 3-5pm in Boston, facilitated by members of R2K Legal and the National Lawyers Guild. Please check the Calendar or email info@r2klegal.org for location.

11/2/00 2:28AM ET - From R2K Legal: The Calendar has been updated with the latET trial dates, hearings and meeting times. Dates/times are subject to change, please confirm with your lawyer and R2K Legal.

11/1/00 6:02AM ET - Please note: Any information sent over the internet may be intercepted. If you need to send sensitive information, consider using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), a free, powerful form of encryption for email and files.

11/1/00 5:38AM ET - Site updates: Background on the issues: Touring the Real Philly, KWRU; Racial Bias in Education and Criminal Justice, Jonathan Kozol; The Empire Strikes Back: Police Repression of ProtETs from Seattle to LA, Paul Rosenberg (PDF); The Colombia Plan: April 2000, Noam Chomsky; Walkin' in the Shadow of Death, by Mumia Abu-Jamal. Past Philly Inquirer articles added to Corporate Media section. Contact info for lawyers and local support groups in NY and Washington, DC.

10/31/00 5:56PM ET - From R2K Legal: Legal Update. Some cases dismissed, SOA protETers win judgment, others are sentenced to jail by Judge Seamus McCafferty and are appealing.

10/31/00 4:00PM ET - From the Legal Fund: The Fund now has a new fiscal sponsor, and some donations are now tax-deductible. Please make checks out to "NSEF".

10/31/00 3:17AM ET - From R2K Legal: Letters of support for the R2K defendants were delivered to the DA and the Mayor (with some resistance) by various individuals and groups, including activist organizations, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO), the American Postal Workers Union (AFL-CIO), First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, members of Congress and others.

10/30/00 5:15PM ET - From Political Research Associates: Detailed history of John Rees and his infiltration of activist groups. John Rees runs the Maldon Institute, a right-wing think tank, which aupplied information to PA State Police for their warrant on the Puppet warehouse. An early FBI memo describes Rees: "Rees is an unscrupulous unethical individual and an opportunist who operates with a self-serving interET. Information he has provided has been exaggerated and in generalities. Information from him cannot be considered reliable. We should not initiate any interview with this unscrupulous unethical individual concerning his knowledge of the disturbances in Chicago [at the 1968 Democratic Convention] as to do so would be a waste of time."

10/30/00 12:52PM ET - From the Corporate Media: The Philly Inquirer reports on a 'Maldon Institute,' run by John Rees: "Though his critics see Rees as an imaginative latter-day Joe McCarthy, Pennsylvania State Police used Rees' findings in seeking a warrant to raid a WET Philadelphia warehouse that protETers used as a puppet-making factory.... He talks of millions of missing rubles, riches that disappeared when the Soviet Union collapsed. Of how that money resurfaced to bankroll a new anticapitalist movement. ...[Rees says] 'I believe that elements of communism still exist and are advanced internationally and in America by groups such as those that tried to disrupt the GOP convention.'"

10/29/00 4:08AM ET - From the PD's: The Broad & Spruce trials will take place only on Nov. 27, not Nov. 28, as previously noted on the Calendar.

10/29/00 3:58AM ET - From the PD's: There will be a hearing on motions in all the puppet cases on Nov. 28, 2000 at 9:30am in courtroom 305, CJC.

10/29/00 3:50AM ET - From the PD's: The defendant/attorney meetings on the evening prior to the date of each trial will now be held at at the Public Defender Association, 70 North 17th St., 6pm. They will not be held at the WILP office on Race St., as previously noted on the Calendar. Please also note that defendants in each group are encouraged to strategize with other defendants and their own lawyers prior to these meetings.

10/27/00 6:52PM ET - From a1 NY: Frequently Asked Legal QuETions (FAQ). Please note: This FAQ was current as of Sept. 27. Check with your lawyer if you have quETions.

10/27/00 3:20PM ET - From the PD's: A Pre-trial Omnibus Motion was filed on Oct. 6, 2000 (DOC/HTML). "...Judge DeLeon has been holding hearings on this motion for several days. YETerday, Oct. 26, Judge DeLeon heard tETimony on the 8th issue. He said he would issue a decision on Monday, Oct. 30. YETerday, Judge DeLeon also said that the prosecutor's filing of the complaint amounted to a bill of particulars, one of the other issues raised in our motion. On Oct. 30 Judge DeLeon will continue to discuss issues raised in the motion. He will deal with discovery issues, outrageous police misconduct, and subpoenas of the State Police files. If you have any quETions about these issues or other issues relating to your case, please contact the Defender Association."

10/26/00 2:47PM ET - From R2K Legal: Print out a property claim form (PDF/GIF).

10/26/00 2:44AM ET - From R2K Legal: New consolidated trial dates have been posted to the calendar (for November and December). Please note that these dates are subject to change.

10/26/00 2:49AM ET - From the defenETrator: legal update. "There's a real consciousness on the part of most misdemeanor defendants with keeping solidarity strong with those facing harsher felony charges. The RNC 420 trials won't be over till the last felony case is dropped. Misdemeanor defendants have been seen engaging in disruptive and educational behavior such as reading lengthy political statements to the court, sporting defiant statements on their clothes, pumping fists of power and cheering in solidarity with others..."

10/25/2000 1:23PM ET - Boston R2K Benefit Concert: Friday, Oct. 27, 8pm, at the Central Square VFW Hall (288B Geen St.). Featuring hiphop with the Atomites; folksinger David Rovics; rock band Segue; electronica with members of the Toneburst collective (including Xrae, Mis ter int er rupt, & Splice); MC's from Critical Breakdown (including Urban Legends, Endangered Specie, MC Bone, Kwamex, and Jake the Snake).

10/24/2000 2:53PM ET - From Indymedia: Death penalty opponents associated with the Pennsylvania Abolitionists are reportedly planning a sit-in at 10:00AM ET, Oct. 26, 2000, at the offices of District Attorney Lynne Abraham. They are staging this nonviolent civil disobedience action to demand a moratorium on capital punishment -- from "America's DeadliET D.A."

10/23/2000 - R2K Legal Press Release: Pressure on D.A. mounts as RNC trials begin: local and national leaders and organizations call on Abraham to drop all charges. Supporters will speak out and deliver letters condemning the prosecutions to the D.A.'s office on Oct. 24th at 2:00pm ET.

10/23/2000 - Print out R2K Legal's flyer (PDF/HTML) on the draconian response of police to peaceful protET, and how you can help. Distribute it locally and cause a ruckus. Demand justice for the RNC 420.

10/23/2000 - The previous r2klegal.org site is located here.


Notice: All information is subject to change, it's your responsibility to confirm with R2K Legal.
previous r2klegal.org

 About Us 

Who are we? The R2K Network. Why are we protesting? Here's some background.

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 Donate 

Please help support our Legal Fund for Camille and the Timoney 3 cases. To make a donation, contact: info@r2klegal.org

 Supporters 

Letters of support:
Activist Organizations
AFSCME Union
APWU Union
First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
Members of Congress
National Association for Socially Responsible Organizations

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R2K Mobilization Links:
Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care
phillyhealth.org
August 1st Direct Action Coalition
Kensington Welfare Rights Union
kwru.org
NJ Unity2000
Philly Direct Action Group
Redirect2000
Refuse & Resist
refuseandresist.org
Silent March
silentmarch.org
Unity2000





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