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Press Releases R2K LEGAL COLLECTIVE MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2001 CONTACT: Kris Hermes, R2K Legal Collective (215) 925-6791, Lawrence Krasner, R2K Lawyer (215) 731-9500, David Rudovsky, R2K Lawyer (215) 925-4400 http://www.r2klegal.org PRESS CONFERENCE -- THURSDAY, JULY 26th AT 9:30AM 601 MARKET STREET -- PHILADELPHIA FEDERAL COURTHOUSE RNC DEFENDANTS JOHN SELLERS AND TERRENCE MCGUCKIN FILE CIVIL SUITS AGAINST THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA FOR WRONGFUL ARREST, MALICIOUS PROSECUTION, AND DEFAMATION Terrence McGuckin, of the Philadelphia Direct Action Group, was acquitted of all charges at trial and John Sellers of the California-based Ruckus Society had his case withdrawn just prior to trial. Both plaintiffs were accused of being protest "ringleaders." Who: David Rudovsky and Lawrence Krasner, attorneys for Terrence McGuckin and John Sellers, respectively, will speak to the press after filing suits in federal court on behalf of their clients. The family of John Sellers will also be present for comment. What: This press conference will be held to highlight the complaints by McGuckin and Sellers -- that multiple parties in the city of Philadelphia worked to deny McGuckin and Sellers of their civil rights. Included in their complaints are charges of wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation. After McGuckin and Sellers had been jailed for days and excessively charged during last summer's Republican National Convention (RNC) protests, they endured months of unnecessary prosecution. McGuckin, of the Philadelphia Direct Action Group, was acquitted of all charges at trial and Sellers, of the California-based Ruckus Society, had his case dropped by the District Attorney minutes before trial -- both cases were prosecuted without merit. When: Thursday, July 26th at 9:30AM Where: 601 Market Street -- Philadelphia Federal Courthouse Why: The suits being filed by McGuckin and Sellers are merely an example of how people.s civil rights were violated at last year's RNC protests. Hundreds of activists that were in Philadelphia to voice outrage on issues such as the criminal "justice" system -- the death penalty, police violence, class warfare -- and corporate domination of politics and the global economy were arrested, overcharged, and excessively prosecuted. Now that well over 95% of the cases against people arrested last summer have been thrown out, it is clear that the City known as the "cradle of liberty" was way out of line in their dealing with free speech and dissent. While some whose rights were violated are now filing suit, a handful still languish in the courts. The DA's intentions smack of political motivation -- where a year later, nine defendants are still being prosecuted and have yet to go to trial. To add insult to injury, eight of these nine remaining cases are still in the courts due to appeals by the DA. --030-- |
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