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Press Releases R2K LEGAL COLLECTIVE MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 11, 2000 CONTACT: Kris Hermes, R2K Legal (215) 925-6791 http://www.r2klegal.org RNC PUPPETISTA PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13TH AT 2:00 PM AT THE NE CORNER OF CITY HALL DEFENDANTS ARRESTED THIS SUMMER DURING THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION (RNC) WHILE CREATING PUPPETS, SIGNS AND BANNERS IN A PHILADELPHIA WAREHOUSE WILL REENACT THE WAREHOUSE RAID AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT PROSECUTION Charges will be dismissed Wednesday, December 13, 2000 for all of the remaining puppetista defendants that cannot be identified in lineups and photo arrays. Who: Defendants from the puppet warehouse raid during the RNC this Summer, including pro se defendant, Jessica Mammarella; R2K attorney Paul Hetznecker; Local puppetry expert; and activists from Philadelphia and beyond displaying an array of images and puppetry. What: Press Conference to include Defendants arrested at the puppet warehouse and facing trial this week, along with supporters, will reenact the police’s preemptive raid on the warehouse and their subsequent prosecution using puppetry and special effects. The original plan for the undermined puppet parade and march on August 1st will be revealed. Paul Hetznecker will discuss the legal significance of the puppet trials. He will cover First and Fourth Amendment violations and how the puppetista cases directly and symbolically reflect a chronic miscarriage of justice not only for those activists facing high level charges, but also for the 2 million imprisoned in this country that deal with injustice on a daily basis. When: Wednesday, December 13th at 2:00PM Where: NE Corner of Philadelphia’s City Hall (Broad and JFK Streets) Background: Activists preparing to protest a national political convention created free speech materials to use on August 1st of this year. The issues for the day were to be focused on the country’s criminal "injustice" system. One hundred thirty-eight cardboard skeletons represented the number of people Texas Governor George Bush had executed. "Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners" appeared on multiple banners. Some signs demanded an end to police brutality. Although dozens of defendants from the warehouse had their charges thrown out, their victory is bittersweet. Puppetistas know that their arrests and prosecutions are no different than those with high-level charges who remain in the system. They feel that this is a political attack against dissent. Monday and Tuesday will include police line-ups and photo identification arrays for the remaining thirty puppet defendants. If the undercover state troopers identify anyone, as allegedly having done something illegal, they will proceed to trial on Friday, December 15th. Those not identified will have their cases thrown out. Puppetista defendants stand in solidarity with all RNC defendants for a swift resolution to this judicial charade. "People continue to be singled out through high-level misdemeanor and felony charges in order to satisfy a desire by the 'justice' system to set an example," says pro se defendant Jessica Mammarella. "This blatant attack on people’s right to free speech is an outrage." --030-- |
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