Drop the Racist Frame-Up Charges Against Amer Jubran!
Sign Online Petition! All Out to Brookline Court 10 am August 9!Update from 7/16/01 Court Appearance
Defend the right of Palestinians and their supporters to demonstrate against the illegal Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Land! Protest the arrest of Palestinian Amer Jubran while leading a peaceful, legal protest of a celebration of the 53rd anniversary of the state of Israel in Brookline, Mass on June 10, 2001.
Follow the link below and sign the on-line petition to the Norfolk County District Attorney DEMANDING THE CHARGES BE DROPPED IMMEDIATELY:
http://www.iacboston.org/jubranpetition
Sign up at the link above to help get out the word or make a donation to the defense fund (on the form with the online petition)
All out to Brookline Court, 360 Washington St, Brookline, Mass (across from Brookline Public Library), August 9, 2001, 11am for Amer Jubran's next court appearance!
Read a full account and current updates with pictures, see movie of demo at July 16 court appearance, and download the pdf format leaflet and hardcopy petition from the link below:
http://www.iacboston.org/amerjubran
Approach individuals and organizations you know and have them send letters to the D.A. modeled on the petition, with copies to the Committee to Defend Amer Jubran and Palestinian Free Speech Rights at the address at the bottom of this message.
Send a donation to the Amer Jubran Legal Defense Fund at the address at the bottom of this message.
Attend the meetings of the Committee to Defend Amer Jubran and Palestinian Free Speech Rights, every Monday at 6:30 pm, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain, MA (near Stony Brook on Orange Line) for directions, click here: http://www.iacboston.org/directions
Report on July 16 Court Appearance and Support Rally: (account of June 10 demo and arrest follows)
On Monday, July 16, supporters of Amer Jubran and Palestinian Free Speech Rights demonstrated outside of Brookline District Court. The demonstration began at 9 am with a spirited picket line outside the courthouse, in front of a banner reading "Drop the Racist Frame-Up Charges Against Amer Jubran - Defend Palestinian Free Speech Rights. Numerous placcards called for an end to the U.S./Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. As the judge came to the courthouse he was greated with chants of "Drop the racist frame-up charges, defend Amer Jubran." The entire protest was videoed by Peoples Video Network. It can be seen online, along with interviews with Amer Jubran, Merrie Najimy of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), and Stevan Kirshbaum of the International Action Center (IAC), at www.iacboston.org/amerjubran .
At 10 am, the demonstrators proceeded into the courthouse and courtroom to show support for Amer. In court, the prosecution had not come through with videotapes and documents the defense requested in discovery and which the judge had ordered deliverd by July 9. The defense also put forward a motion to dismiss the case based on the fact that the police report does not support the charge of felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon that is being brought against Amer. A hearing on that defense motion was scheduled for August 9 at 11 am.
At the beginning of the court session, the videographer from the Peoples Video Network, Bob Lamothe, requested permission to video the court proceedings, and was told this was not allowed. However, throughout the court session, a police video was videoing Amer Jubran and all of his supporters through the courtroom door window. This represented a continuation of the police harrassment, intimidation and denial of rights of protest that began at the demonstration on June 10. The American Civil Liberties Union and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee have sent a letter to the Town of Brookline demanding all documents and videos pertaining to police actions on that day and planning for that day, to examine the police conduct and violations of rights of free speech, assembly and equal protection under the law of Palestinians and their supporters in the Town of Brookline.
After the court session was over, the demonstrators continued to picket. They were then addressed by Amer Jubran, Stevan Kirshbaum of IAC and Merrie Najimy of ADC. Amer explained that the purpose of the original demonstration and of the ongoing campaign is to raise the question of Palestine and the illegal occupation of Palestinian land since 1948. He described the conditions of closure in Palestine as collective punishment. He pointed out that U.S. aid to Israel, including F16s that are attacking civilian populations and nuclear weapons, is double the figure of U.S. aid for all of Africa. Merrie Najimy talked of an investigation and potential lawsuit by the ADC and ACLU focusing on racist profiling and civil rights violations. All called for more support and for a big turnout on August 9 at 11 am at Brookline District Court for the hearing on the motion to dismiss the charges.
Account of the June 10, 2001 demonstration and arrest:
On Sunday, June 10, 2001 in Brookline, Ma, the Brookline police, the Town of Brookline, Zionist groups and the Israeli consulate violated the First Amendment freedom of speech rights of Palestinians and their supporters who were conducting a spirited peaceful demonstration. Jewish, Arab, African-American, Muslim, and other advocates of human rights and social justice were demanding an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and to U.S. funding of Israel, and were supporting the Intifada and the Right of Return for Palestinians.
A concurrent event across the street was dedicated to the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel. At the pro-Palestinian demonstration over 100 participants held signs and pictures and banners, chanted, and passed out leaflets protesting the Israeli violence against Palestinians and the U.S.-backed Israeli bombing of Palestinian civilian communities. They demanded an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and the right for Palestinian refugees to return to their native homeland.
The demonstration proceeded in a spirited, orderly way for 2 1/2 hours, despite harassment from Zionist elements. But the Brookline police were determined not to allow the demonstration to continue. They entered the demonstration without provocation, approached Amer Jubran, a Palestinian man who was leading chants, and removed him from the demonstration and arrested him. Amer's only "crime" was leading a protest against the injustice perpetrated on Palestinian people who were driven from their homes 53 years ago to allow the creation of the Israeli state. In fact, Amer was listed with the police as the organizer of the protest, and spent the entire day of the demonstration coordinating with the police, complying with their requests for the demonstration to be across the street, not to block foot traffic and not to utilize any bullhorns.
There was no justification or cause for his arrest. The police then proceed to attempt to further break up the demonstration by demanding that banners be removed and people move or be arrested. Amer's rights continued to be grossly violated. He has been slapped with racist frame-up charges of felony assault and battery with a dangerous weapon - a shod foot. This is nothing but an attempt to deny the right of free speech and protest. It cannot be allowed to stand.
The movement for Justice for Palestine will not be silenced. We must defend our right to demonstrate and raise the truth anywhere and anytime to fight back against the massacre of innocent children, women and men that is being carried out by Israel today with U.S. backing, and the rights of the Palestinian nation to self-determination and of Palestinians to return to their land. Justice for Amer Jubran! Defend the right to free speech!
Committee to Defend Amer Jubran and Palestinian Free Speech Rights
c/o Al-Awda-Mass & IAC Boston
31 Germania St (enter 284 Amory St)
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-522-6626 fax 617-983-3836
email: jubrandefense@yahoo.com
web: http://www.iacboston.org/amerjubran
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: mailto:iacenter@action-mail.org
En Espanol: iac-cai@action-mail.org
Web: http://www.iacenter.org
Support Mumia Abu-Jamal: http://www.millions4mumia.org/
phone: 212 633-6646
fax: 212 633-2889
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