Militant March Targets Offices of Philadelphia DA and Police Chief, Demands Justice for Thomas Jones, Robert Brown; a  New Trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal; and an End to the Death Penalty  

July 30, 2000  

On Sunday, July 30, hundreds of protesters marched from the site of  the "Unity 2000" Rally to the offices of Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham and Police Commissioner John F. Timoney. They marched to protest police brutality in Philadelphia and to demand a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal. The also demanded an end to the racist death penalty. The march was sponsored by the International Action Center.  

Demonstrators carried signs saying "Stop Police Brutality" with  pictures of victims Thomas Jones, who is recovering in the hospital from a police beating, and  Robert Brown, who was shot to death by the police in Philadelphia's Amtrak station. "Not One More Lynching" said other signs against the death penalty featuring photos of Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham, an innocent man executed by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, and Mumia Abu-Jamal, who is fighting for a new trial from Pennsylvania's death row.  

The multi-racial protest, which included many young people, marched  through the streets to rally outside DA Abraham's office.  Despite being surrounded by police,  including many on horseback, the demonstrators then continued their militant march to Timoney's  office in police headquarters. Along the route, protestors held sit-ins outside hotels housing Republican delegates, where they spoke out and chanted against the death penalty and police brutality.  

"The militant outpouring of young people to this protest against the brutal beating of Thomas Jones and the summary execution of Robert Brown shows again the rising tide of opposition to police brutality," said Larry Holmes, a leader of the International Action Center.  "More than ever, people recognize the link between the death penalty, which George W. Bush has used to execute over 135 people-including an innocent man, Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham-and police brutality in Philadelphia. That link is racism."  

The protest also called for a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was prosecuted by DA Abraham in 1983. "DA Abraham wrongfully went after Mumia Abu-Jamal with all the resources of her office," said Berta Joubert, a leader of the Philadelphia International Action Center.  "Today people demanded that the DA prosecute the real criminals-the Philadelphia police-for their racist attacks on Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown."

International Action Center
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