Defend the SF8
Posted November 26, 2007 by jmacphee in Events
This friday in New York City there is a benefit event in support of the San Francisco 8. The SF8 are eight former Black Panther Party members and active supporters (now ages 56 to 72) who were arrested last January on charges related to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police officer. Some of these men faced virtually identical charges almost 35 years ago—charges that were dropped after it was revealed that police torture had extracted the “confessions” used to justify the case.
Now the case is back on, based on the same flawed evidence. The judge has released the 6 bail-eligible defendants on bond, and I was able to see them speak in San Francisco a couple months ago at a benefit event put on for them by Freedom Archives and the San Francisco Print Collective that was also a book release event for Emory Douglas. The SF8 were incredibly humorous, humble, thoughtful and moving to a man, I was very impressed.
Of course I was not able to meet the 2 defendants who are not eligible for bail. They are political prisoners Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim. Both have already served more than 34 years in New York state prisons. This new case charges them again with actions for which they are already serving time.
Former Black Panther Minister of Information and propagandist Emory Douglas is one of many cultural workers that has done a lot to support the SF8. He has created a special poster to raise funds for them, it is intense (and it is the top image in this post). You can buy a silkscreened or offset printed version here and support the struggle.
Here's the information about the NYC event:
Celebrate and defend the legacy of the Black Panther Party:
Drop the charges against the SF8!
Friday, November 30, 7 pm
Local 1199/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Labor Center
310 W. 43rd Street (between 8th & 9th Ave.) NYC
Speakers Include:
Gil Noble, respected producer and host of ABC-TV’s Like It Is
SF8 defendants Francisco Torres, Harold Taylor, Ray Boudreaux and Hank Jones
Soffiyah Elijah, Esq., lawyer on the SF8 case
Performing:
alixa + naima/Climbing Poetree
Jamal Joseph and IMPACT! youth group
Come welcome home four of the SF8 defendants and learn more about the case.
For more information contact: Committee to Free the SF8, Local 1199, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, The Jericho Movement or call: (718) 254-8800 or (646) 246-0770
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