Date: Mon, 05 Jul 1999 22:49:21 -0400
Subject: Re: AAC: Mumia protestors shut down Liberty Bell; 55 arrests
From: jmcintosh-AT-wvwise.org (John McIntosh)


Chuck,
The AP story on the Liberty Bell Mumia CDs, Sat/7.3, says 55 were
arrested. 
I was in Philly on the next day of protests, Sunday the 4th, and people
there 
said *95* had been arrested. They said the action was way successful; they 
caught the fed. park police off guard.
And on Sunday before we got there -late - the Mumia speakers across Market
Street from the Liberty Bell were loud enough to be heard by Clinton who
was 
speaking over at Independence Hall. Due to this, ten or so Philly
plainclothes
cops advanced across the street to grab the mikes and PA system. But the
crowd
totally surrounded the speakers & PA and the cops backed off!!
By the time we got there, there were maybe 100 or more people. But
according 
to those present there had been many more present earlier who'd left
'cause of 
the heat.
-Duff
========================================================

chuck-AT-tao.ca,Internet writes:
>Now, this is in example of what I've been advocating: creative direct
>action and/or arrests. If you advocate nonviolence, why not practice it
>once in a while? The Free Mumia movement has been mired in lame leftist
>rallies for too long; it's nice to see folks trying something different
>AND willing to get arrested.
>
>
>-- Chuck0
>
>===========>Abu-Jamal Protest Ends With Arrests 
>By Genaro C. Armas
>Associated Press Writer
>Saturday, July 3, 1999;  7:05 p.m. EDT
>
>PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Supporters of death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal
>blocked the entrance to the Liberty Bell at the start of the busy Fourth
>of July weekend on Saturday, and 55 people were arrested. 
>
>The landmark was closed to the public for about three hours. 
>
>The demonstration came on the 17th anniversary of the sentencing of
>Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther and radio journalist convicted of
>killing a Philadelphia police officer.
>
>He contends he is innocent and blames his conviction on a biased judge
>and an ineffective lawyer. His jail writings about the justice system --
>and efforts to win a new trial -- have given him worldwide attention.
>
>Police carried away demonstrators who sat arm-in-arm in front of
>entrances to the glass-enclosed Liberty Bell Pavilion and others who
>entered the building and kneeled in front of the historic bell.
>
>National Park Service rangers used a forklift to remove two people from
>a ledge where they held a banner that read ``Freedom for Mumia.''
>Rangers also had to break chains that demonstrators placed on the doors,
>trapping a group of about 30 tourists inside for five minutes. 
>
>``We chose the Liberty Bell because it symbolizes freedom,'' said Diane
>Nicholas, a spokeswoman for the demonstrators. ``Let freedom ring for
>Mumia, because he has been denied a fair trial.''
>
>One tourist, Joe Bass, 59, of Boston, confronted demonstrators after he
>was turned away from the door. 
>
>``Get out of the way so we can see the Liberty Bell,'' he screamed. 
>
>``Why can't they be civilly disobedient 20 feet away so people can see
>the Liberty Bell?'' asked Bass' wife, Nancy.
>
>Organizers said they planned to return Sunday before a Liberty Medal
>presentation to South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.
>
>The protesters who were arrested were to be charged with failure to obey
>a lawful order, federal prosecutor Richard Goldberg said. 
>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Chuck0
>http://flag.blackened.net/chuck0/home/
>
>Dr. Laura is scared of this sig file
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>Mid-Atlantic Infoshop
>http://www.infoshop.org/
>
>Spunk Library
>http://www.spunk.org/
>"All the anarchy you'll ever need, organized neatly 
>and with reassuring authority."
>  -- 1998 Rough Guide to the Internet
>
>FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL AND LEONARD PELTIER!
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>