From Stop Mass Incarceration Network, Chicago:
POLICE WHO MURDER PEOPLE WALK FREE—
Iggy & Alfredo Face Felony Charges
For Protesting Police Murder & Demanding Justice!
Drop All the Charges Now
On All Those Arrested Protesting Police Murder!
February 15, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
Police nationwide continue to murder unarmed people, disproportionately Black and Latino. While police almost never face charges, people who protest police murder are arrested, charged, and threatened with years in prison. The murder of Laquan McDonald unleashed a torrent of almost daily protests in Chicago. In response the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the powers behind them continue to arrest protesters who are standing up for justice, just as they have done since protests against the murders of Mike Brown and Eric Garner broke out over a year ago. Police have been singling out, threatening, and arresting key activists from different perspectives who are playing major roles in the protests. THIS MUST STOP!
Now is the time for everyone to demand that all charges against all protesters be dropped and that the CPD stop targeting key activists! A political and legal battle needs to be waged to make this happen and all people of conscience need to get involved in this.
Iggy & Alfredo Face Felony Charges
On December 13, 2014, protesters took to the streets in Chicago, furious over grand juries’ refusals to indict cops for the murders of Mike Brown and Eric Garner. Chicago police arrested more than two dozen people. Most had their charges dropped or were allowed to opt for “community service.” One woman won her trial, defeating the misdemeanor charge against her.
Two protesters, David “Iggy Flow” Rucker and Alfredo Reyes, were beaten by police, and then charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and slapped with $75,000 bail each. Over a year later, they still face felony charges carrying possible 7-year prison sentences.
We Demand—Drop the Charges Now! Hands Off Iggy & Alfredo!
Iggy works with the Revolution Club of Chicago and has been very visible in protests to stop police murder. He is still being singled out by police. At one recent protest for Laquan, a cop who recognized Iggy assaulted him with a night stick and at another protest, a cop got in his face, shouting, “Hey, punk, wanna take a swing at me?” The Sun-Times recently revealed that the Revolution Club and others were the targets of police spying during this time.
Alfredo joined in the protest against police brutality.
If you have been protesting against police murder and terror, if your heart is with the protesters, if you believe in the value of protests shining a light on grave injustices—then
STAND WITH IGGY & ALFREDO!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
● Demand the charges be dropped against David “Iggy Flow” Rucker and Alfredo Reyes. Contact state’s attorney Anita Alvarez, 69 W. Washington, Suite 3200, Chicago, IL 60602; statesattorney@cookcountyil.gov, 312-603-1880.
● Publicize the case. Invite the defendants to speak in classes, to church groups, on the radio. Spread the word on social media. Get this flyer out everywhere. Make sure all protesters, and everyone you know who is supportive of the protests, is aware of these cases and get them involved. Speak out at your school, church groups, etc.
● Pack the courtroom. Next hearing for Iggy and Alfredo: Thursday, March 3, 2016, 9:30 am, Room 206, Cook County Court, 2600 S. California Ave, Chicago, IL.
● Refuse to be intimidated. They arrest people and put heavy charges on some so that you will be afraid to stand up for justice. Make this backfire on them. For everyone they arrest, many more must join the struggle.
Funds are urgently needed. Stay tuned to the Stop Mass Incarceration Network Facebook page for information on crowdfunding.
***
DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST THE SOUTH SHORE 2!
Pack the courtroom, February 18, 2016, 9:30 am, Room 604, Cook County Court, 26th and California.
On September 26, the South Shore 2 were in South Shore with the Revolution Club and others from the neighborhood organizing for the national protest “Rise Up October—Stop Police Terror! Which Side Are You On?” in New York City on October 24, 2015.
The group was passing out palm cards, calling on people to stand up against police terror, and displaying a banner with the faces of 40 people murdered by the police. They passed out whistles to “blow the whistle on police brutality.”
As people from the neighborhood gathered, speaking their outrage about their treatment by the police and the police murders of Alfontish “NuNu” Cockerham and JJ Kemp (two men from the South Shore neighborhood), police began harassing a man nearby for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. Many people gathered to “blow the whistle” on the police, and in the face of this resistance, the cops backed off and let the man go. But a short time later, after most of the crowd left, the police returned and suddenly attacked the group, arresting a young Black woman and young Black man—the South Shore 2. They did nothing to deserve this. For a political protest against police terror they were each charged with the serious felony of aggravated battery to a police officer, by the very police that they were protesting.
Stop Mass Incarceration Network—Chicago
stopmassincarcerationchicago@gmail.com • (312) 933-9586 Facebook.com/SMINChicago
@StopMassIncChi stopmassincarceration.net
The Stop Mass Incarceration Network is a project of the Alliance for Global Justice, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more info, see stopmassincarceration.net.
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