: >From: "Greg Butterfield" <theredguard@hotmail.com>
: >Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 21:35:11 PDT
: >
: >-------------------------
: >Via Workers World News Service
: >Reprinted from the July 22, 1999
: >issue of Workers World newspaper
: >-------------------------
: >
: >PHILADELPHIA
: >MOVE 9 fight for a new trial
: >By Greg Butterfield
: >
: >The eight surviving members of the MOVE 9 filed court papers on July 8 in
: >Philadelphia seeking a new trial. The eight--Chuck Africa, Debbie Africa,
: >Delbert Africa, Edward Africa, Janet Africa, Janine Africa, Mike Africa and
: >Phil Africa--have spent nearly two decades behind bars, convicted of killing
: >Police Officer James J. Ramp during a 1978 police assault on a MOVE house.
: >All are serving sentences ranging from 30 to 100 years.
: >
: >Supporters call the MOVE 9 political prisoners who were targeted for daring
: >to advocate Black armed self-defense during Frank Rizzo's reign as mayor of
: >Philadelphia.
: >
: >Merle Africa, the ninth member, died in prison last year under mysterious
: >circumstances. Mumia Abu-Jamal and others have called for an independent
: >investigation into her death.
: >
: >At a news conference after filing papers in Common Pleas Court, attorney
: >Paul J. Hetznecker said, "The trial was a travesty of justice. The result
: >cannot be just if the process of trial is unjust." He said the judge, Edwin
: >Malmed, "acted as an advocate for the prosecution."
: >
: >Hetznecker said the nine defendants, who were representing themselves, were
: >illegally removed from the courtroom. They were saddled with ineffective
: >court-appointed lawyers.
: >
: >Ramona Africa, spokesperson for the MOVE Organization, said prosecutors
: >withheld vital evidence, including a February 1977 secret memo outlining
: >plans for a police attack to "eradicate MOVE."
: >
: >On June 28, police staged a provocation outside the MOVE house at 4504-06
: >Kingsessing Ave. The cops invaded MOVE property, claiming to be chasing two
: >suspects. MOVE supporters have reiterated their self-defense stance,
: >recalling the brutal 1985 police bombing of a MOVE house that killed nine
: >people, including children.
: >
: >- END -
: >
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: >