Philadelphia

Philly Prosecutors Discover Mysterious ‘Six Boxes’ Connected To Mumia Abu-Jamal In Storage Room

January 12, 2019 By BobAllyn, Whyy.org Educate! Mumia Abu-Jamal, Philadelphia, Political Prisoner

Days after Christmas, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and some of his assistants went rummaging around an out-of-the-way storage room in the office looking for some pieces of furniture. What they stumbled upon was a surprising find: six boxes stuffed of files connected to the case of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Five of the six boxes were marked “McCann,” a reference to the former head of the office’s homicide unit, Ed McCann. Some of the boxes were also marked “Mumia,” or the former Black Panther’s full name, “Mumia Abu-Jamal.” It is unknown what exactly the files say and whether or not the box’s contents will shed new light on a case that for decades has garnered worldwide attention.

City Forced To Abolish Civil Asset Forfeiture And Pay Back Victims The Millions It Stole From Them

October 4, 2018 By Rachel Blevins, Activistpost.com Resist! Housing, Philadelphia, Police, Repression

Philadelphia, PA – The city that has gained a reputation for the egregious civil asset forfeiture practices committed by its police department, will now be forced to dismantle the program altogether, as a result of a lawsuit filed by a family who had their home seized by police after their son was accused of a minor drug crime. Residents who have been harmed by the Philadelphia Police department’s civil asset forfeiture practices could also receive part of $3 million in compensation. Markela and Chris Sourovelis initially filed a lawsuit in 2014 after their son was caught trying to sell $40 in heroin on the street. The parents complied with the judge and took their son to a court-ordered rehabilitation treatment. But when they returned home, they found that police had locked them out of their house.

Worker Co-Ops Catch On In Philadelphia

October 3, 2018 Sandra Larson, Nextcity.org Create! Cooperatives, New Economy, Philadelphia, Workers

Last fall, Colombia native Luis Eduardo Lozano and four other immigrant day laborers, tired of the indignities of scant, irregular hours and wage theft from employers, formalized the PWA Handymen Cooperative in Philadelphia. Now the worker-owned LLC offers residential and commercial interior and exterior renovation services. “To work in a co-op means higher rates and secure work. The contract is secure and fair,” Lozano says, speaking through a Spanish interpreter. “A percentage of the fees will be paid to the co-op, and at the end of the year members will earn extra. We all gain from the success of the co-op.” In West Philadelphia, another new worker co-op launched in June. Formed by artists and social-justice organizers...

Amazing Things Happened When 206 Ugly Vacant Lots In Philly Were Landscaped

July 31, 2018 Melissa Breyer, Treehugger.com Create! Community, Land, New Economy, Philadelphia

Almost one in five American adults report some form of mental illness; more than 16 million adults experience depression alone every year. Yet patient mental health services only account for an estimated 5 percent of total medical care spending in the United States. Noting that “spending time and living near green spaces have been associated with various improved mental health outcomes, including less depression, anxiety, and stress,” a group of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania set out to determine if by changing the places near where people live, they could affect change in mental health outcomes. Their conclusion may come as little surprise to those of who know the health benefits of green space: “Greening vacant urban land significantly reduces feelings of depression and improves overall mental health for the surrounding residents.”

Why They Risked Everything To Occupy ICE

July 6, 2018 By Will Bunch, Philly.com Resist! ICE, Immigration, Occupation, Philadelphia, Undocumented

On Tuesday, Philadelphia police arrested 24-year-old Jameson Rush, gave him — along with 28 others who had been part of an encampment seeking to shut down a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, office in the city — a citation, and told him that if he got arrested there again he’d be taken to jail and face more serious charges. But as a searing July sun was turning the 8th Street pavement into a convection oven on Thursday morning, Rush — a barista who moved to Philadelphia from northern California last year — was back out there in his bright green safety vest, even though he was exhausted from only getting about one hour of sleep in a small folding chair the night before.

‘This Is Huge’: Black Liberationist Speaks Out After Her 40 Years In Prison

June 27, 2018 Ed Pilkington, Theguardian.com Educate! History, Philadelphia, political prisoners, Racism

The first member of a group of black radicals known as the Move Nine who have been incarcerated, they insist unjustly, for almost 40 years for killing a Philadelphia police officer has been released from prison. Debbie Sims Africa, 61, walked free from Cambridge Springs prison in Pennsylvania on Saturday, having been granted parole. She was 22 when with her co-defendants she was arrested and sentenced to 30 to 100 years for the shooting death of officer James Ramp during a police siege of the group’s communal home on 8 August 1978. She emerged from the correctional institution to be reunited with her son, Michael Davis Africa Jr, to whom she gave birth in a prison cell in September 1978, a month after her arrest. “This is huge for us personally,” Sims Africa told the Guardian, speaking from her son’s home in a small town on the outskirts of Philadelphia where she will now live.

Palestinian Protest Leader Explains Why Philadelphia Orchestra Should Stay Out Of Israel

May 22, 2018 Victor Fiorillo, Phillymag.com Resist! Activists, Israel, Philadelphia, Protests

On Monday morning, the Philadelphia Orchestra sent out a “bon voyage” email to its fans and subscribers, explaining that the group is about to embark on a two-week tour that includes performances in Israel. What the email doesn’t mention is the controversy and boycott surrounding the Israel portion of that tour, or the fact that protesters blocked traffic outside of the Kimmel Center and interrupted the Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance there on Saturday night. We caught up with Palestinian protest organizer Susan Abulhawa of Bucks County to learn more.

Philly Neighborhood Achieves Inclusive Development And Control Through Community Land Trust

May 15, 2018 Steve Dubb, Nonprofitquarterly.org Create! Development, Land, New Economy, Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, the Community Justice Land Trust is helping preserve a community in the face of rising land values and speculation in the city’s Eastern North section, near Temple University, reports Patrick Sisson in Curbed. Sisson notes that a decade ago, the area, “near Temple University and largely lower income and [Latinx], was beginning to feel the influence of nearby developments, loft-to-condo conversions that had been a harbinger of rising rents and displacement in similar neighborhoods.” The formation of a community land trust has helped provide long-term permanently affordable housing for residents while also allowing for long-term community planning of development.

Philadelphia DA’s Office Stonewalls At Hearing For Mumia Abu-Jamal

May 5, 2018 John Leslie, Socialistaction.org Resist! Mumia Abu-Jamal, Philadelphia

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office continues to stonewall in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. At a court hearing on April 30, prosecutors failed, once again, to produce a memorandum allegedly signed by former Philadelphia District Attorney and retired Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille. Under the 2016 Williams v. Pennsylvania decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a defendant’s right to due process is violated if a DA, who played a role in their prosecution, is later a judge in the same case. At issue is Castille’s refusal to recuse himself from hearing appeals in Mumia’s case before the state Supreme Court. At the April 30 hearing, presiding Judge Leon Tucker ordered the defense and prosecution to exchange documents on July 9 and Aug. 7. Oral arguments will be heard by Judge Tucker on Aug. 30.

Protests Erupt At Philly Starbucks Where 2 Black Men Were Arrested For ‘Trespassing’

April 17, 2018 Hayley Miller, Huffingtonpost.com Resist! Philadelphia, Protests, Racism, Starbucks

“Starbucks coffee is anti-black,” the demonstrators chanted Monday morning. Protesters swarmed a Starbucks in Philadelphia on Monday, days after police arrested two black men who had been waiting there to meet a friend. Dozens of demonstrators shut down the coffee shop in Philadelphia’s central business district for over three hours Monday morning. The activists came out to protest racial profiling after the store’s manager called police Thursday to remove the men for sitting at a table without buying anything. “A whole lot of racism, a whole lot of whack,” protesters chanted Monday. “Starbucks coffee is anti-black.”

Philadelphia City Council Votes To End Cash Bail

February 5, 2018 By Lizzie Manno, Pastemagazine.com Create! Bail, City Council, Philadelphia

According to the Vera Institute of Justice, Philadelphia City Council unanimously voted to end cash bail on Thursday—a system that overwhelmingly punishes poor offenders by forcing them to stay in jail while they await trial after an arrest. Recently elected District Attorney Larry Krasner has been leading the council on pressing issues of criminal justice reform, along with council member Curtis Jones Jr. According to The Philadelphia Tribune, Jones said during the council session last week, “I’m calling for an end to the cash bail system in the city of Philadelphia.” Jones continued: Mr. President [Darrell Clarke] in our research we found out that a cash bail system came from a 1,000 year old medieval system that was created to make sure that they knew, even then, that jails were too costly. And so we should let the accuser go if they were not a danger to themselves or society.

Public Bank: Time For Philadelphia To Invest In Philadelphia

January 19, 2018 By Tivoni Devor, Generocity.org Create! Investment, Philadelphia, Public Banking

From what magic bucket of money are we supposed to use to pay for all of this? The Philadelphia Municipal Pension Fund, which covers the pension costs of city workers. This $4 billion fund is entirely made up tax-payer dollars. It’s invested globally in all sorts of funds, stocks, bonds and securities to generate revenue for the city to cover its obligations, and it doesn’t always do that well: In 2016 fund had a net loss of $149 million (though 2017’s returns surpassed expectations). It’s one of the countries worst funded municipal funds. One of Philly’s biggest budget expenses is it’s annual contribution to this fund, which comes from tax revenues. A bulk of Philly’s tax revenue comes from wage taxes. If more people worked, and had higher wages for the jobs they did work, the city would have a higher tax revenues as well as increased savings on social safety net services, which would better position the city to cover its pension obligations.

After 16 Years Of Activism, Philadelphia Is Reclaiming Its Public Schools

November 8, 2017 Sarah Jaffe, truth-out.org Create! Activism, Education, Philadelphia, Schools

By Sarah Jaffe for Truthout - Sarah Jaffe: We are talking on Thursday, and the news today is that Philadelphia is taking back control of its public schools. First off, tell us about the news breaking today. What is going on? A.K. Klagsbrun: We just came from city hall, where Mayor Jim Kenney, who was elected on a pro-education platform, just announced that he will be calling on the School Reform Commission (SRC), which is the 16-year-long body that has ruled Philadelphia schools as part of a state takeover, to abolish itself and therefore claim the Philadelphia schools for local control. This is 16 years in the making, since the beginning of the SRC. Our coalition has been calling for this to happen, so we are pretty excited to see it happen this year. It is going to happen on November 16. A.L. Little: This is a great moment, but it is not just a great moment for the people who were part of this process. This is a great moment for the children of Philadelphia -- the students of Philadelphia who have been affected by this failed experiment that last 16 years. Now they have an opportunity to actually receive the same education as their counterparts in many suburban districts. Hopefully, we will be able to see a changeover from the rule of the SRC to now local control here in Philadelphia.

Philly Cop Suspended After Shooting Unarmed Black Man

September 9, 2017 Jack Burns, www.mintpressnews.com Resist! Black Lives Matter (BLM), Philadelphia, police brutality

By Jack Burns for Mint Press News - Video of the deadly shooting shows Jones running away from the officer, around a vehicle, before being killed by the officer’s bullet. But police do not dispute eye witness testimony that Jones pulled a gun on the officer first. In June, when the incident happened, Ross addressed reporters saying that eyewitnesses saw the officer approach Jones, and reach around his waist, where he felt the firearm. He ordered Jones not to “reach” for the weapon. Jones ignored that command and pulled the gun on the officer, who quickly drew his own weapon and attempted to fire. Ross said the first shot by the officer was entirely justified, but the subsequent two were not, and he was apparently fired for shooting an unarmed man in the back. The incident in Philadelphia is the latest in what seems to be a string of cop vs. biker incidents which have left several citizens dead. Just last week we brought you the story of Demond Grimes—a 15-year-old child—who was killed by a Michigan State Police Officer Mark Bessner after the officer tased Grimes from his vehicle as the teenager was riding his ATV.

Why This Temple Student Is Organizing A March For Black Women: ‘They Matter’

August 21, 2017 Sofiya Ballin, www.philly.com Organize! Black Women, Higher Education, March, Philadelphia, Student Activism

By Sofiya Ballin for Philly.com The message is fitting. It was Malcolm who said: “The most disrespected woman in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Those words replay in Fenner’s head as she plans her first march, “A March for Black Women,” scheduled to take place Friday. Demonstrators will set out at 1 p.m. from City Hall to Cecil B. Moore Avenue to celebrate and highlight the diversity of black women and honor black women who were victims of police brutality. Fenner is spreading word of the march through social media and hopes to have a large turnout of women — and men. The 19-year-old Temple University sophomore and Philadelphia native said it’s to “celebrate black women for who they are and not what the media wants them to be.” “I’ve been to plenty of marches for black men who have been harassed or killed by police,” she said. “But when I went to one for Sandra Bland, it was very small.” In 2015, Bland, a 28-year-old black woman, died in police custody after being arrested during a traffic stop in Texas. Fenner also recalled that in 2016, Korryn Gaines, 23, was shot by police in her Baltimore home with her 5-year-old son close by. But, she said, “nobody was marching.”

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