San Francisco 8 defendant Richard Brown spoke eloquently at a fundraiser for the SF 8 in San Francisco in September. Listening are his SF 8 comrades Ray Boudreaux, Richard O’Neal and Hank Jones. Photo: Minister of Information JR

Herman Bell, Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown and Hank Jones are now charged only with the alleged murder of a police officer in 1971, a charge also brought against Jalil Muntaqim (aka Bottom) and Francisco Torres. This is a major victory for the SF 8 and their supporters, a clear indication that the government's case is falling apart.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, prosecutors will argue that the other three brothers - Bell, Muntaqim and Torres - were not California residents over the past 35 years so the statute does not apply to them. Defense attorney Stuart Hanlon called this "ridiculous," as the brothers were forcefully removed from California to be imprisoned in New York. Furthermore, all three were consistently available to California prosecutors, so the conspiracy charges should likewise be dropped against them.

The original dragnet sent San Francisco detectives to New Orleans in 1973 where Black Panthers John Bowman (now deceased), Harold Taylor and Rubin Scott (turned state's witness) were tortured until they made statements. But two courts refused to admit confessions rendered under torture. In fact, a San Francisco judge threw the case out in 1975. Taylor, who still suffers from physical injuries and PTSD, is being forced to relive those tortuous days in this 37-year-old case.

A press conference will be held this Thursday, Jan. 10, at 8:30 a.m. with the six defendants out on bail and their attorneys - prior to the court hearing at 9:30. Seven defendants will then enter NOT GUILTY pleas in Department 23, on the Third Floor. O'Neal no longer faces charges.

Join us and pack the courtroom at 850 Bryant St., near Seventh Street, in downtown San Francisco.

Power to the people. Free ‘em all.

This report was written for and broadcast on the WBAI News Report and has since been updated with information provided by Claude Marks of Freedom Archives. WBAI is the New York City sister station to the Bay Area's KPFA on the Pacifica network. Kiilu Nyasha, Black Panther veteran, revolutionary journalist and Bay View columnist, hosts the TV talk show Freedom Is a Constant Struggle every Friday at 7:30 p.m. on SF Live, San Francisco cable channel 76. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

International Call on the San Francisco 8

A recently launched international campaign calls for the dropping of all current charges against the remaining defendants and ending all incidents of torture within the U.S. criminal justice system. The call has already been signed by many prominent supporters of the defendants including Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, actor and human rights activist Danny Glover, former Congresswoman and current presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney and Cindy Sheehan, founder of Camp Casey Peace Institute, human rights activist and candidate for U.S. Congress. The full text of the International Call follows:
Given our commitment to and history in the global justice and human rights movements,

Given our commitment to reconciliation between peoples and governments,

Given that the U.S. government and Federal Bureau of Investigation has been shown, through past U.S. Congressional hearings and legal proceedings, to have been involved in illegal policing activities against civil and human rights organizations;

Given that these illegal activities, epitomized by the FBI Counter Intelligence Programs (COINTELPRO), targeted the Black Panther Party and appear to have an ongoing presence;

Given that eight former Black Panthers - men now all in their 50s, 60s and 70s - were arrested on Jan. 23, 2007;

Given that these arrests were based on charges related to a 1971 murder, a murder investigated and brought to court in 1975 with the charges dismissed;

Given that no new evidence has been uncovered and that the alleged evidence in the 1973 investigation was thrown out of court due to a judicial finding that statements were made under conditions of extreme torture, including: electric shock, cattle prods, beatings, sensory deprivation, plastic bags and hot, wet blankets for asphyxiation; and

Given that these new charges amount to little more than continued governmental harassment, violating basic principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention against Torture;

We call on all appropriate legal and governmental authorities to:

• Investigate and end all incidents of torture within the U.S. criminal justice system;
• Drop all current charges for all eight men in question, namely Herman Bell, Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Henry W. (Hank) Jones, Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom), Richard O'Neal, Harold Taylor and Francisco Torres;
• Convene official investigations into the ongoing legacy and possible continued operation of COINTELPRO and similar programs, with an eye towards true reconciliation and human rights based on internationally recognized standards and principles; and
• Release immediately, on humanitarian grounds, Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom) - each of whom has served over 30 years of disproportionately long sentences based on the COINTELPRO criminalization of the Black Panther Party and the U.S. civil rights movement.

Signed by:

The Most Reverend Dr. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa; Nobel Peace Laureate 1984

Danny Glover, actor and human rights activist

Cynthia McKinney, former congresswoman and current presidential candidate

Cindy Sheehan, founder of Camp Casey Peace Institute, human rights activist, candidate for U.S. Congress

Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Community of Peace People, Northern Ireland; Nobel Peace Laureate 1976

Betty Williams, Community of Peace People, Northern Ireland; Nobel Peace Laureate 1976

Darryl Jordan, Director, American Friends Service Committee* Third World Coalition, Nobel Peace Laureate Organization 1947

William Wardlaw, Executive Director's Leadership Council, Amnesty

International/USA*, Nobel Peace Laureate Organization 1977

* Organizations listed for identification purposes only. For more information on the International Call, contact Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, P.O. Box 90221, Pasadena, CA 91109, (415) 226-1120, www.freethesf8.org; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  

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