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<font size=3>From: Jericho Boston
<jericho_boston@yahoo.com><br><br>
The following was sent out by our comrades in the New England Committee
to Defend Palestine.<br>
<br>
begin forwarded message:<br>
<br>
Support Richard Picariello<br><br>
Pack the Courtroom<br>
<br>
Monday, March 6, 9:00am<br><br>
Boston Municipal Court<br>
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 5th Floor<br>
24 New Chardon Street<br>
(Near Government Center in downtown Boston;<br>
T-stops: North Station, Haymarket, Government Center)<br><br>
On Monday, March 6, the case of Richard Picariello is again
scheduled to go to trial. After numerous hearings and delays over the
past year, the trial this time should actually take place. Support for
Richard at previous hearings has been crucial in letting the state know
that people are paying attention to increasing attacks on civil
liberties. Richard is a former political prisoner and a highly respected
activist in the Boston area. He is well-known in the anti-war movement
and in the struggle for justice in Palestine.<br><br>
Arrested twice in March of 2004 on false charges during the period
leading up to the Democratic National Convention - the first time while
distributing anti-war literature at the Park St. T station, the second
while attending a protest at a Bush fundraising event at Boston's Park
Plaza Hotel - Richard has attended over a dozen pre-trial hearings in
which the Boston Police and District Attorney have refused to comply with
"discovery" and supply his lawyers with evidence and
information related to his arrests. This information includes the content
of a special Boston police/federal police "Joint Terrorism Task
Force" briefing prior to the Bush protest on March 25, 2004 in which
Richard's name was mentioned along with other activists. At stake is
potential evidence showing pre-planning for the arrest of specific
activists.<br><br>
The Boston Police have also withheld the contents of a "secret
dossier" on Richard that would demonstrate political profiling and
targeted arrest. On May 16, 2005 the BPD admitted that it could not
certify in writing that it did not possess such a file. On December 7,
proceedings were once again stalled when a federal lawyer bluntly stated
that federal authorities were under no obligation to provide ANY
information they might have, whether relevant or not, and that
federally deputized local police in the Joint Terrorism Task Force were
under no obligation to respond to subpoenas sent out by Richard's lawyer.
What this means is that the Boston Police, with federal backing, can
arrest and prosecute local activists through what amounts to secret
evidence.<br><br>
It is important to attend this trial in order to prevent this precedent
from happening in Boston, as it has clearly happened elsewhere under the
Bush Administration. Bush's Department of Homeland Security isn't
fighting terrorism; it's fighting free speech and political dissent right
where we live.<br><br>
Stop political repression in Boston - pack the courtroom on March 6!<br>
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