Targeting of the Uhuru Movement

LOCAL POLICE OUT OF CONTROL - UHURU MOVEMENT ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY DEFENSE PLAN!
What: Press Conference
When: Thursday, November 21, 12:00 p.m.
Where: Silver Lake Park, 13th Street & 11th Avenue South, St. Petersburg
Contact: Sandra Forrest, 727-698-3092
On Thursday, November 21st at 12:00 p.m., Uhuru leader Diop Olugbala along with neighborhood residents and victims of police violence, including Jernorris Green and Debbie Newkirk (Anthony Newkirk’s sister) will talk with the press at Silver Lake Park about their demands for an end to heavy-handed policing, racial profiling, “extra-legal” arrests, brutality, civil rights violations and high-speed chases carried out by the St. Petersburg police and Pinellas County Sheriffs.
They are calling on Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman to take immediate action and will announce the community’s own plans to put a stop to the attacks suffered by black residents at the hands of the police. They cite 3 recent incidents as representative of a routine practice of violating the rights of black residents.
On November 8th, Jernorris Green, a 37-year-old black man, was assaulted by 3 St. Petersburg police in Silver Lake Park. Green had been approached by a St. Pete cop who told to sit on a bench and wait. After confirming that he was not being arrested, Green exercised his legal right to walk away. Police back-up arrived and 3 cops threw Green to the ground, knees in his back and neck. The incident was video taped by witnesses. The police seized the witnesses’ phones and then returned them after protest by a gathering crowd. Green awaits charges on battery on a police officer.
On November 1st, Anthony Newkirk, a 32-year-old black man, was shot twice in the face and once in the chest as he sat in his car by a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy during a sting operation. Newkirk has been denied bond despite the fact that he has deep roots in the community, including small children who he takes to school. Newkirk is being denied medical attention, held in jail with open wounds.
On September 25th, Diop Olugbala, President of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, was stopped by St. Petersburg police while riding his bicycle near 13th Street and 15th Avenue South. When he criticized the police practice of harassing law-abiding residents of the south side, he was thrown against the police car and arrested for riding his bike on the wrong side of the street, obstruction and running a stop sign, although there is no stop sign where the police claimed he ran it.
High speed police chases through the black community have resulted in the loss of life and property of innocent bystanders. Olugbala says that the recently published transcripts of police radio communications expose the St. Pete police department’s hostile and aggressive policy of occupation and disrespect of the black community.
Olugbala declares that, “We call on Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman to take immediate action to remedy these cases and to announce a policy change to ensure such practices will not continue. Kriseman was only elected because of widespread support from black voters. If he wants to make positive change in the city, he must first address this crisis confronting our community. We in the community are making our own plans to protect our people.”


"Uhuru Communique: President Diop Olugbala is free!"
2013-05-16 [uhurunews.com/story?resource_name=president-diop-olugbala-arrested-by-the-nypd-take-action-now]:

**URGENT** PRESIDENT DIOP OLUGBALA WAS ARRESTED BY THE NYPD! TAKE ACTION NOW! CALL-IN TO DEMAND HIS RELEASE! USE HIS LEGAL NAME, WALI RAHMAN - AKA, DIOP OLUGBALA! CALL-IN 718-287-3211 FOR COMMANDER LEHR!
-Demand the immediate release of Wali "Diop" Rahman
-Let the NYPD that we hold them responsible for President Diop!
-Let them know where you are calling from! Tell them, "The eyes of the world are watching you."
 -We have a right to protest the police brutality and murders against the African community in New York!
 InPDUM President Diop Olugbala was arrested by the NYPD tonight, 5/16/2013 during a political action led by the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement to serve the people's subpoena during the 67th Precinct Community Council meeting.
 The people's subpoena was issued as part of the process to build a Court for Black Justice in response to the police terror waged against the African community of NYC including the recent murders of Kimani Gray and Shantel Davis.
 Diop Olugbala is the President of InPDUM and a respected activist and leader in defense of the democratic rights of the black community.
 The police are saying that President Diop has 11 warrants against him which is completely bogus!
Uhuru! Let us know when you call. If you are a lawyer or you know one who can go down to the precint, please contact the Uhuru Movement at 727.821.6620 or info@uhurunews.com
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UPDATE (5-17-13 at 11:30am Eastern): Call the Kings County criminal court in Brooklyn and demand the immediate release of Wali "Diop" Rahman! Call supervising judge Michael Yavinsky at 347-404-9600!
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UPDATE from Jesse Nevel, Outreach Chair at Uhuru Solidarity Movement: As the postings in defense of Prezident Olugbala continue to spread like wildfire, the NYPD's phones are ringing off the hook with calls from supporters around the world demanding FREE DIOP OLUGBALA! Call-in to demand NYPD release Wali "Diop" Rahman!!
If you run a blog/website/facebook group/page/tumblr/etc - SHARE THIS URGENT ACTION ALERT! http://uhurunews.com/story?resource_name=president-diop-olugbala-arrested-by-the-nypd-take-action-now
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2013-05-17 UPDATE from Jesse Nevel: PACK THE COURTROOM FOR Prezident Olugbala's hearing this morning at Brooklyn Criminal Court, 120 Schermerhorn St!!! FREE DIOP OLUGBALA! Call-in to demand NYPD release Wali "Diop" Rahman!!!
FREE DIOP! Call the Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn and demand the immediate release of Wali "Diop" Rahman! Call Supervising Judge Michael Yavinsky at 347-404-9600!

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2013-05-17-1400 UPDATE from Jesse Nevel: Diop is free. Victory for African people. Long live the African resistance. When the people struggle, the people win. Uhuru! He was freed as a result of the mass mobilization!