Update from the Love Park 4: Court Solidarity and Financial Assistance Needed

Infoshop News May 6, 2009

The Love Park 4 case is still slowly winding its way through the court system after almost 2 years. Since the defendants' successful court date in December (see http://tinyurl.com/cyb9ux), the State has decided to appeal the judge's order to reveal the identity of the undercover narcotics officers posing as neo-Nazis in Love Park on July 23, 2007.

On Tuesday May 12th, Judge Frank Palumbo will hear the State's appeal. It has taken four court appearances since December to get to this point, but defense attorneys Paul Hetznecker and Larry Krasner will finally have the opportunity to show Judge Palumbo exactly why Judge Marsha Neifield found in favor of the Love Park 4 defendants; and why her decision should stand. The Love Park 4 defendants and their lawyers are confident that the State's appeal will be defeated; and that the case will finally be scheduled for trial.

The Love Park 4 Defense Committee and Anti-Racist Action are encouraging friends, family, and fellow activists to pack the courtroom on May 12th to show their support and solidarity for the defendants. This will be a good opportunity to show the State and the judge that Jason, Jared and Tom have a large amount of support; and to send a clear message that State-sponsored harassment of political activists will not go unchallenged.

While they appreciate courtroom solidarity, Jason, Tom and Jared want to stress that they understand that with work and school, it is hard to get a day off and have expressed that they would prefer the largest turnout at their actual trial date. So for those people who can't get that many days off, please save your time off for future court dates. If you don't have work or school on Tuesday - or can easily take off - please come to court to support these dedicated anti-fascist activists.

Aside from attending this court date, there are other ways you can help. Because of the State's decision to appeal, additional costs have been incurred. Defense lawyers have had to pay for the court transcripts from December's motion hearing so that they could successfully prepare for the upcoming appeal hearing. The copy of the transcript cost $375, which Jason, Jared and Tom need to repay to their lawyers. Thanks to the solidarity shown by Anti-Racist Action and Hit the Bricks Distro, $165 has already been raised, leaving the defendants in need of $210. Any amount you can donate would be greatly appreciated and very helpful. Please contact us for information on how to donate.

For those people who can come to court on May 12th, the hearing is scheduled to start at 9:00AM at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia - Room 504.

We are asking that everyone who comes to court please dress in an appropriate manner, and behave professionally. Coming to court will help show the judge and district attorney just how much support the Love Park 4 has - but anything negative will only hurt their case. Please keep that in mind when you are planning to attend.

In Solidarity with ALL Political Prisoners,
The Love Park 4 Defense Committee
http://www.myspace.com/supportlovepark4

Background on the Love Park 4

On July 23rd 2007, four Philadelphia-area anti-racist activists were arrested on multiple trumped up charges stemming from a counter-demonstration against a Ku Klux Klan rally that was scheduled to take place in Center City that morning.

Two men wearing neo-Nazi t-shirts were verbally confronted by anti-racists and forced to leave. The men then boarded a waiting SUV, at which time another verbal confrontation ensued, at the end of which one of the SUV's windows was damaged. Police personnel waited until this point to break their cover and identify themselves - the driver of the SUV was a Philadelphia Police Detective attached to an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force while the passenger and owner of the vehicle was an FBI special agent.