Anarchist People of Color Legal Update

On November 16, 2003 a group of people of color
came together to celebrate, enjoy ourselves, and raise
money for Anarchist People of Color (APOC) to recoup
travel expenses. People through out the organizing
community in NYC and beyond were present. Mostly
people of color, mostly young, mostly folks who work
tirelessly in poor and working class neighborhoods
where the work we provide is appreciated and welcomed.
We came together at Critical Resistance, an
organization dedicated to eliminating reliance on the
U.S. prison system to solve social problems. We came
together and danced, talked, reading poetry, and
played music. Just as the celebration reached its
height the unexpected happened and it changed
everything.

The police violently attacked our gathering with no
reason or cause, except to terrorize and brutalize. It
made everything that we work for and believe in that
much more challenging; another obstacle had been put
in the way of achieving peace and justice.People of color, women, queer, trans, poor, and
immigrant folks know that police brutality is a
reality. We were having a peaceful party in a private
residence, and they came for us with blood in their
eyes. We were targeted because we work for the right
to affordable housing, food, healthcare, and
education? We were attacked on November 16th because
we believe access to the basic needs of life will
result in true safety and security in our community.
We were beaten, dragged, and choked because we
acknowledge the fact that the NYPD has proven to our
communities, time and time again, that they themselves
are the real threat to safety and security.

The police that came to 968 Atlantic
indiscriminately sprayed chemical agents and beat
members of our community. People suffered various
injuries and experienced trauma that we continue to
recover from months later. Eight people were arrested
on charges including attempted assault, inciting a
riot, obstruction of governmental administration,
resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The defendants of the November 16th attack, Piper
Anderson, Jonathan Wilson, Rickke Mananzala, Lionel
Oulette, Rafael Mutis, and David Gallardo would like
to thank you for your generous support over the last
year as we fight the criminal case against us. But
this is far from over and we still need your support
in clearing our names and insuring that acts of
repression such as this do not continue to happen to
members of our community.

On December 6, 2004 the criminal trial against us
will begin. To insure that our legal defense is able
to provide us with the best possible representation we
need your help. Please make a contribution to our
legal fund. No contribution is too big or small. It is
only with your continued support will we beat the
criminal charges against us and fight the NYPD's
repression of our community.

Make checks payable to: The Brecht Forum, memo
line: Critical Resistance, APOC case. Mail to:
Critical Resistance NY 968 Atlantic Ave Brooklyn, NY
11238.

Other ways you can show your support: Pack the
Court. December 6 is our next court date and may mark
the start of the criminal trial against us. Help us
send a message to the Judge and District Attorney's
office that our community stands together and will
continue to fight. Please go to the Brooklyn Criminal
Courthouse, 120 Schemerhorn, 8th Floor, Rm BTP1 at
9am, Monday, December 6, 2004. You can take the 2, 3,
4, 5 trains to Borough Hall, then walk a few blocks
and u are there. Write letters to Brooklyn District
Attorney Hynes1 Office: Charles Hynes, Kings County
District Attorney, 350 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Go
to Critical Resistance to check out the sample
letter. Share press contacts. Help us get local and
mainstream media attention for this case. For more
information, contact Jonathan Wilson or Mervyn Mercado
at 718-398-2825.

Thank you, much love and fight on,

Piper, Rickke, David, Jonathan, Lionel, Rafael