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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Nov. 9, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Action hits Philly DA

Seventeen death-penalty foes were arrested Oct. 26 during a bold action at the office of Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham. Organized by the Pennsylvania Abolitionists Southeast Chapter, the activists staged their protest to demand that Abraham honor the spirit of a February Philadelphia City Council resolution that called for a "moratorium on the imposition of any death penalty in the City of Philadelphia."

Pennsylvania's death row includes 132 people from Philadelphia. Taken by itself, the abolitionist group says, Philadelphia has more people on death row than 40 states. And 84 percent of those are African Americans--including revolutionary political activist Mumia Abu-Jamal.

While 80 supporters chanted, sang and waved signs across the street, 14 activists tried to enter the building to present Abraham with the City Council resolution. Police and security guards stopped them. Then the activists linked arms and sat down on the steps, where they were arrested.

Meanwhile, three other activists disguised in business suits made their way into the DA's office. They were denied a meeting with Assistant DA Roger King. After sitting in for an hour, they were also arrested.

On Oct. 20 prisoner William Nieves, who was prosecuted by King, was found "not guilty" in a retrial and released after six years on death row.

--Greg Butterfield

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