Hearing set for Aug. 10
Court asked to drop charges in Palestinian free speech
case
By Frank
Neisser
Brookline, Mass.
Protesters demonstrated outside Brookline District Court
July 16 in support of Palestinian activist Amer Jubran. Jubran
had been arrested while leading a protest June 10 against a
celebration of the establishment of the state of Israel.
The June demonstration of about 150 had proceeded for
several hours despite police and Zionist harassment when the
police trampled on Palestinian free speech and assembly rights
by arresting Jubran, confiscating signs and ordering demon stra
tors to disperse or face arrest. Jubran was held without bail,
kept in hand and leg cuffs for hours, and faces a felony charge
of assault and battery with a dangerous wea pon. The alleged
"weapon" was his foot.
The demonstration at the court began at 9 a.m. with a
spirited picket line in front of a banner reading "Drop the
racist frame-up charges against Amer Jubran--Defend Palestinian
free speech rights." Numerous placards called for an end to the
U.S./ Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. As the judge
came to the courthouse he was greeted with chants of "Drop the
racist frame-up charges, defend Amer Jubran."
The entire protest was videoed by Peoples Video Network. It
can be seen online, along with interviews with Amer Jubran,
Merrie Najimy of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC), and Stevan Kirschbaum of the International
Action Center (IAC), at www.iacboston. org/amerjubran .
At 10 a.m., the demonstrators, all wearing Palestinian
kafiyahs, proceeded into the courthouse and courtroom. The
prosecution failed to produce videotapes and documents the
defense had requested in discovery and which the judge had
ordered delivered by July 9. The defense put forward a motion
to dismiss the case based on the fact that the police report
does not support the charge against Amer. A hearing on that
defense motion was scheduled for Aug. 9 at 11 a.m.
At the beginning of the court session, Peoples Video Network
videographer Bob Lamothe requested permission to video the
court proceedings and was told this was not allowed. However,
throughout the court session, the police videoed Amer Jubran
and his supporters through a courtroom door window.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee have sent a letter to the Town of
Brookline demanding all documents and videos pertaining to
police actions and planning for that day, to examine the police
conduct and violations of rights of free speech, assembly and
equal protection under the law of Palestinians and their
supporters in the Town of Brookline.
After the court session, the demonstrators continued to
picket. They were addressed by Amer Jubran, Stevan Kirshbaum of
IAC and Merrie Najimy of ADC. Amer explained that the purpose
of the original demonstration and of the ongoing campaign is to
raise the question of Palestine and the illegal occupation of
Palestinian land since 1948. He described the conditions of
closure in Palestine as collective punishment. He pointed out
that U.S. aid to Israel, including F16s that are attacking
civilian populations and nuclear weapons, is twice the figure
of U.S. aid for all of Africa.
Merrie Najimy talked of an investigation and potential
lawsuit by the ADC and ACLU focusing on racist profiling and
civil rights violations. The speakers called for a big turnout
on Aug. 9 for the hearing on the motion to dismiss the
charges.
People can sign an online petition demanding the charges be
dropped and read more about the case at
www.iacboston.org/amerjubran.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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