A-Infos (en) US, NYC, The RAT #4 Special Mayday issue Rattical Anarchist Tabloid (page 2)

[a-infos@ainfos.ca]

The idea to start "The New York RAT" grew out of the huge
amounts of people and energy in New York surrounding the
RNC protests. Since the first issue was printed, at the end of
October, we have received lots of positive feedback and en-
couragement. We hope that the RAT and the New York City anar-
chist scene will grow together, complement each other, and
come to rely on each other for mutual aid and support.
"The RAT" aims to serve as an informational resource for our
local anarchist communities, outlining New York City based
groups and collectives that are actively working on projects
that others can plug into. Although traditionally fragment-
ed, the NYC Anarchist scene is vibrant and strong, with new
 collectives and projects sprouting up all the time.
 "The RAT" will provide a forum for local groups to muster peo-
 ple for specific tasks, spread the word about new projects,
 and request mutual aid. It will also be a quick, easy reference
 guide for new folks in town, for local people interested in get-
 ting involved, and for those of us who are listserve-a-phobic
 and usually have no idea about what is going on.
 We rely on YOUR submissions, ideas, and feedback to
 strengthen "The Rat," keep it updated, and make it relevant
 to your needs.
     "The Rat" is YOUR paper!
             Email us!
     NewYorkRat@riseup.net

     Legal Victories in nyc!

                        Jamal Holiday

The most serious charges against a protester stemming from
last August's Republican National Convention protests
were resolved when Jamal Holiday, 20, pled guilty to
attempted assault of an undercover police detective. New York
Police Department Detective William Sample rammed
his scooter into a crowd of demonstrators, injuring people
and crushing a woman's foot. Sample did not display his
police badge, or identify himself as a police officer. He was
pulled off of his scooter and punched and kicked multiple
times by Holiday, sending him to a hospital with bruises
and a concussion. Holiday was sentenced on April 7th, in
a prearranged agreement that he undergo one year probation
 in exchange for the guilty plea. Following the completion
of his sentence the conviction will be changed from a
felony to a misdemeanor, provided he stays "out of
trouble." Despite having spent more than 7 months in jail,
Holiday's supports are pleased with the arrangement in
light of the fact that he was facing multiple years behind bars.

   Josh Banno

 On April 19th, all charges against Yusuke "Josh" Banno, 21, were officiallydroppedbyNYStateDistrictAttorneyRobert
Ferrari. Banno was charged with four felonies, which
included assaulting a police officer and reckless endangerment,
that stemmed from an incident in which a large papier-mâché
green dragon was lit on fire last August during an Anti-Republican
National Convention (RNC) protest. If convicted of the offenses
Josh would have faced seven years behindbars.
Thanks to the hard work of his friends, who tracked down
video and photographic documentation which show Josh far
from the origins fire, the police officer who positively
identified Josh as the "ringleader" was forced to change his story.
  In a series of photographs, which clear Banno, also led
to the dismissal of cases against his co-defendants. Six of
the 12 people he was arrested with were forced to plead
guilty to minor misdemeanor charges because they could
not afford to travel between New York and their homes
in other states. The other six defendants were offered to have
their cases adjourned in contemplation of dismissal on
Tuesday. Josh's Lawyer Sabrina Shroff told the assistant DA
Robert Ferrari to "give up" before she "made an ass of him" in court.

                             APOC                7

On March 23, after three days of wildly conflicting police
testimony, New York's Judge Burke cleared the remaining
charges against seven young defendants who were attacked
by the NYPD at a November 2003 Anarchist People of
Color (APOC) party in central Brooklyn. The defendants
faced an average of ten spurious charges each, including
rioting, attempted assault on a police officer, menacing
and others.
The legal vindication is bittersweet. In the original assault,
cops from the 77th Precinct, notorious for violence
against the community, rushed the benefit, which ironically
enough was raising money to fight police brutality and
the "prison-industrial complex." Without provocation, the
officers attacked and severely injured attendees, spraying
scores of party-goers with unidentified chemical irritants,
likely pepper spray. Having attempted to confiscate the
sign-in sheet, police arrested eight, subjecting them to 17
months of legal limbo.
                          Thanks to Bombs and Shields http://bombsandshields.blogspot.com


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