FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Contact: Kevin Akin 951/675-2813 kevinakin1950 AT hotmail.com
www.peaceandfreedom.org

After the Monday evening demonstration at the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco was broken up by club-wielding police, video of the incident was widely distributed on the internet. One of those who saw it, Peace and Freedom Party California State Chair Kevin Akin, issued a statement demanding that the police videotaped beating demonstrators "at random, for no apparent reason, with clear malice and intent to inflict serious injury," be arrested and charged with assault. "This criminal assault shows us that after the murder of Oscar Grant, it is apparent that more members of Bay Area police forces need to be reminded that they can no longer get away with violent crime in this age of video."

Akin pointed out that the demonstration, which brought together critics of Israeli government policies from the Jewish and non-Jewish communities, was "entirely peaceful up to the time of the police riot. I know that a number of members of the Peace and Freedom Party were there, but I do not yet know whether they were among those injured, or arrested on clearly false charges."

Portions of the video will be made available by Wednesday morning for viewing through the Peace and Freedom Party's website at www.peaceandfreedom.org, and Akin asks that as many people as possible review the video and communicate with the San Francisco District Attorney demanding an appropriate response by prosecutors. "A failure to bring charges will be a declaration of bloody war on the citizens of San Francisco who wish to assemble peaceably to petition for redress of grievances," says Akin. "The people need to know that the city will back up the Constitution's guarantees, and if it won't, the people need to prepare appropriate action to remove corrupt officials who unleash violence against free speech."

For more information: Kevin Akin (951) 675-2813 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.