UCF SDS calls for immediate release of the Panther 8
By Matt De Vlieger, as a reflection of the collective sentiments of UCF SDS.
Left to Right: Hank Jones, John Bowman, Ray Bourdeaux, Harold Taylor, Richard Brown.
Press Release For Immediate Release
Friday, February 23, 2007
Orlando Student Group Calls for the Release of the Panther 8
On Jan. 19, former Black Panther Harold Taylor, 58, was an honored guest speaker at the University of Central Florida. Then one month ago on Jan 23, the Floridian was arrested from his Panama City home in relation to the 1971 killing of a San Francisco police sergeant. That charge was dropped of over 30 years ago, in 1975, when evidence proved that New Orleans Police obtained confessions through horrifying torture. Harold Taylor and other members endured electric shock, sensory deprivation, beatings and other unspeakable at the hands of the state.
After years of relative peace in Florida, Taylor began experiencing threatening encounters with federal agents. The timing depicts a revival of COINTELPRO style tactics near the birth of the unconstitutional USA PATRIOT Act.
“In 1971, two brothers and I were set up by the FBI. We didn’t learn about COINTELPRO until years later. In 1973 I was arrested in New Orleans and was beaten and tortured for several days. in 2003 the detectives that were responsible for my torture came to my house to try and question me. I have not been the same since.”
– Harold Taylor
#07-00944, 5600 Nehi Road, Panama City, FL 32404
Today, Harold Taylor sits in jail, once again awaiting extradition to California for a case he was cleared of.
UCF Students for a Democratic Society call for the immediate release of Brother Harold Taylor and those of the Panther 8 whose trials have been previously dismissed by grand juries on the grounds that [1.] these men have already undergone trial;[2.] putting them in double jeopardy violates their 5
Original post by Alison Van Doren and reposted by Radical Blogs
Thanks for the expression of solidarity!
FYI, Harold was extradited to California and appeared briefly in court yesterday.
http://www.kget.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=8ba7a103-1a16-43bf-979e-780d35daa627
Tues. night, I spoke with Dr. Curtis Austin, who is part of Harold’s defense team, and he asked if UCF-SDS would be interested in helping to organize an SDS chapter at his school, which is University of Southern Mississippi. You can contact me at kmeehan@mail.ucf.edu to talk further.
Peace,
Kevin M.