KWRU activists arrested in Philly July 4th demos

Reposted from Philly IMC

Dear Friends --
Yesterday, in an effort to declare economic human rights for America's poor, two leaders of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union were forcefully arrested and now face serious felony charges and high bail!

KWRU members planned to celebrate the 4th of July by practicing their first ammendment rights and peacdully marching to Philadelphia's new Constitution Center to deliver a Declaration of Economic Human Rights.

Before the non-violent march could even begin, federal and local police officers forcefully arrested KWRU leaders Cheri Honkala and Galen Tyler.

These two leaders and formerly homeless parents, with decades of committment to non-violence, were thrown to the ground, handcuffed and arrested in front of the Constitution Center, even though they both held tickets to thecenter.

After spending the night in jail, Cheri and Galen were charged with a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. These serious charges pose a real threat to the work and character of Cheri, Galen and the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. Fortunately, the events of the day were witnessed and documented by legal observers, lawyers and news cameras. We are confident that we can prove that it was Cheri and Galen who were actually assaulted and that the charges against them are completely false.

We call on all those who support the work of the KWRU and who believe in economic human rights and freedom of speech to stand with us in this crisis. We need both political and financial help! Specifically, we need to raise $1040 in bail money for Cheri and Galen's release and we need to replace the cell phones and cash that were confiscated in the arrest. To make a donation please contact us at kwru@kwru.org or donate online at www.kwru.org

We also need our supporters to begin contacting the Philadelphia DA's office to demand that these ridiculous charges are dropped and to denounce the actions of the police department. For more details on how to stay informed and how to contribute please check out our website at www.kwru.org