Philadelphia, PA – On Friday February 27, the Philadelphia Alliance against Racist and Political Repression held a movie showing to commemorate Black History Month. The movie, Judas and the Black Messiah, is about the iconic Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and William O’Neal, who the FBI used to infiltrate the Black Panther’s and helped the Chicago Police department kill Fred Hampton.

The event was held at the LavaSpace in West Philadelphia and was attended by dozens of people from the neighborhood who were interested not only in learning more about Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party, but in getting to know all about the Philadelphia Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR), its campaigns and its mission.

PAARPR chair Musa Bey had conversations with many of the attendees about the work PAARPR is doing in Philadelphia and the families it is working with, including the families of Robert Jones, Aaron Rainey and Amanda Cahill.

The movie event began at 5 p.m. with a short speech made by PAARPR Co-Chair Olujimi Alade which delved into Fred Hampton as a revolutionary and his impact on the Black Panther Party and the struggle for socialism and liberation.

PAARPR was able to establish a connection with the neighborhood residents, which is a foundation in building a presence in the West Philadelphia area, an important section of the city where many people have either experienced police brutality or know a loved one who did. By holding similar events, PAARPR aims to advance its aim of fighting for the community control of the police.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #InJusticeSystem #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #BlackHistoryMonth #NAARPR #PAARPR

The conference began with a Friday night rally welcoming the attendees. NAARPR Executive Director Frank Chapman and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke to a crowd of more than 800 at the Chicago Teachers Union hall. Their direct and spirited talks set the tone for the entire weekend, as hundreds of voices sang in solidarity against Trump’s reactionary agenda.

On Saturday morning, during the first panel, Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR) Chair Musa Bey galvanized the audience with a harrowing history lesson. Bey explained that in May 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb on the MOVE building, killing eleven people, mostly children, and burning down more than a city block of houses.

Bey connected that to a later victory by the new movement in the wake of the George Floyd uprising of 2020. A militant mass campaign arose that led to the removal of the Frank Rizzo Statue from City Hall in Philadelphia. As Philadelphia mayor in the 1970s, Rizzo had repressed MOVE and harassed the Black community in general.

Afternoon conference sessions taught lessons on both Palestine solidarity and about the newly launched Anthony Gay Task Force on Prison Conditions. The Anthony Gay Task Force is of particular interest to PAARPR as one of its major campaigns involves Amanda Cahill, a 31-year-old mother of two who died after being kept in the most inhumane conditions in a Philadelphia prison.

Saturday night concluded with more than a dozen speeches from the families of victims of police crimes across the country. Tonya Kersey delivered a powerful message of resiliency and strength which resonated with those in attendance. Kersey is the mother of Aaron Rainey, a 36-year-old Black man who was murdered by two police officers while being transported to Friends Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia.

Afterward, families, activists and leaders from the various chapters bonded with each other during the social hour, which included karaoke and other games.

On Sunday, the weekend finished up with the passage of several resolutions. These included the fight against the proliferation of charter schools, against the expansion of ICE detention centers, and against the repression of Palestine solidarity activism.

PAARPR Co-Chair Olujimi Alade gave a vivacious reportback which highlighted the massive growth of the Philadelphia chapter. This includes spearheading campaigns for justice involving three victims of police violence and prison abuse: Amanda Cahill, Robert Jones and Aaron Rainey. All in all, PAARPR’s participation at the conference was a huge success as it enabled the Philadelphia chapter to build connections with other chapters to continue its impressive growth.

#ChicagoIL #IL #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #PAARPR

Philadelphia, PA – On the morning of Thursday, August 14, about a dozen members of the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR) held a press conference at the Philadelphia City Hall to demand justice for Aaron Rainey and shed light on his case.

Aaron Rainey, a 36-year-old Black man, was shot and killed in March of this year by Philadelphia police officers while experiencing a mental health crisis. The names of the officers involved have not been released.

Musa Bey, chair of PAARPR, stated, “It’s been almost six months with no answers. We’re here to demand accountability for his killers, and we’re here to demand community control of the police. The officers who shot and killed Aaron could be on the streets right now and we wouldn’t know – with community control, the people of Philadelphia would have a say in how their communities are policed.”

Aaron Rainey’s family members, including his wife and children, were also at the event. Tonya Kersey, Rainey’s mother, addressed the attendees: “Where is Mayor Cherelle Parker? Where is the police commissioner? Aaron was an incredible person who always helped others. My grandchildren won’t have their father at their prom, at graduation, when they go to college – this can’t keep happening.”

After the press conference, community members escorted the family down the block to District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office. The family was denied a meeting with Krasner by the front desk staff, who claimed he wasn’t in the building. A few PAARPR members who remained outside, however, reported that Krasner was seen leaving the building through a side door.

When this information reached those inside, shouts of “coward” and “shame!” echoed through the lobby. Chants such as “Justice for Aaron Rainey” and “No justice, no peace!” began. About eight police officers were brought into the lobby and more than 20 were stationed outside in response, all armed.

Staff then claimed that Jody Dodd, facilitator of the Restorative Justice Unit, would come down to speak to the family – she descended the escalator, and within sight of everyone in the lobby, also left through a side door.

Protesters became more angry. About 30 minutes of intense back and forth between the crowd and police passed, backgrounded by chanting. Finally, Krasner’s support staff appeared and agreed to meet with the family.

Rainey’s neighbor shouted, “That’s what happens when all of us show up here – we force them to listen!” to cheers from the crowd.

According to PAARPR’s Bey, who sat in on the meeting, the family was promised an appointment with the DA “within the next 30 to 45 days.” Whatever the date, PAARPR will be there in force to continue demanding justice for Aaron Rainey.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #NAARPR #PAARPR #Feature

Philadelphia, PA – On May 3, around 40 community members and activists came together to commemorate the half year anniversary of Robert Jones’ killing by Detective Christopher Sweeney. The rally took place at the south side of City Hall in the afternoon.

The rally was part of a National Day of Action, meant to put even more pressure on the Philadelphia Police Department and to propel the mission for greater accountability for police crimes. Seven months have passed, and no progress has been made to bring officer Christopher Sweeney to justice, despite numerous calls to do so from Robert Jones’ family and the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (PAARPR). Philadelphia Police Chief Robert Bethel was publicly confronted about the case.

Speakers for the first portion of the rally included PAARPR Chair Musa Bey and Robert Jones’ Aunt Marcia, who spoke on the need to keep the memory of Robert Jones alive. As the day wore on, the crowd became bigger and bigger as more and more people were drawn to the message of justice.

Among the attendees were representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine, who identified with a shared desire to fight back against police repression, as they are currently being arrested and threatened for protesting the genocide in Gaza at Swarthmore University.

After the first round of speakers, the march began. One of the stops of the march was the district attorney’s office, where Amber Khan, of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, delivered a compelling and direct message to DA Larry Krasner to live up to his promises to be tougher on police brutality.

Fired up by the speech, the crowd marched through Center City along Broad Street, chanting “Christopher Sweeney, lock him up” and “When killer cops are on patrol, what do we need? Community control.”

The crowd then arrived at the police headquarters where they held more speeches. A member of Democratic Socialists of America drew a connection between Robert Jones murder and the decades-long genocide and oppression of the Palestinian people.

As the march drew to a close, the attendees pledged to carry on the fight for Robert Jones, taking his Aunt Marcia’s words to heart, “Please keep fighting, not just for my nephew, though that’s the heaviest, but for everyone affected by officer-involved shootings.”

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #InJusticeSystem #NAARPR #PAARPR

Philadelphia, PA – On December 12, the family of roadside assistance worker Robert Jones, along with members of the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (PAARPR), confronted Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel over his failure to fire and charge detective Christopher Sweeney for Jones’ murder.

Robert Jones was a 54-year-old roadside assistance worker and union sheet metal fabricator. He was shot October 3 by Sweeney, who was off duty as he approached Sweeney’s personal vehicle, which had stopped in the middle of the road.

Since killing Robert Jones, Sweeney has reportedly been put on “administrative duty” but has not been fired or charged as his family and PAARPR have demanded though their petition, marches, rallies, weekly community outreach, and in interviews with the media. The PPD’s alleged investigation has stretched out and, according to the family’s attorney, has released exceptionally and unjustly little information about its progress.

PAARPR and members of Robert Jones’ family attended the public meeting to bring their demands directly to Bethel, who is in charge of the PPD. Jones’ aunt, Marcia, stood up at the microphone facing a room of police, who averted their eyes, to say that nobody has offered her family any information as to why the investigation has been continually delayed by 30-day periods instead of leading to the arrest of Sweeney. Marcia detailed the physical toll the extreme grief of Robert’s loss is having on his mother, who has been hospitalized three times now since the loss of her son.

Bethel refused to comment and insisted that it is the district attorney’s duty to place charges, even as Sweeney continues to be employed by his office. In response, shouts of “Murderers” rang out, condemning Sweeney.

The inadequacy of the internal investigation conducted by the PPD is highlighted by the upcoming negotiation of a new contract between the police union and the city of Philadelphia. The city government has already established and hired civilian investigators tasked with conducting their own investigations into police misconduct, but this reform has been halted for years by contracts with the police union, the Fraternal Order of Police, that forbid civilian investigation. The Philadelphia city council has so far not even placed independent investigations on the terms sheet for the upcoming contract negotiation.

Across the city, community groups like PAARPR are demanding that the city does so to improve the transparency and fairness of investigations into police crimes.

#PhiladelphiaPA #PAARPR #PPD #RobertJones

Philadelphia, PA – On a chilly November 2 afternoon, nearly a month after off-duty homicide detective Christopher Sweeney shot and killed Robert Jones, activists and community members joined the friends and family of Jones at City Hall to demand justice and march on the Philadelphia Police Department headquarters.

A month before, on October 3, Robert Jones, a 54-year-old Black man and roadside assistance operator, stopped his car when he saw off-duty homicide detective Christopher Sweeney pull over in his personal vehicle and stop in the middle of a turning lane. Believing that the driver needed help, Jones, in his high-visibility vest, left his vehicle to check in on the stopped driver. As Jones approached unarmed, Sweeney, still seated, opened fire on Jones through the car window, hitting Jones at least four times. Jones died shortly after the paramedics arrived.

Since the murder, Christopher Sweeney has not been fired nor arrested, only placed on administrative leave as the Philadelphia Police Department “investigate” the incident. Images and information about Sweeney have been scrubbed from the internet. The Philadelphia news media, in the few articles published about the killing, initially misaligned Jones as a “car-jacker,” much to the anger and disbelief of Jones’ family.

The event included speakers from the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Jews Against White Supremacy, as well as Robert Jones’ aunt, brother and other outraged friends and family members. All speakers were united in demanding the firing and arrest of killer cop Christopher Sweeney and for city officials to recognize and speak on the injustice.

After the speeches, the protesters took the streets to march up North Broad Street to the current location of the Philadelphia Police headquarters. Chants such as “Say his name: Robert Jones,” and “Cell blocks for killer cops,” garnered many sympathetic honks from the stopped traffic.

At the police headquarters, more family members took the mic and began addressing the police directly. “I don’t understand,” Derek Jones, Robert’s brother, said to the police just outside the building, “how y’all can sit out here and support a fucking murderer! We’re hurt, we’re mad, we’re fucking angry, we want answers! And y’all are sitting there – how can y’all sleep at night?”

As the sun began to set, Simon Miscenich of PAARPR delivered the final speech of the day, saying, “I need to tell you all to expect to be asked back out again. Because even if we get something we want from this system we will have to organize and fight because they will only give us what we fight to take and cannot give us what we need to end this cycle.”

Miscenich continued, “What we need, needs to be made ourselves, from the fighting people. We need to organize ourselves into a new way of life based in community control, real democracy for the people that really make up this society.”

#PhiladelphiaPA #PA #InjusticeSystem #NAARPR #PAARPR