Support reporter DIANE BUKOWSKI’S appeal of felony convictions!
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 11 A.M.
Cadillac Place, Mich. Court of Appeals (W. Grand Blvd. at Second)
Bukowski under arrest Nov. 4, 2008
As attacks on the rights of workers and the poor are accelerating across the U.S., so are attacks on press freedom. Long-time investigative reporter Diane Bukowski was convicted in 2009 of “assaulting, resisting, obstructing, and endangering” two state troopers. Her appeal, by well-known attorneys John Royal and Sharon McPhail, will be heard this week in front of Michigan Appeals Court Judges David Sawyer, June Markey, and Karen Fort-Hood.
On. Nov. 4, 2008, as U.S. citizens elected the country’s first Black president, two Black men, James Willingham and Jeffery Frazier, died on Detroit’s east side. They were victims of a reckless chase by state troopers who violated numerous pursuit rules; they did not even activate their siren on the packed street of East Davison. Bukowski arrived two and a half hours after the chase. She was there for five minutes taking photos, after identifying herself as a reporter, before she was brutally arrested.
James Willingham, Jeffery Frazier
Bukowski is known for the ten years of coverage she did for The Michigan Citizen on unjustified killings by police, and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s refusal to prosecute the perpetrators. Her coverage of police brutality continues in the Voice of Detroit (http://voiceofdetroit.net), The Final Call, The San Francisco Bay View newspaper, and other outlets.
She is appealing her convictions on the following grounds, among others:
- Judge Michael Hathaway barred testimony relating to her First Amendment rights as a reporter.
- Thirty-Sixth District Court Judge Beverly Hayes-Sipes (now deceased) did not bind Bukowski over for allegedly crossing a yellow tape (which Bukowski denies), the sole reason for the jury’s conviction.
- Evidence and testimony including a Fox 2 News videotape shows that Bukowski did NOT “assault, resist, obstruct or endanger” anyone.
- Bukowski was denied her right to effective assistance of counsel.
WITHOUT A FREE PRESS, THERE WILL BE NO ACCURATE COVERAGE OF THE ASSAULTS ON WORKING AND POOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD NOW OCCURRING. PLEASE ATTEND BUKOWSKI’S COURT OF APPEALS HEARING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
For further info, contact Attorney John Royal at 313-962-3437, or Diane Bukowski at 313-825-6126. There is extensive coverage of her case, including articles from international media, on her legal defense website at http://freedianebukowski.org. Her email address is diane_bukowski@hotmail.com.
Diane, I know that they are covering up the truth in Kinross because My son was there Now he was transferred and raised security level from 2 to a 5 and he was not in anyway part of people who damaged the place, the damages took place in Buildings G&H on the other side of the compound he was housed in Building C. He just arrived in that facility less then a month ago. I know he did not destroy anything but did sign the complaint Protest over the Food Sandwiches 60% of the time and the Barrack style housing. Now he was Punished for doing Nothing. I have filed a request to the People in Kinross to find out why? I have 2 other people that I know for many years in that facility and I was told today that it was those reason not like the media release to mark Anni of Attica Yeah date was for that but as you pointed out, It is about the conditions, they Lie to the media and the Public about the reason, and Now as you know my son is being punished for Nothing- The truth is he is being Punished for being Hispanic in that area and has been targeted before and I called lansing and the News over the Targeting in Muskegon now again he is paying for something. Maybe the truth can come out of this and my son who is doing L/w/o/P for not telling on someone not doing anything to harm anyone but not telling when some one who may have harmed a person by the way died a month later from Blood clot. But never did the attorney say he was taking blood thinners that were stopped at hospital, Talk about corruption the Judge and DA are in the transcripts discussing at side bar the way they are Tampering with the Jury in my son’s case. In AnnArbor (Judge Brown). Please help me I just want my son to be treated right while he suffers already working and Praying for an appeal. Now this bull he can’t call me I don’t know what is going on with him, I am so worried!
I hope to be there to support your work towards liberation and freedom for all Diane.