TO BE SHOWN NOVEMBER 14 AT RESISTENCIA BOOKS
The Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS Austin) is presenting a showing of the film “Legacy of Torture” at Resistencia Books, 1801-A South First St., Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The showing, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a discussion on the movie and on political repression in the United States today.
“Legacy of Torture” concerns the case of eight former members of the Black Panthers in San Francisco, known as the SF8. The eight were among 13 members and supporters of the Black Panthers who were arrested in New Orleans in 1973 and questioned about the 1971 murder of a San Francisco policeman. Three were charged with murder after they confessed, but the confessions were later thrown out of court because the interrogation techniques included use of cattle prods and other forms of torture.
In 2005 a New Orleans grand jury revived the charges and two of the previously tortured Panthers were jailed for refusing to testify and in January, 2007, new charges were filed concerning the murder. (For more information on the case, see the attached background sheet.)
In the documentary film “Legacy of Torture,” filmed by the Freedom Archives, five of the long-time activists recount their experience and describe the interrogation techniques to which they were submitted.
MDS Austin, which is sponsoring the showing, is part of a national revival of Students for a Democratic (SDS), the activist organization that spearheaded the protest movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It is a multi-issue organization that is involved in protesting the war in Irag, in the continuing struggle for civil rights and social justice, and in the fight for a more equitable distribution of wealth in the United States (http://mds-austin.pbwiki.com/).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2007
CONTACT: Mariann Wizard
MDS Austin
quinctilis@aol.com
512-386-9489
