No racist frameup! Ramsey Clark stands with Chuck Turner

Life-long civil rights advocate Ramsey Clark, winner of the 2008 United Nations Human Rights Award and founder of the International Action Center, held a press conference in front of the JFK Federal Building here on Dec. 17 to defend Chuck Turner, an African-American community leader and five-term Boston city councilor, against racist frame-up charges from U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan.

Bishop Filipe Teixeira, Ramsey Clark and Chuck Turner, Dec. 17. WW photo: Stevan Kirschbaum

Clark called for an investigation of Sullivan for “pursuing a prosecution that was politically and racially motivated” and going forward with a case that was “worse than sloppy.” Clark cited Turner’s commitment to fighting for justice and civil rights over four decades.

Clark explained that in the 1960s and 1970s, “Apparently every African-American member of the Congress was investigated and rumors of criminality were circulated. And we’ve got to do better than that. I’m honored to be here with Chuck Turner. I’m convinced that he’ll be vindicated. I’m outraged that the public and he are hurt by this assault on his character.”

Clark, a former U.S. attorney general, pointed out the pattern of abuse of office across the country by the outgoing Bush administration. He called for a moratorium on prosecutions until the new administration can conduct an independent investigation and replace U.S. Attorney Sullivan and the current attorney general.

People’s lawyer John Pavlos from the Turner defense team said Clark’s stature, intelligence and energy will be “a huge boost for Chuck Turner” and the effort to “vindicate him of these bogus charges.” He characterized the case against Turner as “nothing more than a false fishing expedition.”

Turner expressed tremendous gratitude for Clark’s appearance in Boston seven days after receiving the U.N. award for lifetime achievement in the human rights field. He called the prosecution’s actions “not just an attempt to disgrace me but an attempt to discourage people standing for justice across the city, state and country.”

Turner said the country’s “soul must be cleansed for the sake of our children and grandchildren.” Turner and Clark were joined by over 70 community and labor supporters, including a security squad from United Steel Workers Local 8751 Boston School Bus Drivers, Haitian community leaders, activists from the International Action Center, Bishop Filipe Teixeira OFSJC and others who marched from the steps of City Hall to the federal building.

The press conference was covered by the major TV media; the Boston Herald; and the Bay State Banner, the newspaper of Boston’s African-American community.

Meeting with activists and supporters in City Hall, Turner and Clark called for a nationwide campaign to investigate the investigators and prosecute the prosecutors, as well as a moratorium on politically-motivated prosecutions and dirty tricks by the outgoing administration. These include attacks on the environment, enacting last-minute executive orders and regulations, and locking in open-ended continuation of war.

Such a campaign is being prepared. For more information and to participate, go to supportchuckturner.com, iacboston.org or iacenter.org.

Community support for Turner continues to grow. Hundreds packed the hall for a support rally at Roxbury Community College on Dec. 9, in advance of his latest court appearance on Dec. 10. The event was an outpouring from the community of people of all ages, with youth cultural performances by Miya X of FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together) and the Foundation.

Supporters also packed the courtroom and the hall outside on Dec. 10 when Turner was arraigned in Boston. The case against him has been falling apart, with the FBI’s undercover witness contradicting the FBI’s own affidavit in the case.

But in an abuse of prosecutorial power by the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office, without any new facts or evidence the prosecutors filed a superseding indictment accusing Turner of a joint conspiracy with State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson. This is an attempt to deny him the right to confront the witnesses and case against him in a probable cause hearing.

The arraignment on the new conspiracy charge took only ten minutes in court. Turner emerged surrounded by supporters and his attorneys, who condemned the prosecutors’ maneuver for the assembled media. The next court appearance is scheduled for late January.