[Ppnews] Update on Rebel Diaz

[Political Prisoner News]

From: Rebel Diaz-"Periodistas de la Esquina"
Date: Jun 19, 2008 12:31 PM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ-_1b6AO6w&feature=email.




Press are invited to hear directly from the duo and supporters at a 
press conference today at 4pm at Mothers on the Move, 928 Intervale 
Ave, Bronx, NY 10459.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Teresita Ayala

June 19, 2008 312-489-0505


Hip Hop Heroes Rodstarz and G1 of Rebel Diaz Attacked and Arrested by NYPD.

Yesterday, June 18, 2008, Rodstarz and G1 were walking peacefully 
down the street with their friend visiting from Chicago when they 
came upon police officers from the 41st Precinct in the Bronx in the 
middle of a sting against street vendors, aggressively confiscating 
the fruit and vegetables of street vendor. When they approached the 
officers to ask why the vendor was being treated in that manner and 
asked for their badge numbers, the officers turned their aggressions 
on the duo. After beating them and arresting them in front of over a 
dozen witnesses, they were taken to the 41st Precinct.

Within hours, over 75 friends, community members and activists 
gathered outside the precinct (1035 Longwood Avenue at Southern 
Blvd.) to sing, chant, drum and march for over 4 hours, demanding 
that all charges be dropped and that Rodstarz and G1 be immediately 
released. After withstanding a rainstorm, a rainbow offered hope that 
community resistance will overcome police brutality.

The following morning more than 25 people gathered at the Bronx 
County Criminal Court for their arraignment. The men are charged with 
two misdemeanors: obstruction of justice and resisting arrest, and 
are scheduled for court on September 3rd, 2008.

A cell phone video of the arrest was released to news circuits, and 
friends have already compiled video montage of the arrest, protest 
and the duo's music, available at http://www. youtube. 
com/watch?v=RJ-_1b6AO6w&feature=email.

Brothers Rodstarz and G1 are no strangers to repression and 
resistance. Sons of Chilean political exiles, they grew up on 
Chicago's north side, where police brutality was a daily reality. 
Upon their move to the South Bronx in early 2006 they were invited to 
perform their revolutionary music at the historic immigrant rights 
march in New York City, in front of 500,000 people. Today, Rebel Diaz 
travels throughout the world performing and organizing, using Hip Hop 
as a tool for education and social change around immigration, 
education and housing issues.



More information on the group can be found at http://www. rebeldiaz. 
com/ or www. myspace. com/rebeldiaz



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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