http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/jalil-a-muntaqim-my-statement-on-the-sf-8-plea-agreement-july-6-2009/
Jalil A. Muntaqim
July 8, 2009
First, I would like to thank all my friends and supporters for their
tenacious and tireless work in support of the SF 8, especially the
San Francisco 8 Support Committee, Committee in Defense of Human
Rights, Asian-Americans Committee for the SF 8, Freedom Archives and
many others. I wish to thank the excellent legal team whose
unwavering commitment to the task was inspiring.
I especially want to thank the lawyers who did the majority of the
behind-the-scenes legwork by name: Soffiyah Elijah, Jenny Kang, Julie
de Almeida, Heather Hardwick, Rai Sue Sussman and Lori Flowers. This
team of women suffering the testosterone of as many as 10 male lead
attorneys, plus the eight men accused, truly had their feminist code
tested. Naturally, I want to thank the most noted private
investigators, Adam Raskin and Nancy Pemberton, whose investigative
technique and services were outstanding.
Today we were to start the preliminary hearing but because of our
strong legal defense team and growing public support, the California
prosecutor offered plea settlements that could not be ignored. The
entire group discussed whether I would plead no contest to conspiracy
to manslaughter. After some discussion, I reluctantly agreed to take
the plea and be sentenced to three years probation; one year of jail
time, credit for time served, concurrent with New York state
sentence, dismissing first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Also, because of my plea, four other defendants would have all
charges dismissed for insufficient evidence. This was a no-brainer,
especially considering the elder brothers suffered a variety of
health issues ranging from high blood pressure, chronic respiratory
problems, diabetes, PTSD and prostate cancer. Although I have my own
health issues, in my near 38 years of imprisonment, I believe I am in
better shape than all four combined (Ha).
In the last 25 years prior to these charges being lodged, the
brothers had been living peaceful and productive lives raising their
families and offering community services. During the period from
their release on bail to this date, they had been running themselves
ragged across the country telling the story of Cointelpro destruction
of the Black Panther Party, the "Legacy of Torture" and building
support for the case.
While I would have liked to have continued the legal fight to what I
believe would have resulted in complete exoneration of all charges, I
know the jury system is fickle. I have seen too many innocent men in
prison who fought with the conviction of being innocent after a
reasonable plea bargain was offered, and they ultimately lost due to
prosecutorial misconduct, defense attorney errors, improper jury
instructions by a judge and/or a fickle jury. Unfortunately, their
loss results in spending decades in prison fighting for a reversal or
waiting to be released on parole or, in the worst cases, death row
DNA exonerations. The American judicial system is nowhere near being
without flaws, as the overwhelming number of Black men in prison
sorely attests. Given these circumstances, my taking this plea is a
bitter-sweet win-win.
Finally, I would like to thank with profound appreciation my
attorneys Daro Inouye, a 30-plus year veteran of the San Francisco
Public Defender's Office, whose trial experiences and skills are
incomparable; and Mark Goldrosen, a remarkable, selfless trial
technician and writer whose understanding of both state and federal
law brought the court (and some of the attorneys) to task.
A luta continua -
Jalil
--
Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom), 55, of San Francisco, has been a
political prisoner in New York since 1978. Send our brother, who for
the moment remains in county jail in San Francisco, some love and
thank him for his sacrifice: Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom),
2311826, 850 Bryant St., San Francisco CA 94103.
.
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