[Freethe SF8] SF Supervisors Demand Dropping of Charges Against Francisco Torres

[SF-8 case]

ON THE UNJUST PROSECUTION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO 8
STATEMENT FROM SUPERVISORS ERIC MAR, JOHN AVALOS, AND CHRIS DALY

August 27, 2009

To Attorney General Jerry Brown:

We want to express our deep concern over the unjust, costly and 
flawed prosecution of the San Francisco 8.

Based on "confessions" and other testimony extracted by torture and 
denial of right to counsel, this prosecution has been a disservice to 
the people of San Francisco.

For the last six years, prosecution of this case has ripped respected 
elders from their families and from their community service. It has 
exacted an incalculable toll on all of them.

The cost of this case to the people of San Francisco has now run into 
the millions of dollars.

The results to date of this prosecution speak to its inherent 
weakness and injustice:
    * On July 6, your office was forced to drop all charges against 
four of the San Francisco 8 (Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Hank Jones 
and Harold Taylor), acknowledging that you had "insufficient 
evidence" to prosecute them.
    * Your office had already been forced to drop all charges a year 
earlier against a fifth member of the SF8, Richard O'Neal.
    * Your office offered and accepted pleas to greatly reduced 
charges from two other SF 8 defendants, Herman Bell and Jalil 
Muntaqim, in exchange for time served and probation.
Francisco Torres is now the only remaining SF 8 defendant. Your 
office also offered him probation and time served in exchange for a 
plea to a lesser charge.  He refused your offer, and maintains his innocence.

Mr. Torres was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City. He is 
a Vietnam Veteran who fought for the rights of Black and Latino 
soldiers upon his return to the states. A former member of the Black 
Panther Party, he has been a long-time community activist and mentor 
to youth. He is a husband, a father and a grandfather.

Previous attempts to prosecute this case were dismissed in 1975 when 
it was revealed that so-called "confessions" were the product of 
torture by the New Orleans police department.

As members of the Board of Supervisors, we reiterate our opposition 
to the use of torture against any suspects.

In the name of fairness and justice and human rights, we urge you to 
reconsider the continuation of this misguided prosecution.

Signed By:

Supervisor Eric Mar
Supervisor John Avalos
Supervisor Chris Daly
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