The Movement Triumphs: Morgan Malachi Acquitted of All Charges

    On July 23^rd, 2015, Philly’s tireless warrior for Black liberation Morgan Malachi was brought before Judge Flynn M. Owens in Baltimore, MD. As a founding member of Action Against Black Genocide and a prominent leader in the Philly REAL Justice Coalition, Morgan has been at the forefront of the struggle to disarm, disempower and disarm the police in Philadelphia. As a member of the Lawncrest 10, Morgan was in part responsible for the release of the names of the two officers responsible for the police murder of Brandon Tate-Brown. She has waged a relentless struggle for a militant and uncompromising line within the movement against the PPD. Her commitment to the struggle for Black liberation and against the police state
in the USA led her to become an active participant in the Baltimore rebellion, during which she was arrested by the BPD on April 25^th, 2015.  It was for two charges stemming from this arrest that Morgan was forced to return to Baltimore to face trial, though not without the support of her comrades. Twenty-five members of the Philly REAL Justice Coalition drove in a caravan from Center City Philadelphia to stand with their embattled compatriot.

Morgan and her supporters, including members of RSCC, PHL, arrived in Baltimore at roughly 8am to find a group of local activists already holding a demonstration in support with Morgan outside the courthouse. Morgan and her supporters from Philly joined in this outpouring of solidarity until it was time to enter the courthouse.

Veteran attorney Steve Beatty, who has previously fought for legal justice for other victims of police repression during the Baltimore Rebellion, represented Morgan. Andrew Costinett represented the state of Maryland. From the start, Costinett presented a case that was circumstantial at best. The witnesses called by the prosecution were unable to prove that Morgan was guilty of anything except acting within the bounds of her legal right to demonstrate. In fact, the last witness called by the prosecution, Tactical Flight Officer Andre Smith, inadvertently drove the final nail into the coffin of the prosecution’s case.

In the end, the prosecution could not prove that Morgan acted in a disorderly manner towards the police. Further, they could not prove conclusively that Morgan failed to comply with a direct order from the police. With a look of consternation and defeat on his face, Judge Owens launched into a five-minute tirade against Morgan and her legally defensible actions on April 25^th. It was after this temper tantrum that Judge Owens acquitted Morgan of all charges. It was at this point that Morgan’s supporters in the courtroom broke into cheers and applause for their comrade’s second victory against the US injustice system.

We in RSCC, PHL recognize in individuals like Morgan the emergence of a new leadership in the struggle for Black liberation in the USA. Without this new leadership the struggle would inevitably end up being channeled into the liberal NGO and non-profit model that has stopped short of advocating liberation and self-determination for New Afrikans in North America. We salute Morgan and all those fighting against US apartheid and the continuing incarceration and repression of all oppressed nationalities within the US colonial-settler state.

FTP!

BLACK LIBERATION NOW!

DOWN WITH U.S. APARTHEID!