From www.mumia.org:

BEATING BUDDHISTS IN BABYLON, copyright 2001 by Mumia Abu-Jamal

Philadelphia. The nation's first capital. "Cradle of Liberty!"
Those thoughts must have echoed in the minds of some of the 100s who came to Phil. on a rainy day in December, to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech, to protest.
Isn't Philadelphia such a place for this? Isn't this "Where America Begins", according to some corporate tourist pitchman?
According to independent journalists and activists at the scene, covering annual actions on behalf of this writer, peaceful marchers were attacked by gun-wielding, maniacal cops, who assaulted, beat, and then arrested at least 8 activists, for trumped-up charges.
In Philadelphia, it has become local custom to beat, threaten, arrest, intimidate and lie on activists who dare to come out in behalf of the life and liberty of this writer.
That was the case during the infamous republican national convention, as well as the democratic national convention several weeks thereafter. In Philadelphia, the so-called city of brotherly love, where the constitution was crafted and quarrelled over, the right of free speech is a crime punishable by bruises, broken bones and jail cells. To act according to one's belief entitles you to a beat-down by uniformed professionals in brutality and, if you're very lucky, to a million-dollar bail.
Hai Au Huynh, a Vietnmese activist who is just over 5'3" in height, and under 100 pounds, was slammed to the ground so hard by cops that she was knocked unconscious. She has a broken tailbone.
Hai Au Huynh and many others were victims of a police riot, and an open attempt at state terrorism. Daniel valme, Heather Strausberger, Matthew Warfield, Teishan Latner, Jeffrey dalston, Tristan Ahtone and the Rev. Kabutzu Malone were also arrested.
Some were charged with assaulting the cops, others with incitement to riot, and other official lies. People had guns pointed at them by testosterone-drunk cops, all because they dared to protest. [See photos at www.mumia.org]
Welcome to Philadelphia. Welcome to the new century. Welcome to 'Homeland Security'.
This really looks like a case of homeland INsecurity, doesn't it?
What is the logic of arresting, posting high bails on and then lying on activists in court... to prove that such things are not done in Philadelphia?
100s of youth, from dozens of movements, saw and experienced first-hand the terror tactics of the cops, DAs, and the police-controlled Philadelphia judiciary, when they had fake charges thrown out, or had been acquitted by juries. They saw cops lying on the stand, in the face of VIDEOTAPE EVIDENCE to the contrary!
What do you think they learned about Philadelphia? That the commonwealth acted fairly in the case of Penn. vs. Mumia Abu-Jamal?
Someone, anyone, from whatever background, who experiences such, yes, terrorist attacks, by agents of the state, learns only that the state, no matter what it says, no matter how many claims it raises, is fundamentally unjust.
They have also learned that the constitution is just so much toilet paper. It is a fiction. It is the pulp from which Grimm Fairy Tales are published.
They learn that the currency of the state is fear. Fear through force. Fear, hidden in black robes, blue uniforms, and brittle shrines held together with paper.
They learn, not that the cops are public servants, average joes doin' their jobs, but that they have become Masters of the house, and that judges are their playthings, and DAs their accomplices.
They learn something fundamental about American justice: that there ain't none.