Diop Olugbala, aka Wali Rahman, aka “Independent Mayoral Candidate,” will hold a press conference “to respond to Mayor Nutter’s announced escalation of aggressive police action targeting black youth, including 9pm curfews with threats of fines and jail time for youth and parents.” It’s tomorrow at 1 p.m.
I’ve covered Diop before, when he was on trial for charges stemming from a scrap in City Council chambers. You can read that story via this link.
Here’s what happened at the October sentencing, as well:
At a sentencing hearing with racial and First Amendment overtones yesterday, two men received probation for their roles in a City Council chambers scuffle that left one police officer injured.
Judge Roxanne Covington sentenced Wali Rahman to two years probation and anger-management classes, while Franklin Moses got one year probation following August convictions for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Assistant District Attorney Kristen Kemp had sought jail time.
In a balcony altercation caught on video before Mayor Michael Nutter’s March 2009 budget address, police Sgt. Derek Grant is shown grabbing Rahman’s arm and throat. Rahman then steps into a two-handed shove. The prosecution argued Rahman struck Grant.
“I’ve represented some bad people who’ve done some bad things and had to hold my nose while doing so, but these two are not bad people,” defense attorney Michael Coard said. He may file an appeal of the sentences.
After dozens of supporters gathered in a Criminal Justice Center hallway, cheering the defendants and their attorney, a city police sergeant claimed he’d been subject to antagonistic taunts. “In this job, we have to ignore a lot of things,” he said without sharing the nature of the insults. References to Mumia, however, could be heard down the hall.
Here’s the press release Diop’s campaign issued this afternoon:
Independent Mayoral Candidate Slams Nutter’s Flash Mob Curfew, Forms Youth Commission for Positive Solutions
What: Press Conference
Where: Philadelphia City Hall, West side
When: Thursday, August 11, 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Harris Daniels, Press Secretary, Committee to Elect Diop Olugbala; 857-233-7508, harrisodaniels@gmail.com
On Thursday, August 11, at 1:00 p.m. Philadelphia independent mayoral candidate Diop Olugbala will hold a press conference to respond to Mayor Nutter’s announced escalation of aggressive police action targeting black youth, including 9pm curfews with threats of fines and jail time for youth and parents.Olugbala will discuss his campaign’s approach to the crisis of poverty and youth unemployment including the formation of a Youth Commission to develop a positive program to solve the issues facing the youth of Philadelphia. Members of the Youth Commission will be introduced at the press conference.
I researched the mayoral candidates on the committee of seventy’s website and you were the only candidate without a profile, a campaign website. Nothing showed up. I googled you and a link to this story came up. After reading your story, I learned that you too is a person who was bought up on fraudulent charges as a mechanism to collectively stop or hinder african-americans and others from using great tools of protest. I would like to volunteer my services and IT skillset to try and level the playing field for this upcoming election or future political endeavours. There are families all across the city who would back your platform. These other candidates are not in touch with the unjustices of what really happens in our city. I am a retired software / web developer. Please give me a call at 215-266-1629 or email me at leslielatrell@yahoo.com. Sincerely Yours!