Chuck Turner's Last Public Appearance: "Framing the Innocent" Thur. 3/24 7:30pm

Framing the Innocent:

Crimes Under Color of Law at the Massachusetts US Attorney's Office

When: Thursday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Northeastern University Law School

       240 Dockser Hall

Confirmed speakers include:

Chuck Turner--Five-term Boston City Councilor representing Roxbury and

Dorchester, and a lifetime activist for social justice, recently targeted by

the FBI and the Massachusetts US Attorney.

Bob Boyle--Attorney representing many activists and political prisoners

targeted by the FBI's infamous Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO)

Laila Murad--Organizer from the Tarek Mehanna Support Committee

Michael Avery--Professor of Law, Suffolk Law School, won a landmark civil suit against the Boston FBI on behalf of four men wrongfully convicted of murder

***

Over the past few years, an atrocious history of government misconduct at

the Massachusetts US Attorney's office has emerged in the court record, but

few people have heard about it.

In the case Ferrara v. US, the court found that US Assistant Attorney

Jeffrey Auerhahn worked with an FBI agent to coerce a witness into

maintaining false testimony, withheld evidence of the witness's recantation

from defense counsel, and perjured himself in court. Other members of the

office have:

--Withheld information about misconduct by FBI agents

--Consistently and deliberately withheld evidence of the innocence of

defendants from defense counsel and from the court

The head of the Massachusetts US Attorney's office has shielded assistants

and acted to cover-up government misconduct. Auerhahn was given

responsibility to prosecute "terrorism" cases, where he continues to handle

government informants and "cooperating witnesses."

The Massachusetts US Attorney has also demonstrated a clear set of political

priorities: contempt for basic civil liberties and due process rights; an

anti-immigrant agenda; selective prosecution of black political leaders; and

the prosecution of an overwhelming number of indigent defendants and people

of color.

Although the US Attorney's office has extraordinary power, people who are

concerned about government abuses have paid comparatively little attention

to its role within the criminal justice system.

Come participate in a public discussion about the Massachusetts US

Attorney's Office and what we can do to hold it accountable to our concerns.