Man arrested for video expressing anger at police
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
By: Matt Murray
In brief
A Philadelphia man who posted an anti-police rap video on YouTube has been sentenced to 23 months of house arrest as part of a plea bargain.
Andre Moore, 44, was charged with aggravated assault, making terrorist threats, harassment and corrupting the morals of a minor because his 12-year-old son filmed the video.
"I can’t stand the 18th district," Moore said in the video. "That’s why I rejoice whenever they shoot a cop in Philadelphia." (NBC News Aug. 14)
Moore’s hatred for the police is neither unique nor unfounded. Nationwide, cops systematically occupy and terrorize poor and oppressed communities. Their brutal tactics and the impunity they enjoy result in widespread fear and distrust, making reactions such as Moore’s inevitable.
Criminalizing Moore for free speech while killer cops enjoy special protection from the courts highlights the class nature of the capitalist state.
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