On Thursday, June 4th, in York PA, Ajamu Bandele, local branch president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, faced his sentencing hearing in a frame-up drug case used to attack the organization. Falsely convicted of criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, along with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, Ajamu was never granted a fair trial. From day one, the all-white jury was never sworn in, which would grant most defendants an opportunity for a dismissal. However, the judge pushed forward in the trial and Ajamu's lawyer, in complicity with the State, did not object. At the sentencing hearing, Ajamu tried to pass a motion for "relief" that would give him more time to appeal for a retrial before his sentencing, on the grounds that his trial was unconstitutional - the jury was not sworn in properly, and he did not have adequate defense counsel.
However, this motion was denied, and his sentencing went as follows:
- due to a mandatory "school zone violation" law, since Ajamu's charges are alleged to have happened in an area near a school, he has a mandatory minimum 2 year sentence.
- fortunately, since the State was recommending Ajamu be sentenced to at least 6-12 years in prison, the judge was lenient -- as a direct result of all of the calls, emails, and letters of support from Uhuru Movement members and supporters throughout the world!
- the sentence handed down by the judge was 2-4 years, with the 7 months Ajamu has served since Oct 29, 2008 as credit.
- Ajamu will still be appealing, with a new lawyer, to get the entire ruling overturned and win his freedom!
We must follow this case and continue to support. Updates will be on the InPDUM website (http://inpdum.org/campaigns/ajamu).
Thank you to all supporters of the Uhuru Movement for taking a stand in defense of the democratic rights of the African community to organize and resist their oppression!
UHURU!
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