News
Progressive Labor Party Organizes Solidarity March With Harvard Yard Encampment
News
Encampment Protesters Briefly Raise 3 Palestinian Flags Over Harvard Yard
News
Mayor Wu Cancels Harvard Event After Affinity Groups Withdraw Over Emerson Encampment Police Response
News
Harvard Yard To Remain Indefinitely Closed Amid Encampment
News
HUPD Chief Says Harvard Yard Encampment is Peaceful, Defends Students’ Right to Protest
The trial of 13 Black Panthers, held on charges of plotting to bomb police stations, department stores, railroads and the Bronx Botanical Gardens, begins today in New York.
The 11 men and one woman on the jury are relatively young, and five are blacks. "Of course, they're our second choice," one defense lawyer said. "We would have liked a young all-black jury."
Jury Examination
The defense took great care to examine each perspective juror to minimize racism on the jury," according to defense attorney Gerald Lefcourt. His questions centered on the racial and political beliefs of each prospect.
The 13 defendants were among 21 arrested in police raids on April 2, 1969, Nine of the 13 have remained imprisoned since then, unable to post bail ranging up to $100,000.
The defense lawyers have termed the trial-which promises to last several months-"the most controversial case in-town in 20 years."
State Supreme Court Justice John M. Murtagh, who has kept a firm hand on the months of pretrial hearings and jury selections, says it is "just a criminal indictment."
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.