From: nyt%nyxfer%igc.apc.org@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu (NY Transfer News)
Subject: NEWS:Victory for Phila.Welfare Activists/ww
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Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: The NY Transfer News Service
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 21:36:26 GMT


Via The NY Transfer News Service * All the News that Doesn't Fit

VICTORY FOR PHILADELPHIA WELFARE ACTIVISTS

By Joe Piette

Philadelphia

Five welfare rights activists were found not guilty Oct. 28 of
all charges stemming from a takeover of a vacant building last
April 4.

The arrests resulted from a protest organized by the Kensington
Welfare Rights Union against state budget cuts in welfare
programs last spring. The march through the North Philadelphia
neighborhood ended at a vacant, boarded-up, former Department of
Public Welfare office building.

The protesters demanded that the building be turned over to area
residents, to be renovated into a much-needed community center.
When six women--Diane Coyett, Cheri Honkala, Louise Mayberry,
Deborah Weitzmann, Sandra Brennan and Alexis Baptist--entered the
building, locked arms, sat down and sang "We Shall Overcome,"
they were arrested.

Five women faced up to 10 years each in prison for felony counts
of criminal trespass and conspiracy. Charges of disorderly
conduct were dismissed during the course of the trial by Common
Pleas Judge D. Webster Keough. Charges against a sixth defendant,
a teenager, were dropped before the trial began.

PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PEOPLES RIGHTS?

Throughout the five day trial, the women criticized a legal
system that would brand them as criminals, but not the property
owners who let buildings throughout poor neighborhoods rot away.

The building they occupied is owned by a real estate slumlord who
is a close friend and major campaign contributor to the district
attorney.

The prosecutors told the jury at the end of the trial that the
"sanctity of private property" outweighs the causes of self-help,
homelessness or poverty. But after less than three hours of
deliberation, the jury came back with 15 separate verdicts of not
guilty on every charge.

Cheri Honkala, one of the six, told Workers World that they won
because of community support, as shown through the many petitions
they gathered.

When asked what they would do next, Honkala pledged that they
"still intend to win that property." They also want to restart
the Caseyville Tent City, named after Governor Casey for his
anti-welfare policies.

Caseyville is located on a vacant lot one block north of the
abandoned DPW building. It was begun last spring as a gathering
spot for Kensington-area homeless and poor residents. The KWRU
distributed food and used clothing and held rallies and meetings
there.

The tent city had to be discontinued in order to organize for the
struggle to defend the Kensington 6. Food, clothing and donations
can be sent to KWRU, 2838 North Front St., Philadelphia, Pa.
19133 or call (215) 483-6568.

                          -30-

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted
if source is cited. For more info contact Workers World, 46 W. 21
St., New York, NY 10010; "workers" on PeaceNet; on Internet:
"workers@mcimail.com".)


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