:: Freedom is the Best Birthday Gift
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2006
Family and Friends of Gary Freeman Head to Court May 5 and Plead for Bail:
"Freedom is the Best Birthday Gift"
TORONTO -- Family and Friends of Gary Freeman (formerly Joseph Pannell), an African-American born man, held close to 2 years in custody as he fights extradition to the United States, will gather at 9 am on Friday, May 5 at the eastern entrance to Osgoode Hall (130 Queen Street West), where Freeman will seek release on bail at 10 am in courtroom 7. They will celebrate his birthday with songs performed by the multi-talented Tiki Mercury-Clarke and with a freedom cake and then head into court
"May 5 is Gary's birthday, and we can think of no better gift than his release on bail to his family," says Natercia Coelho, who has been married to Freeman for over 25 years. "Gary is a family man who wants nothing more than to be with us as he fights for truth and justice and to rectify an unfair process under the Extradition Act."
Freeman's extradition hearing proceeded last year despite the use by government lawyers of false and contradictory statements provided by the United States authorities seeking his extradition. Numerous civil libertarians have raised serious concerns about the unconstitutionality of the Extradition Act and, indeed, a number of cases challenging the fairness of the act are currently before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Freeman was arrested July 27, 2004 in an armed takedown outside the Toronto Reference Library, 35 years after a Chicago incident involving a white police officer. That year, 1969, tensions in Chicago's African-American community reached such a high point of fear given the frequent police shootings of black youth (at least 11 young men were killed) that a Committee to End the Murder of Black People was formed.
Indicted in 1969 by an all-white jury, Freeman spent two years in pre-trial custody. Fearing for his life and desiring to ensure that his unborn child would have a father, he fled to Canada. He has lived here ever since, marrying, raising four kids, working as a library technician, and becoming an active contributor to the community.
Gary has spent a total of nearly four years incarcerated. By Canadian sentencing standards, that would be the equivalent of a minimum of eight or a maximum of 12 years behind bars.
After celebrating his birthday, Freeman's family and friends will appear in Courtroom 7 at 10 am to hear arguments to release Freeman on bail.
For more information the campaign at freemandrum@web.ca. John Norris is available for questions regarding the extradition at (416)964-9664. Julian Falconer is also available for comment regarding the bail at (416) 964-3408.
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