:: The story
Read "Cold Case Fueled By Race And Politics", an article published February 5, 2005, in the Toronto Star (Toronto's major daily newspaper), for an overview of this story by reporters Peter Edwards and Harold Levy.
Also read "You see a fugitive, I see a friend", a personal appreciation of Gary Freeman by reporter Morgan Campbell from the Toronto Star Sunday edition of February 6, 2005.
Many early media reports wrongly described Gary Freeman as an "Ex-Black Panther", adding a degree of sensationalism to this case. As the investigation by reporters Edwards and Levy correctly shows, Gary Freeman / Joseph Pannell was not a member of the Black Panther Party.
See NOW magazine's article "Fishing for an Extradition" published on Thursday, May 19, 2005.
Joseph Pannell came to Canada to become Gary Freeman. Why?
Would a young African-American involved in an incident with police get a fair hearing in early 70's Chicago?
Did the FBI's COINTELPRO, under J. Edgar Hoover, target black community activists and organizations for extinction?
Were the peace and liberation movements being crushed under the repressive weight of the American government with Richard M. Nixon as president?
Was the USA turning away from the progressive seeds sown in the 60's?
Had many other Americans chosen to start their lives over in Canada?
Gary Freeman has lived the past 30+ years in Canada. Married to a Canadian, together they have raised a son and three daughters to be respected young adults. A mentor and friend to the young and old, Gary has always promoted social justice and viewed every human being as worthy of respect.
After 35 years, with mishandled evidence and missing witnesses, an otherwise clear case of self-defense becomes a question of his word against that of a police officer. Since August 2004, denied bail, he waits in prison for extradition to the USA.