Protesters' day in court sparks more protests, face-to-face confrontation

PROTESTERS, police and lawyers packed a tiny courtroom in the basement of the Criminal Justice Center yesterday for the trial of 10 people accused of disorderly conduct stemming from their arrests at a March incident during which protesters stormed a community meeting in Lawncrest.

Extra security was on hand as the crowd overflowed into the hallway.

After what transpired in the courtroom angered them further, the group moved outside to 13th and Filbert streets holding signs and chanting, "F--- the police."

Assistant District Attorney Pam Conner requested a continuance, while defense attorneys argued for the trial to begin immediately.

Conner told Municipal Court Judge Joyce O. Eubanks, "This is more complicated than our typical disorderly conduct case," and said prosecutors needed more time to prepare.

Defense attorney Larry Krasner countered that the District Attorney's Office was fully aware of the case, as D.A. Seth Williams was among officials who were present for the original incident the night of March 19 at Lawncrest Recreation Center. Krasner called for the trial to be relocated to a larger room immediately, saying, "There are 11 people, most of them defendants, who are either missing work or they are missing class as a consequence of this."

Nonetheless, Eubanks continued the case until June.

Supporters demonstrated outside, screaming and cursing at police officers, including civil affairs officers who were there to ensure the protesters were not hassled.

A Drexel University politics professor, George Ciccariello, was among them. He was there, he said, because despite Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey's calls for civilian oversight and transparency in policing nationally, "In Philadelphia, it's basically the same old story."

Some protesters engaged nearby officers face to face.

"I don't like you. It's because you're a weasel . . . and quite frankly, I have a problem with people who do the job you do," said Rufus Farmer, one of the defendants, at an officer he believed was pointing at him.

"If you want me to keep coming over here and calling you an 'a--hole,' I don't know if you get off on that, then keep pointing at me," Farmer continued.

He then asked all of the officers, "Do you know who killed Brandon Tate-Brown? No? I didn't think you did. You probably actually do, but you're too much of a damn coward to say anything about it."

Tate-Brown was shot during a December traffic stop on Frankford Avenue in Mayfair when, police said, he reached for a gun he had in his car. His death has stoked protests in the city.

Other protesters gathered behind Farmer, yelling, "Shut up, pig!" and "You're not s---," at the officers.