Justice 4 Akom

Message at Rally: Dropping Charges Not Enough

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — More than 200 supporters demanded an apology Wednesday in the wake of criminal charges being dropped against an Ethnic Studies professor and urged the San Francisco State University administration to reconsider how it investigates complaints about police action.

The rally was held outside the Ethnic Studies building where professor Antwi Akom was arrested in October and charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a campus security officer. While Wednesday's event was primarily a celebration, it also was a protest of alleged racial profiling by police involved in last fall's incident.

"I'm very happy. This is an amazing show of support. This has always been about healing and not further harming. There's a long way to go," Akom said in a rare interview after the event.

Case Closed

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has dropped criminal charges against Africana studies professor Antwi Akom, who was arrested Oct. 25 for battering a university police officer and resisting arrest.

The decision was announced on March 17, just days after the release of an SF State-commissioned investigative report, which concluded that no racial profiling occurred in the scuffle between Akom and campus police.

March 22nd WALKOUT

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

San Francisco State University’s College of Ethnic Studies is organizing a class walkout and rally to highlight the unlawful arrest of Dr. Antwi Akom. This past Friday, San Francisco District Attorney dropped all the charges against Dr. Akom who was arrested on October 25, 2005 in what supporters say was a case of blatant racial profiling.

This dismissal came three days after the release of the highly anticipated Brown-Renne Independent Investigation Report that concluded the officers involved in the events of October 25th engaged in no racial profiling. Though charges have been dropped, campus and community supporters remain outraged by SFSU President Corrigan’s endorsement of the report and the perceived indifference to racial profiling at San Francisco State.

DA Clears Akom of All Charges

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

On Friday morning, March 17th, District Attorney Kamala Harris dropped all charges against Dr. Antwi Akom. This in clear and in no un certain terms proves that Dr. Akom was not guilty of the charges that were falsely levied against him. This calls into question both the veracity of President Corrigan’s letter and the bias of the 110 page report released just days ago by the “independent investigators”. A powerful indicator that justice was served is that two days after the so-called independent report, and President Corrigan’s indicting statements against Dr. Akom, the D.A. declared him not guilty.

Brown-Renne Report Released

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

“The Brown-Renne report is neither fair nor accurate. Worse yet, the conclusion that SFSU President Corrigan draws from it – that Dr. Akom was the aggressor – is not supported by the report. The report, read fully, makes plain that campus police officer Brandon Rodgers’ description of the events of October 25, 2005, is false. Not one witness supports his self-protecting version of what happened. That Brown and Renne refuse to state that conclusion plainly is a disgrace.”

– Statement of John W. Keker, attorney for Dr. Antwi Akom.

Trial Date Set at Akom's Hearing

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Unlike Africana Studies professor Antwi Akom’s past court appearances, there were no supporters at the Feb. 22 hearing. SF State graduate Ashley Moore sent an email urging friends, SF State students and faculty to attend the April 14 trial instead.

April 14th Trial Date

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:00:00 GMT

SF District Attorney, Kamala Harris, has had nearly six months to drop the charges against Dr. Akom. Yet, DA Harris has decided to move forward with the case and attempt to prosecute Dr. Akom.

Akom Case Still Not Resolved

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Supporters of an Africana studies professor, charged for battering a police officer and resisting arrest last year, are frustrated that the independent commission investigating the incident has not concluded its report.

January 10 Hearing Delays Formal Case

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 08:00:00 GMT

On January 10th, Dr. Akom's lawyer, John Keker, delayed the formal hearing so that San Francisco DA Kamala Harris has more time to review the case and drop the charges against Dr. Akom. The next scheduled court date is February 22nd. While the San Francisco State Police have trumped up the charges against Dr. Akom, DA Harris' mind is not yet made up. You can make the difference now...Send her a Letter or Fax <click here>

Justice for Professor Antwi Akom

Wed, 07 Dec 2005 08:00:00 GMT

It was a full house on Monday at 9 a.m. in Room 16 of the Hall of Injustice in San Francisco. Close to 70 students and faculty from San Francisco State University and concerned community members came to support Professor Antwi Akom, brutalized on campus by SFSU institutional police on Oct 25.