Peaceful presence needed for hearing - supporters of Edna and Bill Whiting are requested!

Victor Rodriguez will face an adjudicatory hearing this coming Monday to face the ‘Edna terror/phone-threat’ court case.

March 10th at 8:30AM in Family Court
1801 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA

It will be an adjudicatory hearing, and there is a good chance a verdict will be handed down that same day.

Only reporters will be allowed inside the courtroom, but supporters are welcome to participate in a peaceful presence outside 1801 Vine Street, where protest signs will be made available.

What you can do
Many supporters who attended the rally are unable to attend the hearing this Monday as they cannot get off from work again on short notice. We DESPERATELY need people come out and support Bill and Edna!

PLEASE, if you are able to attend on Monday morning at 8:30 AM, please contact billandedna@hotmail.com.

PLEASE CROSSPOST!

Reprinted with permission
http://www.network.bestfriends.org/pennsylvania/news/

ACTION ALERT: Calling all animal welfare advocates to help seek justice for Edna!

Join us March 5th, in Philadelphia, PA for a peaceful presence at a press conference concerning the case.

Victor Rodriguez, the juvenile of Nicetown charged with ‘terroristic threats’, ‘attempted robbery by extortion’ and a litany of other offences, following the ‘Edna’ animal cruelty case, failed to show up at his pre-trial hearing on January 31st (Petition #830-07-12 under the jurisdiction of Assistant District Attorney, Angel Flores) at the Youth Study Center. The court issued a bench warrant for his immediate arrest. Since then, Rodriguez has eluded Police.

In response to this case, a petition was created to Verizon and to Mayor Michael Nutter. The petition, which gathered over 5000 signatures, requested Verizon streamline its coordination with the Philadelphia Police and other law enforcement so delays in providing information would never happen again in cases of animal cruelty. Verizon responded with a cover letter enclosed with 2 responses that were previously posted in the Philadelphia Daily News. This cover letter and responses put the blame for the delay on the Philadelphia Police and did not address streamlining its policies with law enforcement. The petition also requested Mayor Michael Nutter address this case by putting the pressure on the Philadelphia Police to find the individual(s) responsible and to find Edna.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Join Edna’s guardian, William Whiting, at a press conference scheduled for March 5, 2008 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Verizon - Pennsylvania Building (1717 Arch Street, Philadelphia) to formally present the petition to Verizon and to Mayor Nutter.

Please share this action alert with all of your animal loving friends, family and rescue contacts. 5,000 of us signed this petition - now let’s see how many people we can get to physically come out and show their support!

If you plan to attend and would like to purchase a $5 t-shirt (design pictured above) to show your support, please contact steffie92_bfas@yahoo.com.
All proceeds go directly to the purchasing of the shirt- they are being sold at cost. All t-shirt orders MUST be sent to steffie92_bfas@yahoo.com by Thursday, February 28th.

There will also be posters distributed.

This case is being closely followed by Governor Rendell’s ‘Dog Law Advisory Board’, as well as the Pennsylvania SPCA and PETA, (who combined resources along with an anonymous donor to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of the person or persons responsible for this animal cruelty crime).

CONTACT INFO

For information on how YOU can contribute to the peaceful presence and stand beside Edna’s guardian, contact William Whiting at billandedna@hotmail.com.

For t-shirt orders, contact steffie92_bfas@yahoo.com.

Visit this site to see the t-shirts: http://www.network.bestfriends.org/pennsylvania/news/23073.html

Reprinted with permission
Posted by Nicole, PA Team Leader, and Steph, PA News Associate and County Rep