Cisco Torres is free of all charges in the SF8 case

by Claude Marks

Cisco-Torres-at-Kiilus, Cisco Torres is free of all charges in the SF8 case, Local News & Views Judge Philip Moscone signed and filed an order dismissing charges against Francisco Torres late Thursday, Aug. 18. Cisco was the last former Black Panther member facing charges in this 1971 case about the killing of a San Francisco police sergeant.

“It took over four and a half years to win this case!” said Cisco Torres.

In 1973 several of the men were brutally tortured by police in Louisiana to elicit false confessions. The case was dismissed in the 1970s, but charges were filed again in January of 2007 against eight former Black Panthers.

They all resisted this renewed repression. Charges against Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Hank Jones, Richard O’Neal and Harold Taylor were previously dismissed for insufficient evidence. Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim pled to greatly reduced charges, receiving time served and probation.

Cisco Torres, speaking for himself and on behalf of the San Francisco 8, was elated, giving “our thanks to all of our supporters for battling with us for so long. Our victory is shared!”

“I just got a call from a very happy Cisco who got the news yesterday that the case against him was dismissed,” writes his friend and comrade revolutionary journalist and former Panther Kiilu Nyasha. “As you all know, the San Francisco 8 case dragged on for over four years while we struggled to mount a campaign to free them.

“Finally, this case is over! This is great news and we should all celebrate!

“This people’s victory will boost our morale and reenergize us to continue our fight to free all our political prisoners, especially Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim, the two of the SF8 who remain in prison (more on them at www.freethesf8.org). I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear this news as well.”

Questions and comments may be sent to claude@freedomarchives.org. Bay View staff contributed to this story.