The Italian Supreme Court has rejected the decision of August 14, 2001, that freed the Publixtheatre Caravan after being imprisoned for almost a month following the G8 protests last year. On April 9th, this Tuesday, the Genoa courts will review the decision.

On Tuesday, April 9th, the Publix Theatre will have a hearing in the Genoa Courts. The Italian Supreme Court has reviewed the original decision of the Genoa Tribunal from August 14th that set us all free, and rejected it. The Supreme Court has decided that there needs to be some stronger motivation for our release than just the lack of clear evidence against the Publix Theatre. On Tuesday, the Genoa courts will review the evidence again, and decide whether to issue another order for pre-trial incarceration.

Please hold the judges an lawyers of the courts of Genoa in your thoughts and prayers from now through Tuesday. May truth and justice prevail, and may these innocent defendants be allowed to continue their cultural work for ethnic tolerance, diversity, and the brotherhood that transcends national boundaries. In a world climate of increasing religious and cultural warfare, such work is more important now than ever. May these baseless charges against us be dropped, so that we can all get on with our lives.

Walking home today, I stopped to smell the blossoms on a cherry tree. I was so happy to be free. You really get to miss flowers, when for twenty-four hours a day your only sights are barbed wire, concrete walls, bars and guards with machine guns. As one of my favorite journalists has said, "Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul," not just on the soul of the prisoner, but on the soul of humanity.

If you wish to send a letter of solidarity with the Publixtheatre Caravan for our hearing on Tuesday, you can send it to "Il Manifesto," redazione@ilmanifesto.it. As usual, it is important to avoid critical or attacking tones; loving support is the best tone.

Take good care of yourselves, and keep hope alive.

In peace and with lots of love, your friend Susanna Thomas
(Italy IMC translator-in-exile.)

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