BOSTON - After listening to embattled City Councilor Chuck Turner Tuesday night, it was unclear which bothers him more: his impending trial that could lead to 20 years in prison or the local media.

At a rally at Roxbury Community College, Turner tried to educate about 100 supporters on his "law of the media."

"If you see that I am somewhat hostile to them, my sense is that I've got nothing to lose," he said. "Because they haven't covered me before, they are only here tonight because they feel my blood is in the water and sharks always come around when blood is in the water."

Turner, who now faces five federal felony charges, took the microphone shortly after 6 P.M. and said the press wasn't welcome despite advertisements for the rally.

"We didn't' invite the press," Turner said. "We have decided to allow you to say, but I would really ask you not to interfere with my friends and constituents."

The press obliged.

To cheers from his supporters, Turner dedicated about 10 minutes to chronicling his problems with the media, whose objective, he said, "is to destroy my reputation."

Turner also turned his attention to U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, who led the investigation into Turner and former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson. While his lawyer has recommended that he doesn't talk about his defense, Turner said he is obligated to discuss Sullivan's case against him.

"I can't allow you to get away with that kind of scurrilous sophistry," Turner said. "You know what I mean?"

The crowd was silent.

"You know me," he went on. "I've always spoken truth to power."

The crowd erupted.

Turner's supporters circulated fliers during the rally that posed questions about the case against Turner, including asking why the photo of Turner allegedly accepting a bribe was released before he was indicted and suggesting that Sullivan has gubernatorial aspirations.

Turner said the abuse he has endured almost makes him want to go to prison. If he didn't have a wife and family, he said he would tell the FBI to "take me to jail if you can. America to me is a jail without the bars."

The councilor also noted that he plans to ask Gov. Deval Patrick next week to set up an ethics commission on the role of the press in a free society.

Turner is due back in court Wednesday at 3 P.M.