UC8 Press Conference After DA Files No Charges and Santa Rita Prisoners to Be Freed

by Bill Carpenter

Tue, Dec 15, 2009 8:12PM

On December 15th, at the final arraignment for the UC8 -- a day after no charges were filed against the first two arrestees to be arraigned -- it was announced that District Attorney Nancy O'Malley would not be filing charges at the current time against any of those wrongfully arrested by UC Berkeley Police on Friday, December 11th. Three of those arrested had made non-refundable bail of $13,000 for their release on Saturday and Sunday. The five others who have remained in Santa Rita jail will be released this evening.

The audio below includes the press conference, chants from court house supporters, and announcements for events following the arraignment.

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On the audio is a short interview with Asha and the full press conference with John Viola of the National Lawyers' Guild, a UC Berkeley student representative, and Indybay reporter Dave Id who was detained and then arrested along with the others. John Viola announced that those arrested on November 20th at Wheeler Hall at UC Berkeley will be facing their first hearing Monday, December 21st. He says the NLG is also tracking the 51 arrests made at UC Davis on November 18th, as well as those arrested at San Francisco State on December 10th. He reiterates how important it is for there to be a coalition of supporters demanding that all charges be dropped, as well as no academic discipline, for those fighting for public education. Announcements by others are made for events following the press conference: a student demonstration at Laney College against pending budget cuts and another for a Berkeley City Council meeting set to limit free speech rights.

For more information: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/1...

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