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Santa Cruz Eleven Update
Court dates today, tomorrow, and Monday for two of us. A website soon to go up. Interesting articles to check out. Disclaimer: I in no way speak for anyone else among the Santa Cruz Eleven. These observations are mine and any errors my responsibility.
Court stuff: Today at 9 AM in Dept. 7 (to be moved to 6 probably), a Pitchess motion by Cameron Laurendeau's attorney. This is a motion to get the judge in his chambers to look over old complaints against police officers who are witnesses in the D.A.'s witchhunt and determine if there any allegations of false representation (i.e. lying). The judge can then decide to give contact info of the complainants to the defense attorneys.
Tomorrow at 9 AM in Dept. 6. Becky and I go in for "readiness" for the Preliminary Hearing which is (tentatively) scheduled for Monday 4-16. I will be changing attorneys and requesting a continuance (i.e. delay in the Preliminary Hearing). The D.A.'s office, perhaps busy grooming informants in the community, has failed to provide any of us with the actual video that police took at 75 River St.
As far as I'm concerned that would clearly indicate both selective enforcement, selective prosecution, and police opportunistically using "illegal" activities which they ignore when they happen, but then months later use to target those they choose.
I'll be posting more info on whether the Preliminary Hearing is actually going forward next week and when that is. Folks needn't come down, though I'll be at both the hearing today and tomorrow (hopefully my Monday date will be cancelled through a continuance). Becky's case is likely to go forward.
The other seven defendants have "readiness" on Friday April 20th at 9 AM, and their sure-to-be-a-circus Preliminary Hearing on Monday April 23rd at 9 AM in Dept. 6.
Bradley and Alex go to trial May 29th.
The new http://www.santacruzeleven.org website should soon be up if it isn't already.
Interesting articles:
http://www.goodtimessantacruz.com/index.php/good-times-cover-stories/3686-occupy-santa-cruz.html
http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/04/05/facing-foreclosure/
http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/06/closed-bank-put-to-good-use
http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com/2012/04/empty-buildings-are-crime.html
Tomorrow at 9 AM in Dept. 6. Becky and I go in for "readiness" for the Preliminary Hearing which is (tentatively) scheduled for Monday 4-16. I will be changing attorneys and requesting a continuance (i.e. delay in the Preliminary Hearing). The D.A.'s office, perhaps busy grooming informants in the community, has failed to provide any of us with the actual video that police took at 75 River St.
As far as I'm concerned that would clearly indicate both selective enforcement, selective prosecution, and police opportunistically using "illegal" activities which they ignore when they happen, but then months later use to target those they choose.
I'll be posting more info on whether the Preliminary Hearing is actually going forward next week and when that is. Folks needn't come down, though I'll be at both the hearing today and tomorrow (hopefully my Monday date will be cancelled through a continuance). Becky's case is likely to go forward.
The other seven defendants have "readiness" on Friday April 20th at 9 AM, and their sure-to-be-a-circus Preliminary Hearing on Monday April 23rd at 9 AM in Dept. 6.
Bradley and Alex go to trial May 29th.
The new http://www.santacruzeleven.org website should soon be up if it isn't already.
Interesting articles:
http://www.goodtimessantacruz.com/index.php/good-times-cover-stories/3686-occupy-santa-cruz.html
http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/04/05/facing-foreclosure/
http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/06/closed-bank-put-to-good-use
http://beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blogspot.com/2012/04/empty-buildings-are-crime.html
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NorseKahn, the videos are on YouTube. Can't have much more disclosure than that.
NOTE TO REALITY CHECK: Det. Gunter testified that police reviewed "20 hours of videotape." LEE has posted maybe 1 hour of video-tape. That hardly constitutes discovery. Today, in court, the DA didn't have the videotape of the office for which the Pitchus hearing was held. Seems like they are withholding evidence. Protecting the bigwigs who DID go into the building? Failing to release exculpatory evidence? I don't know but they are NOT playing ball correctly.
For more information:
http://www.beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blo...
In case you haven't seen them: DA Bob Lee has posted 11 videos on youtube and on his facebook page is asking for help from members of the public to turn in friends, neighbors, and family members to the police.
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbACsolxLK4&feature=relmfu
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151482832190094.829511.235639840093&type=3
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbACsolxLK4&feature=relmfu
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151482832190094.829511.235639840093&type=3
Becky, just because they reviewed 20 hours doesn't mean they're going to use 20 hours as evidence (I'm sure the judge and juries would appreciate it!) They only need a few minutes to convict. Like the one with you carrying a 'fight back' sign. Not very journalistic.
Last I heard, carrying a sign is not illegal. Do you deny that I have a blog and that I regularly write articles, essays, letters, and post other people's articles as well there? You see, it's a funny thing. I can carry a sign AND write articles. I'm a multi-tasker. BTW, while I AM a journalist and blogger, I'm NOT claiming some kind of immunity from prosecution for reporting. My innocence lies in the fact that I didn't plan the action, I didn't carry out the action, and I didn't participate in or physically support the action. I never even entered the building.
My "guilt" lies in having written on my blog and elsewhere what an EXCELLENT ACTION it was! I mean Occupying a VACANT BANK BUILDING?!With WELLS FARGO holding the lease? And owned by Mr. 1% himself, Barry Swenson? Wow! That takes guts. Now if I'd written about "break-ins" and "vandalism" and "graffiti" and "trespassers" etc. (like Jessica Pasko of the SENTINEL wrote) then I probably wouldn't be currently facing charges. DA Young has said that the favorable articles posted by Alex Darocy and Bradley Allen "aided and abetted" the vandalism and trespassing.
My "guilt" lies in having written on my blog and elsewhere what an EXCELLENT ACTION it was! I mean Occupying a VACANT BANK BUILDING?!With WELLS FARGO holding the lease? And owned by Mr. 1% himself, Barry Swenson? Wow! That takes guts. Now if I'd written about "break-ins" and "vandalism" and "graffiti" and "trespassers" etc. (like Jessica Pasko of the SENTINEL wrote) then I probably wouldn't be currently facing charges. DA Young has said that the favorable articles posted by Alex Darocy and Bradley Allen "aided and abetted" the vandalism and trespassing.
For more information:
http://www.beckyjohnsononewomantalking.blo...
DA Young asserts that favorable articles aid and abet?!
Could that be why Sentinel propaganda has been so anti-Constitution and so anti-people?
Boycott tyranny.
Fire Bob Lee!
Could that be why Sentinel propaganda has been so anti-Constitution and so anti-people?
Boycott tyranny.
Fire Bob Lee!
For more information:
http://peacecamp2010insider.blogspot.com/
At http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/04/05/facing-foreclosure/ I posted the following comment which bears somewhat obliquely on this thread:
I'm glad that Occupy activists and others are continuing to focus on the important foreclosure issue (among others).
It's important, though, that folks not lose sight of what gave the Occupy movement its initial strength and helped it spread like wildfire.
This was the coming together of masses of people in public places challenging the atomizing isolating institutions that have catapulted the country into war and bankrupcy (and kept us there). And taking direct action to reclaim public space, the public purse, and public civil rights.
Now eleven are charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors for entering, observing, and leaving a vacant bank building last November in support of a Community Center and to expose the predatory Wells Fargo foreclosure master.
These recent opportunistic and repressive prosecutions (described in the current Good Times at http://www.goodtimessantacruz.com/index.php/good-times-cover-stories/3686-occupy-santa-cruz.html.... have frightened many---inside and outside Occupy--who now fear that violating any local law or ordinance can be the pretext for felony conspiracy charges, punishable by years in prison.
The fear has driven many to cut back on any public actions that might risk arrest--which in the fall was one important strong arm of the movement. The protest against the city and county's anti-Occupy curfews around public buildings (clearly unconstitutional) has not been sustained. Folks are afraid to say they were present in or around the bank at 75 River St. or to testify on behalf of those who were.
Meanwhile D.A. Bob Lee has selected me and ten other activists as scapegoats and is apparently trolling the waters for more victims (See latest news updates at http://datinternet.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/). His aim seems to be to create a community of snitches who will bolster his selective prosecutions.
Since direct police brutality against Occupy activists in other cities resulted last fall in swelling the movement, it appears SC cops and prosecutors here are using a different stealth strategy---making no arrests until months later and spreading the icy fear of further arrests for simply walking into a vacant unposted bank building along with hundreds of other people.
Learn more about the false charges being selectively pressed against journalist, whistleblowers, and community activists around the 75 River St. 3-day vacant Wells Fargo leased bank occupation.
Go to the Good Times story mentioned above.
You can also check out an earlier story: http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/06/closed-bank-put-to-good-use
or follow the issues in more detail at http://www.indybay.org/santacruz .
We need help in publicizing and combatting these charges while simultaneously continuing the struggle that so galvanized the country last fall.
The http://www.santacruzeleven.org website will soon be operational. Until then, contact Robert at rnorse3hotmail.com
if you wish to offer time, money, or any other kind of support.
Contacting a local organization you belong to and getting a resolution of support can be helpful. Letters to the newspaper, on-line blogging, and phone calls to the D.A. can help. Joining public protests can help even more.
I'm glad that Occupy activists and others are continuing to focus on the important foreclosure issue (among others).
It's important, though, that folks not lose sight of what gave the Occupy movement its initial strength and helped it spread like wildfire.
This was the coming together of masses of people in public places challenging the atomizing isolating institutions that have catapulted the country into war and bankrupcy (and kept us there). And taking direct action to reclaim public space, the public purse, and public civil rights.
Now eleven are charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors for entering, observing, and leaving a vacant bank building last November in support of a Community Center and to expose the predatory Wells Fargo foreclosure master.
These recent opportunistic and repressive prosecutions (described in the current Good Times at http://www.goodtimessantacruz.com/index.php/good-times-cover-stories/3686-occupy-santa-cruz.html.... have frightened many---inside and outside Occupy--who now fear that violating any local law or ordinance can be the pretext for felony conspiracy charges, punishable by years in prison.
The fear has driven many to cut back on any public actions that might risk arrest--which in the fall was one important strong arm of the movement. The protest against the city and county's anti-Occupy curfews around public buildings (clearly unconstitutional) has not been sustained. Folks are afraid to say they were present in or around the bank at 75 River St. or to testify on behalf of those who were.
Meanwhile D.A. Bob Lee has selected me and ten other activists as scapegoats and is apparently trolling the waters for more victims (See latest news updates at http://datinternet.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/). His aim seems to be to create a community of snitches who will bolster his selective prosecutions.
Since direct police brutality against Occupy activists in other cities resulted last fall in swelling the movement, it appears SC cops and prosecutors here are using a different stealth strategy---making no arrests until months later and spreading the icy fear of further arrests for simply walking into a vacant unposted bank building along with hundreds of other people.
Learn more about the false charges being selectively pressed against journalist, whistleblowers, and community activists around the 75 River St. 3-day vacant Wells Fargo leased bank occupation.
Go to the Good Times story mentioned above.
You can also check out an earlier story: http://socialistworker.org/2011/12/06/closed-bank-put-to-good-use
or follow the issues in more detail at http://www.indybay.org/santacruz .
We need help in publicizing and combatting these charges while simultaneously continuing the struggle that so galvanized the country last fall.
The http://www.santacruzeleven.org website will soon be operational. Until then, contact Robert at rnorse3hotmail.com
if you wish to offer time, money, or any other kind of support.
Contacting a local organization you belong to and getting a resolution of support can be helpful. Letters to the newspaper, on-line blogging, and phone calls to the D.A. can help. Joining public protests can help even more.
Ahem... yes. This is du jour: "DA Young has said that the favorable articles posted by Alex Darocy and Bradley Allen "aided and abetted" the vandalism and trespassing."
You'd think Alex and Bradley were Anwar al-Awlaki's manchurian islamworshipingamerican spawn or something. Watch out for the predator drones guys.
You'd think Alex and Bradley were Anwar al-Awlaki's manchurian islamworshipingamerican spawn or something. Watch out for the predator drones guys.
For more information:
http://auntieimperial.tumblr.com/
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