Arizona-Sonora Justice Alliance News Release - 8.16
ARIZONA-SONORA JUSTICE ALLIANCE
NEWS RELEASE: WED. AUG. 16 2000, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DANIEL PATTERSON, 520.906.2159 (MOBILE IN LA), RACHEL WILSON, 520.792.0761 (IN TUCSON), KATIE DESMOND 520.213.9708 (IN FLAGSTAFF)
ARIZONANS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR TRUE DEMOCRACY. TUCSON ACTIVIST ARRESTED & JAILED IN POLICE BRUTALITY DEMONSTRATION.
LOS ANGELES -- At noon today Tucson activist John Hardenbergh was arrested along with approximately 30 others outside the LAPD Rampart Division HQ at Temple and Benton just west of downtown. As of 6 PM his whereabouts and condition are unknown. LAPD Captain Moore reported on the scene that all arrestees would be charged with "Obstructing and Interfering with a Public Agency."
The jailed activists marched peacefully toward the entrance to the
scandal-rocked Rampart division in to a wall of about 100 officers in
riot gear. When they could march no march no more they sat down and raised their fists in the air to protest increasing police brutality to protect corporate interests worldwide.
Some protesters also wore gags across their mouths to signify the erosion and silencing of free speech rights in the face of a massive police deployment in LA and also at the RNC in Philadelphia where hundreds of non-violent activists remain jailed.
Many arrested activists, including John Hardenbergh, went limp to resist arrest and had to be carried off by police.
The at least 80 Arizona activists in LA remain charged with optimism by the growing movement to "bring the power back to the people."
"It's awesome to see so many people from around the world joining together in solidarity to restore true democracy & demand equal representation." said Jeneiene Schaffer of Tucson.
Tucson activists operating inside the convention remarked at the big money influences and scripted nature of the DNC.
"The DNC is like a bad movie or infomercial, with the politicians as the actors and the corporate CEOs and large donors as directors." said Daniel Patterson. "Neither the Democrats or the Republicans will win any awards, except perhaps for best hype show of rhetoric that does not match the record."
PHOTO OF TUCSON ACTIVIST ARRESTED: http://la.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=1867
John Hardenbergh is the activist in the hat the police officer is leaning down and talking to.
DETAILED DNC NEWS & PHOTOS: http://www.la.indymedia.org
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Original: ARIZONANS FIGHT FOR TRUE DEMOCRACY. TUCSON ACTIVIST JAILED IN RAMPART BUST.