For weeks leading up to and during the week of BioJustice, San Diego took on a heavy, militarized police presence. The BIO conference has now left San Diego, but activists are still feeling the heat of this intimidation. The BioJustice Legal Support Team needs your help in supporting those arrested during Biojustice, and in holding the city and police accountable for their actions through the Biojustice gathering.
There were approximately 20 people arrested through the days of action. Many of them stayed in jail several days until their arraignments. Some of their charges were dismissed, some pled guilty so they wouldn't have to stay in jail or stay in town for a trial.
There are 8 people who bailed out of jail and their arraignments were set for the week of July 16th. Their charges range from "possession of lumber" to "malicious mischief" to "misdemeanor vandalism." All of these people are victims of the large unnecessary police build-up. They are the city's justification for spending nearly five million dollars in preparation for the Biojustice activities. These people could have been any one of us.They were harassed and arrested for looking like demonstrators.
Now that the demonstrations are over, these people are isolated and vulnerable, and facing stiff penalties for their overwhelmingly bogus charges. As a group that came together once to struggle for the same ideals, we need to come together again to keep these people safe. In solidarity we can send a message that free speech is not a crime, in San Diego or anywhere else.
Please help us to support our friends in these ways:
1. Come to the Support Rally on July 16th at 7:00pm in front of the court house. It is on the corner of Union and Broadway in downtown San Diego. 220 Broadway.
2. Call the City Attorney's office (619.533.5500) and ask/demand that the "biotech demonstrators'" charges be dismissed. Ask for the Criminal Defense Department. They will give you the run around-- they may say that your complaint has no effect on their decision... but if enough people call, it will put pressure on them to drop charges.
Please call the BioJustice Legal Support office if you have any questions. We are also compiling a report about the police harassment and intimidation during the biojustice actions, so if you have any information at all that may be useful (i.e. Were you detained? Were you followed? Were you intimidated AT ALL by the police presence? Do you know anyone who was harassed whom we should talk with?) please give us a call.
Biojustice Legal Support
biojusticelegal@riseup.net
619.233.7744
Original: Support BioJustice Arrestees