Support Biojustice Arestees

SUPPORT ARRESTED DEMONSTRATORS

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