by GOOD COP IS DEAD COP
Sunday, Sep. 09, 2001 at 1:43 AM
written by Yutaka Yokoyama
***** please forward and distribute *****
2001 Mayday Trials not going well in Long Beach
there is much concern among supportive local activists, lawyers, and defendants, that the unusually high proportion of demonstrators who marched on Mayday while wearing symbolic "black block" clothing (black clothes and masks) has deterred potential supporters and will continue to bias juries and judges.
two anti-corporate activists, Yutaka Yokoyama (that's me) and Emily Vanderlaan, are facing six charges, including conspiracy charges, in a trial in Long Beach that began on September 4th. The charges stem from the Mayday demonstration in Long Beach that was attended by around 100 demonstrators 92 of whom were arrested after a short non-violent march was met with disproportionate police tactics. marchers were clubbed (sometimes in the face), limbs were broken, and rubber bullets were fired on the mass of mostly young demonstrators. Yutaka Yokoyama and Emily Vanderlaan, both of whom have thus far declined plea bargains, may soon be serving six months or a year or more for their attendance at the ill-fated event. as many as 39 other arrestees who have declined plea bargains may soon be on trial as well. a class action civil suit against the police is being considered.
Other groups having trouble excercising their first ammendment rights to assemble in Long Beach include: the Cambodian community who were forced to cancel their annual new year celebration due to a permit process which required prohibitively high security costs, the Surf Riders whose Luau event was met by police who billed them $450 dollars for protection, and People for Community Empowerment and Energy Interdependence whose 4th of July festival was met by police some of whom were disguised in "black block". Ultimately the People for Community Empowerment prevailed in court where the ordinance requiring a permit to assemble was declared unconstitutional. this ruling strengthening the first ammendment has not been enough thus far to convince Long Beach Judge Brad Andrews to dismiss the unlawful assembly charge against the Mayday defendants.
citizens groups including the Social Concerns Commitee of the Unitarian church, the Long Beach ACLU, OCT.22nd Coalition against Police Brutality, ACTION-L.A., and the Long Beach Peace Network have come out in support of the Mayday defendants. supporters are urged to pack the Long Beach court room - room 306 on the third floor - and to call the Long Beach city prosecutor, district attorney, and mayor and demand that the charges be dropped.
Don White / ACTION-L.A. can be reached at (323) 658-6846 Sharon Cottrell / Long Beach Peace Network can be reached at (562) 433-7025 Mary Anna Henley / civil attorney (for class action) (626) 794-9978 Ramona Ripston / So. Cal. ACLU (213) 977-9500 Long Beach City Prosecutors office (562) 570-5600 Mayor of Long Beach (562) 570-6801 District Attorney Long Beach (562) 491-6301
i can be contacted also: yutaka yokoyama home (310) 441-5416 cell (301) 704-3763ÿØÿà