'Ruckus' is a friend of ours, he was one
of the people invovled in the Long Beach Mayday
events, he has been in jail since May 1 of this year
and now he was sentenced to 3 yrs. I just also want to
remind you guys that not 1 penny of property damage
was done to the city of LB at all during this mayday
protest,nobody was hurt, no weapons were used.. well
let me take that back.. the protestors were shot,
beaten, and attacked but nobody else. The city had no
right to do what they did, and now a fellow comrade is
going to have to server 3 yrs.
During this time that were organizing, and telling
people to do outreach, please let us remember our
comrades already in jail for risking themselves and
putting themsevlves out on the line, lets not forget
about them, and also remember the importance of legal
support, if were going to ask people to join us on the
streets, lets try to make sure that events like Mayday
Long Beach where 92 people were beaten, attacked and
shot for marching on the public streets that it does
not repeat itself.
xoxo
chantel

Dear friends

ELP has just learnt that yesterday American
eco-activist Rob "Ruckus"
Middaugh was sentenced to three years imprisonment for
his involvement in
the Mayday 2001 "Reclaim The Streets" celebrations in
Long Beach,
California.

Rob was part of the "black block" which during the
celebrations came into
confrontation with the police. Because Rob defended
himself from the police
he was charged with assault on a police officer,
refusal to comply with a
police officer, conspiracy to commit a crime, and
riot. Rob also faced
charges for alleged probation violation. In all Rob
was looking at possibly
16-17 years inside if found guilty on all charges.
Then Rob was offered a
plea bargain. Go guilty and get a 3 year stretch or
risk it in court and
face 16-17 years inside. Just to "sweaten" the plea
bargain, Judge Richard
Romero told Rob he was guaranteed 3-4 years in prison
for his probation
violation, regardless of whether he was found guilty
or not for the Mayday
charges.

With no other option Rob took the plea bargain and
admitted the assault
charge and the probation violation. All other charges
were dropped. Rob
was sentenced to 3 years for each charge, but the
sentences are to run
concurrently. He was also given "one strike" for his
guilty plea and is now
on his "second strike". Under the "Three Strikes and
your out rule" this
means, upon his release, if Rob is convicted for
another "strike" he faces a
minimum 25 years imprisonment.

Rob is presently in the Los Angeles County Jail
awaiting transfer. We know
he would love to hear from you. So please send urgent
letters of support
to:

Rob Middaugh #6859467
PO Box 86164
Los Angeles 90086-0164
USA