Since May 1, 2001, after over 100 demonstrators were brutalized and arrested for exercising their first amendment rights of free speech and assembly, there has been ongoing political repression toward Long Beach community activists. Regardless of the harassment by the Long Beach Police Department, the activists continued to do work to embetter the community. Such as groups and programs like 'Food Not Bombs' (an anti-military network that serves food as a protest to war and arms), 'COPWATCH' (an organization who monitors unlawful police activity), 'POWER' (an anti-authoritarian, anti-war/anti-racist group) have been created to empower the local community.

On April 20, 2002, Mathew Gordon Lamont, a Long Beach Activist, who has been highly involved with the above mentioned groups and the infoshoppe along with Maxwell Lucas, a Food Not Bombs Activist, were pulled over in the city of La Habra (Orange County). While their car was pulled over for unknown reasons, it was searched by LONG BEACH DETECTIVES (Long Beach is Los Angeles County Jurisdiction). The detectives found a gas can in the car, arrested the two men and took them into custody. Maxwell Lucas, who is a juvenile, was taken to the Orange County Juvenile Detention Center in Orange, CA. He is being charged with but not limited to the felony of possession of a destructive device. Matthew Lamont is being held in the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange, CA. and is being charged with 4 felony charges of possession of a destructive device, transporting of a destructive device, and the possession of materials/instructions to make a destructive device.

Matthew was scheduled to have his first arraignment on Tuesday April 23rd in Division 7 of the North Court of Orange County in the city of Fullerton. During this arraignment Matthew asked for a 3-week continuance in order to obtain an attorney. Matt's bail was placed at 100,000 dollars. Matt is still in Orange County Jail and continues to be harassed by guards for his political beliefs.

Matt's next arraignment is on May 14th at the North Court of Orange County in the city of Fullerton. A rally outside of the court house will continue on the same day.

This is an emergency situation and we must take immediate action to free our comrades. The repression in Long Beach is coming down hard. Activists are being jailed, deported and continuously followed. The political repression effects us all. Please come out on May 14th to show support for our comrades!

When: Tuesday, May 14th @ 9AM
Where: North Court of Orange County (1275 North Berkeley Avenue Fullerton, CA 92832)

If you go to the Demo on May 14 at the court, please do not wear ski masks, etc because last time this happened, Matt Lamont was transferred to maximum security. Please consider than any actions taken by people on the outside do affect those on the inside. I am not discouraging anyone from demonstrating, just be smart! Also I would advise not going if you are on probation, because if you are arrested they will prosecute you to the fullest extent. Just be aware!
Thanks! We will win!

there's nothing more they can do to matt except continue to harass him in jail. He's already been moved to high security 22 hour lock down. Regardless if you show up in a ski-mask or not, they are still going to harass him and try to fuck with him one way or another. Remember, he's being falsly accused of a crime he did not commit. This is an act of repression that effects us all. Remember, an injury to one is an injury to all. If you're on probation, indeed it's going to be a risk to attend the demonstration, but this is the very reason WHY you are on probation in the first place. If we ever expect to acomplish change, then we're going to have to take risks. Many risks. Do what's best for the cause. It's the only way were ever going to win this battle.