Court Solidarity for Rob Middaugh (Ruckus)

by Ce Coatl Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 at 10:28 PM
cabin_fevered@yahoo.com

see below

Come to Rob's next court date to show your support: Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 8:30 AM.

Edward Roybal Federal Courthouse

255 E. Temple St., 3rd floor

Los Angeles, CA

Read more about his case:

A Few Drops of Soda Can Be A Federal Offense! Just ask Robert Middaugh, political prisoner & Chicano anti-racist activist...

Robert Middaugh (aka Ruckus), was released from Avenal State Prison this July, after serving two years for trumped up charges stemming from his involvement in the now infamous 2001 Long Beach May Day demonstration, which resulted in over 100 arrests. The prosecutor wielded every possible charge he could at Rob. He was finally charged with assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. He was already on parole due to an earlier incident that occurred with the LAPD, which led to his first strike.

Rob was initially looking at 24-26 years in prison if found guilty for the May Day charges, so his only viable option was to accept a plea bargain. He was sentenced to three years and given his second strike.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of the police harassment. Immediately after he was released from Avenal, U.S. Marshals came for him. He is now being charged with assaulting a government official, wearing a mask to conceal his identity, and possession of a dagger.

The incident in question took place at a July 4th demonstration in 2000, at the Westwood Federal Building in Los Angeles. An anti-immigrant hate group rallied on the south side of Wilshire Blvd. with a sound stage on the Federal Building lawn (granted by federal authorities). Meanwhile, anti-racist demonstrators gathered on the north side of Wilshire Blvd. In response to racial slurs and other taunts, a contingency of anti-racist protesters crossed the street and conflict ensued. LAPD officers swiftly intervened on behalf of the anti-immigrant protesters (surprise!). During the scuffle, unknown person(s) allegedly used unopened cans of soda as projectiles. According to the prosecution's complaint, a can exploded and splashed one of the officers with the carbonated contents. The officer (Thomas G. Goldsmith) proceeded to arrest Rob for "assaulting an officer." In this case, BEING SPLASHED WITH SODA supposedly constituted federal assault charges.

Furthermore, the officer alleged that he "...saw Middaugh with a soda in his right hand throw the can at [him]." However, ROB IS LEFT-HANDED. Why would a left-handed individual hurl a projectile with his weaker hand?

Finally, the charges were initially filed on January 11, 2002. Rob demanded a speedy trial, which should have taken place 180 days after the charges were filed. In August 2003, the case is barely going to trial. This is an aberration that further illustrates how the "justice" system is a farce and fails to adhere to its own policies.

Rob has been active with several organizations and has protested against various issues, such as police brutality, racism, indigenous relocation, environmental destruction, animal rights, nuclear proliferation and militarization of the Mexican border. The disparity in this case between what occurred and the charges filed against Rob is an outrage. Clearly, he was targeted for his outspokenness and his political activities. He began to be targeted after he was arrested for protesting against the WTO in the 1999 "Battle in Seattle." He was arrested again and charged with assault on a police officer during the Democratic National Convention protests in LA in 2000, then he was arrested for participating in the 91 freeway shutdown in protest of the Riverside police killing of Taisha Miller. The May Day charges and his current case are a continuation of the state's attempts to silence a vocal and uncompromising activist. His current case is a travesty and a mockery of the justice system, and illustrates how far the government will go to squash dissent.

Rob also needs help with legal support. For more information, e-mail: cabin_fevered@yahoo.com