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) 704-3763