Sherman, his family, and his friends have been generous enough to let me into their lives the past couple of weeks. I've only know Sherman a short time; it took me forever to figure out how to describe him. He stunned me with his deep calm and steadiness in court. He inspired me with his words of strength at such a hard time in his life. And he gives me hope at the start of each day that this world can and will change. While you are away from us, I hope that I can pass on what I've learned by being around you. What is happening to you has angered me far beyond what I thought was even possible, but you have given me strength, courage, and more than anything else inspiration to carry on.
Sherman, gentle fighter, we are with you now, we'll be with you while you are gone, and we will be here to struggle along side you when you return.<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","summary":"Potraits of a Gentle Fighter. All Images Copyright \u00a92003 Heidi Werntz. All rights reserved. ","numcomment":54,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_02.jpg","filesize":"63.6 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2003\/08\/76286.php","image":{"original":"\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_02.jpg","small":"\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_02.jpgthumb.jpg","medium":"\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_02.jpgmid.jpg"}},"attachments":[{"id":76287,"heading":"Gentle Fighter","article":"","author":"Heidi Werntz","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-08-09 14:39:03","modified":"2005-08-15 01:38:18","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_01.jpg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/08\/sherman_01.jpg"}}],"comments":[{"id":101905,"heading":"Hey assface","article":"Sherman is NOT ugly. He's a passionate and beautiful man. You're just jealous and wish that you could have even 10% of his charisma. Why don't you move on and get a life and stop dissing wonderful people that actually try to make a difference in this world.","author":"Anti-Bush Admirer","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-01-31 03:32:26","modified":"2004-01-31 03:32:26","fileurl":""},{"id":102031,"heading":"Vive!","article":"Sherman is a wonderful person because he stands up for what he believes in. It's disgusting that he has to be jailed, fined, and put on probation. It's just another way for our government to oppress us. Hey everyone: Be another brick in the wall!\r\nTo everyone who doesn't take rubbish from the big bully: I applaud you.","author":"free the mind","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-01 21:28:18","modified":"2004-02-01 21:28:18","fileurl":""},{"id":105286,"heading":"sherman should sue his FPD Ron Kaye","article":"SHERMAN SHOULD SUE HIS FPD RONALD O. KAYE. \r\nHE DID NOTHING TO PROTECT OR DEFEND SHERMAN. HE SOLD OUT TO THE SYSTEM -- AND KPFK HAD THE NERVE TO GIVE THIS MAN AIR SPACE ON BENEATH THE SURFACE BECAUSE HE'S DEFENDING A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN DOWNTOWN LA. WHAT A JOKE!","author":"freeshermanaustin","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-19 03:07:35","modified":"2004-03-19 03:07:35","fileurl":""},{"id":113884,"heading":"listen I think Im gonna puke","article":"The kid who posted was NOT SHerman NOR did sherman modify a remote control car to ignite matches. read the case files you idiot before you make stupied uninformed comments. ","author":"response","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-07-09 00:56:19","modified":"2004-07-09 00:56:19","fileurl":""},{"id":113885,"heading":"sherman will be out soon","article":"sherman is an inspiration to us all and i wish him peace and happiness. i had the opportunity to meet the young man before he went in. he's sincere, intellligent and strong and i send him mucho blessings. peace","author":"response","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-07-09 00:59:46","modified":"2004-07-09 00:59:46","fileurl":""},{"id":113891,"heading":"victim of an illusion","article":"remember the native american on horse-back with tear-laden face over polluted high-ways.... \r\ni keep seeing his face. <\/I>\r\n
\r\nAh, ha ha. The "Indian" in that commercial was an American actor of Italian descent. Even the tear was fake, made of glycerin. <\/b>\r\n
\r\nYou've been hornswoggled, weeping crocodile tears while most likely living a life of relative comfort in the Greatest Nation on Earth.\r\n
\r\nAs for Austin, don't advocate violent overthrow of the government then whine when you're busted.","author":"Scam Donaldson","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2004-07-09 03:18:11","modified":"2004-07-09 03:18:11","fileurl":""},{"id":76453,"heading":"Pass the Dutchie","article":"pon the lef' hand side.","author":"Bob M.","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-09 22:52:25","modified":"2003-08-09 22:52:25","fileurl":""},{"id":76554,"heading":"Heidi Werntz","article":"Heidi Werntz can be reached at:\r\n\r\nwerntzphoto@hotmail.com","author":"info","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-10 20:50:12","modified":"2003-08-10 20:50:12","fileurl":""},{"id":76641,"heading":"we are so proud","article":"I have known you nearly all your life. You have always been clear who you are. Your sweet gentle nature belies the strength you hold within. I am proud of you Sherman, for standing tall for what you believe. It is that which those who would punish you fear. They see their own shame in your gentleness. ","author":"Linda Boigon","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-11 21:36:29","modified":"2003-08-11 21:36:29","fileurl":""},{"id":76791,"heading":"We're with you, brother","article":"Hold on, man, we'll keep up the fight to free you and so many others, and to beat the system. And for morons like 'bubba', a message: when we finish up with YOU, it'll be your mom who won't recognize you. Run for your life, fascists!","author":"Brigader","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-12 21:43:33","modified":"2003-08-12 21:43:33","fileurl":""},{"id":77117,"heading":"fuck off","article":"cops and racists can go fuck off!","author":"kropotkin","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-14 19:59:55","modified":"2003-08-14 19:59:55","fileurl":""},{"id":77175,"heading":"Solidarity to Sherman","article":"We suport Sherman fight. Now this is only virtualy.\r\nSolidarity is a people's weapon against the war of the governmnets.\r\nResistance is the only way to win.\r\n\r\nOur best reggards to Sherman!!!\r\n\r\nANARCHY RESISTANCE BULGARIA","author":"ANARCHY RESISTANCE BULGARIA","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-15 11:33:31","modified":"2003-08-15 11:33:31","fileurl":""},{"id":77221,"heading":"Much Love","article":"MUCH LOVE!\r\n\r\nWe are all with you. My heart goes out to you and your family. Stay strong!\r\nREVOLUTION NOW!\r\n\r\n-Mick from Chicago","author":"mick","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-15 20:01:41","modified":"2003-08-15 20:01:41","fileurl":""},{"id":77638,"heading":"saludos y no dejes de sonreir","article":"since peru, sonrie \r\nno pueden enrejar tus ideas\r\nabajo los muros de las prisiones","author":"zafa","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-18 23:56:56","modified":"2003-08-18 23:56:56","fileurl":""},{"id":77639,"heading":"I think Im gonna puke.","article":"Isnt Sherman that anarchist who modified a remote control car to ignite matches? Didnt he print the following on his website:\r\n\r\n "If more aggressive approach was desired, one group of protesters would lead the police in a trap by making a quick assault and falling back immediately afterwards, as if fleeing the scene. The police would usually pursue them haphazardly, falling easy prey to a flanking attack of other protesters who would suddenly rush out from side streets."\r\n\r\n\r\nGentle fighter MY ASS.","author":"Agneska","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-08-19 00:02:06","modified":"2003-08-19 00:02:06","fileurl":""},{"id":80725,"heading":"SOLIDARITY!","article":"WE SEND OUR SOLIDARITY TO SHERMAN\r\n\r\nWHILST ONE IS IMPRISONED NONE ARE FREE\r\n\r\nLOVE AND RAGE\r\n\r\nBRADFORD ANARCHIST GROUP (UK)","author":"Bradford Anarchist Group","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-04 14:06:58","modified":"2003-09-04 14:06:58","fileurl":""},{"id":80897,"heading":"sherman my thoughts are with you","article":"......i feel real bad your going to be slammed in every orifice. hahahha","author":"hahahahhahahahahah","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-04 23:56:06","modified":"2003-09-04 23:56:06","fileurl":""},{"id":81123,"heading":"Give me a break","article":"Linda Boigon said: \r\n"I have known you nearly all your life. You have always been clear who you are. Your sweet gentle nature belies the strength you hold within. I am proud of you Sherman, for standing tall for what you believe. It is that which those who would punish you fear. They see their own shame in your gentleness. "\r\n\r\nDamn, Linda. Are you comparing Sherman Austin to Jesus of Nazareth? At least he got due process. And, he's not being crucified. That's more than you can say for the people who'll get bombed by his fanatic followers. Wake up people!!! Most pot-heads are gentle (actually laziness can be confused for gentleness).\r\n\r\n","author":"Any sane free thinking adult","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-06 11:48:54","modified":"2003-09-06 11:48:54","fileurl":""},{"id":81130,"heading":"Concerned","article":"Wash your hair, Dukey head. Actually, you might want to shave it off (it makes it harder for the bros in your cell block to hold on to while their "jammin" you). Why do so many 20 year olds think they've got the world figured out? Oh yeah, that's right, a drug induced false sense of grandeur. Maybe now you realize that when you exercise your right to "free speech", you have to accept the consequences. Don't promote terrorism. Work within the legitimate political system (stay informed and VOTE) if you want to change the system. It's called democracy. ","author":"Americans for Hygiene","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-06 12:33:43","modified":"2003-09-06 12:33:43","fileurl":""},{"id":81131,"heading":"Back to the Future","article":"The time now is 10:37 am Sept 05, 2003","author":"Mr. Wizard","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-06 12:39:19","modified":"2003-09-06 12:39:19","fileurl":""},{"id":81867,"heading":"this is bull","article":"please come together for sherman... we as a people can not let bush and this government run and dictate what we can say and do on the internet. that was the whole apeal of it. the internet gave freedom to share and spread any news we felt fit... if molesters and murders are free to say and do what they want on the internet why is this man locked up for telling the truth... and so what if it totally true... how can we ever know all the facts in a society that wouldnt admit to any facts ever if they were true....\r\nno matter what you believe...\r\nin your heart you know that being put in prison for saying how you feel isnt right...\r\nput your self aside for just a moment and help sherman.\r\nthank you","author":" ynobe","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-10 14:45:43","modified":"2003-09-10 14:45:43","fileurl":""},{"id":81869,"heading":"Oh yeah? Im sure that Manson thought he was right too.","article":"He thought he was killing demons for God, didnt he? Perhaps you should create a benefit for him too? Sherman Austin was fine hatching anarchist plots to attack police by "rushing in from side streets", but when he had to answer for his crimes, he is whining, and you morons are out here using his case to line your pockets with "benefit" money.\r\n\r\nDo the moron a favor, and stay away from him after he gets out (if he makes it out alive). Contact with any of you would be a violation of his probation.","author":"KOBE SBM","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-10 15:13:08","modified":"2003-09-10 15:13:08","fileurl":""},{"id":85136,"heading":"Land of the Free? Home of the Cowards!","article":"When you resort to name calling, your credibility is equivalent to zero and your maturity level is considered when reviewing such juvenile posts. This is a forum for intelligent responses whether in agreeance or not. I stumbled across this site today after looking for more information on Che Guevara and have now become fascinated with the outrageous atrocity our system has infringed upon Mr. Sherman Austin. It is just another way to enslave people who do not subscribe to the "popular" doctrine or way of thinking. The Constitution was obviously a way of trickery. Free speech in this case is definitely not "FREE." ","author":"Me, myself and I","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-28 10:43:12","modified":"2003-09-28 10:43:12","fileurl":""},{"id":85445,"heading":"Fall out from 9-11?","article":" Apparently 9-11 (and other events) has given your honor an itchy finger and a heavy hand. Where a suspended sentence would have sufficed, a life threatening condition has been imposed. Gone are the days (if there ever were any) of a nurturing and restoretive legal civility. As Marx would say (perhaps not for this subject), a life lived separately from science is apriori a lie. \r\n\r\n Sometimes it seems that so called justice is dealt with the forethought of a gambling addict.","author":"Seuno of Taxation Justice","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-29 23:29:26","modified":"2003-09-29 23:29:26","fileurl":""},{"id":85446,"heading":"Fall out from 9-11?","article":" Apparently 9-11 (and other events) has given your honor an itchy finger and a heavy hand. Where a suspended sentence would have sufficed, a life threatening condition has been imposed. Gone are the days (if there ever were any) of a nurturing and restoretive legal civility. As Marx would say (perhaps not for this subject), a life lived separately from science is apriori a lie. \r\n\r\n Sometimes it seems that so called justice is dealt with the forethought of a gambling addict.","author":"Seuno of Taxation Justice","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-29 23:31:36","modified":"2003-09-29 23:31:36","fileurl":""},{"id":85449,"heading":"Fall out from 9-11?","article":"Apparently 9-11 (and other events) has given your honor an itchy finger and a heavy hand. Where a suspended sentence would have sufficed, a life threatening condition has been imposed. Gone are the days (if there ever were any) of a nurturing and restoretive legal civility. As Marx would say (perhaps not for this subject), a life lived separately from science is apriori a lie. \r\n\r\n Sometimes it seems that so called justice is dealt with the forethought of a gambling addict.\r\n\r\n (My appollogies if this comment was posted more than once as I received many error messages on submittion)\r\nhttp:\/\/groups.msn.com\/taxationjustice\r\n","author":"Seuno of Taxation Justice","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-29 23:33:38","modified":"2003-09-29 23:33:38","fileurl":""},{"id":85453,"heading":"Stop quoting Marx","article":"Don't you realise Marx is a laughing stock? Why do you have to quote .. a priori.. that buffoon?\r\n\r\nDon't you have a single thought in your pot-razzled brain that you can call your own?","author":"Barney","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-09-29 23:52:12","modified":"2003-09-29 23:52:12","fileurl":""},{"id":85851,"heading":"Viet Nam Veteran","article":"RTF at least offered alternative viewpoints compared to the sanitized news put out by corporate media. For Sherman to be incarcerated shows this is not a "free" country. Similarly, Iraq is not "liberated." ","author":"Truth Seeker","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-10-02 04:07:29","modified":"2003-10-02 04:07:29","fileurl":""},{"id":86384,"heading":"freedom?...yeah right!","article":"remember the native american on horse-back with tear-laden face over polluted high-ways....\r\ni keep seeing his face.\r\nwe are all enslaved by capitalism.\r\ni don't believe in anything anymore,\r\nbecause there are no facts to support the theories that bound across the emotion driven landscape of our collective psyche.\r\npeople say vote!\r\nmake a difference\r\na brother in one state with ample electoral votes\r\nand soon an idiot actor who had to have his lines read to him and voiced-over in hercules goes to new york, to rule cauli-flower-nia and assure more electoral votes\r\nanother stolen election\r\nbig sugar just got rid of the judge in florida who has sat a 15 year trial over whether a corporation should continue to dump phosphorus into the everglades where i grew up playing,learning, and in my own way worshiping.\r\nignorance is bliss \r\nhappiness in slavery \r\ni went on a field trip back in 3rd grade gifted class\r\nwe got to see how a major corporation\/industry functioned and how it was part of our community.\r\nthese gigantic doors opened....\r\ndoors like on a ten story aircraft hangar...\r\nthree hours into a field trip and i didn't know what this company really did!\r\nbefore my dialating pupils apeared a mountain of raw, unrefined.....sugar!\r\nbrown, big granules, like what u get at star-fucks,\r\nand a suffocating smell, like burning fires\r\nlike cane fields burning \r\na cost effective way to remove the foliage leaving only the cane and phosphorus ash to be washed into the florida aquafer....\r\nnow there is a new judge sitting on the trial for the everglades' life.\r\nhe was put into office by george bush senior!\r\ni just want to cry\r\nlike the guy on horse-back\r\nlooking at a polluted highway....\r\n","author":"popscapsule","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-10-03 23:49:13","modified":"2003-10-03 23:49:13","fileurl":""},{"id":86388,"heading":"Sherman the joke.","article":"Just go to raise the fist and see all that "legal" and "was against the law" and "appeals" bullshit.\r\n\r\nMr Austin was out to destroy the "system" and the "system" nailed his ass....\r\n\r\nNow he is appealing to the very "system" he sought to destroy?\r\n\r\nTypical Anarchist.........\r\n\r\n","author":"Red, White and Blue","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-10-04 00:05:13","modified":"2003-10-04 00:05:13","fileurl":""},{"id":86569,"heading":"WHAT? Give me a fucking break, willya?","article":""please come together for sherman... we as a people can not let bush and this government run and dictate what we can say and do on the internet. that was the whole apeal of it. the internet gave freedom to share and spread any news we felt fit... if molesters and murders are free to say and do what they want on the internet why is this man locked up for telling the truth"\r\n\r\nUh.....er......youre kidding, right?\r\n\r\nThe "news he felt fit" was a whole section devoted on attacking police, evading authority, and inciting violence. Hopefully, such bullshit will ALWAYS be considered illegal, and any attempts to spread it on the internet will be dealt with swiftly as it was with Sherman Austin. Give it a fucking break. When Sherman gets out of prison, he will be prohibited from associating with any of you left wing liberal morons. If I see anything by him posted here or elsewhere, I will personally report it to the Feds.","author":"KOBE SBM","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-10-04 17:39:11","modified":"2003-10-04 17:39:11","fileurl":""},{"id":95760,"heading":"God bless Sherman","article":"Shermans arrest was another perfect example that free speech in the US is completely dead.I really hope that he gets out soon.\r\n\r\nAnd for those Nazi fucks who preach their words of hate and spreading their ignorance.You better fucking watchout because if I EVER find out who you are I'll hunt you down and cut off your balls.","author":"Mike","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-11-29 06:23:10","modified":"2003-11-29 06:23:10","fileurl":""},{"id":96122,"heading":"Original Thoughts, Eh?","article":"Its funny to look over all of the comments listed here. There are several references to having original thoughts. There are comments about people claiming this kid was a an enemy of the state. But I wonder to myself, why dont these people see that what is happening here is that this kid is getting the muzzle for speaking his mind? That is something we are allowed to do, no? Actually, no, it is not . Look at what happened in Miami. Look at what happened to Mr. Austin. Look what happens when you even suggest to the slaves of the system that it is time for change. You get anger. Brutality. Incarceration. In other words fear. People are so gone inside of their selfish plans for their futures that they dont even see to origin of those goals. Why do you do what you do people? Why do you get up every morning, salute the state, go to work, collect a stack of funny painted papers and then hide behind them claiming that you are free? I am not attacking you, I am turning your questions upon yourself. Where do these thoughts come from? So you say to someone who see\u00b4s through the smoke to have original thoughts, huh? Peoples brains are so twisted, so programmed to believe in one thing, one way, that they dont even see it opperating within themselves. They are the walking dead, and they spread death. I saw one posting from someone who said they dont believe in anything anymore. I can relate to that.\r\n\r\nPS To all the fools making loose comments about how the kid is a criminal need to do a bit of research on the case and they might just find that they speak with ignorance","author":"Jeremy Parra","parent_id":76286,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-12-03 15:53:07","modified":"2013-11-11 00:27:51","fileurl":""}]}