We've Been Brutalized!
I wasn't there so I can't say what happened but, having read e-mails over the years from tree sitters and other lefty type protestors voicing outrage over someone interfering with their actions, I suspect this is pretty much more of the same.
One of the latest e-mails sent over the Redwood Peace and Justice Center e-mail list:
Please disseminate widely!
Hold Gallegos accountable for his statement that “everyone has the right
to feel safe in this community!”
Please call Paul Gallegos’ office and demand:
1. Drop all charges against the three women arrested on May 1st while
peacefully walking to Eureka for immigrant rights.
2. Deny any requests for warrants related to others participating in the
walk from Arcata to Eureka.
3. Initiate an investigation of police abuse exercised on May 1st against
peaceful protesters, as well as a broader pattern of violence by police
towards women, people of color, and other local activists.
Office number: (707) 445-7411 or email: districtattorney@co.humboldt.ca.us
Seems to me Gallegos can't win on this one. If he was already going to drop charges against the protestors, it's still going to look like he's pandering to the Left. If he charges but gives them a slap on the wrist, same thing. If he goes for full prosecution, he risks alienating his main constituency.
Someone sent a reply over the RPJC list that they had already called the D.A.'s office and were told the D.A.'s office will decide the merits of the case on the facts, not public opininion. We shall see. No easy way out for Gallegos on this one.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 10:20 AM
46 comments
46 Comments:
Methinks thou hast overestimated the degree to which Mr. Gallegos owes anything to anyone. Perhaps he supports upholding the law no matter who is involved, Maxxam or Critical Mass.
Except Gallegos did not hold a public forum with PL officials present to get their "input" before deciding to file their case.
I have no pity for the protestors.
A certain core group goes out of their way to make law enforcement's life miserable, and provokes them to the point that if any action IS taken against them, they cry foul and start wanting blood from law enforcement.
Being a self-righteous ass isn't against the law, but you would think some of these people would find a new tactic over all of these years.
It reminds me of when I was younger and my brother would start picking on me. If I stood up for myself and picked on him back, he ran crying to mommy and I got into more trouble because I should have known better. They use this same tactic over and over to further their little agenda.
If you break the law, suck it up and accept the consequences like a grown-up. Quit sending out whiny emails demanding that things get changed to favor you.
wow, kat, wow.
Are you sure that the May 1 group of pedestrians were the same people as the November 2 group of bicyclists?
Does walking from Arcata to Eureka via the safest way possible constitute making "law enforcement's life miserable"?
True, "being a self-righteous ass isn't against the law," but giving unlawful orders (under the color of law) that endangers the lives of pedestrians, and engaging in unlawful behavior that endangers motorists as well as pedestrians, and then committing assault and battery on pedestrians that are acting within the parameters of the law, well, those are crimes and the "law-enforcement" overseers who committed those crimes ought to be prosecuted.
It reminds me of when you were younger and didn't know any better than to fight with your brother.
And quit whining about how you don't like hearing about people who stand up for their rights!!!
Dear Dog,
The people may be different, but the actions are the same. So go out, link arms, and hug that tree today.
Standing up for rights is one thing. Blatantly ignoring the laws and walking down 101 is another. When the people were told to walk on the railroad tracks to continue the march, they wouldn't listen. They instead linked arms and forced their way through the officers. Now if officers had done the same to those same protestors, they would be screaming bloody murder.
By all means, stand up for your rights. Just don't be asses and push the limits on purpose and when you get into trouble, start whining about how unfair it is. You made a choice, now deal with it.
And the only ones endangering pedestrians and motorists were the protestors that refused to listen to law enforcement. The police have a crappy enough job to do without having to worry about protestors with a chip on their shoulders.
I am with Kat on this one. You can lawfully protest. These folks just wanted to get their names in the press. Why couldn't they walk as directed off of the highway until out of the safety corridor. The answer is simple and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
They're not trying to get their names in the press because they won't give their names. They want the DA to do an investigation, but won't reveal their identity and act as a witness to any wrong-doing by the police. This was a topic of discussion at the meeting between Gallegos and the protestors last week.
Leonidas is a bit unclear as to what "rights" are involved here. What specific "rights" were the 1 May pendejos demanding? Help us out dog.
Leonidas,
The right to do as they wish when they wish, regardless of what laws were in place along 101. Those rights were violated.
And please don't forget that the police were brutal. If you look at the Times Standard pictures, you can see a protestor getting into the middle of a deputy trying to restrain someone, the next photo is of the deputy on his back meaning he was shoved by a protestor. So interferring with an arrest is also a right. We wouldn't want to deprive people of those "special" rights.
And if the people complaining want to be taken seriously, give your name, take a stand and go forward with it. The officer aren't going to hunt you down and torture you for it. They won't go out of their ways to make you miserable. You really aren't that special. They have more important things they deal with daily.
I tend to be skeptical of such complaints just because I've been on the RPJC list for some time. I've seen numerous e-mails expressing a "HOW DARE THEY!" attitude when tree sitters are forcibly removed. It's as if they're doing God's work and shouldn't be interfered with.
It's hard for me to be sympathetic after hearing that attitude so many times over the years.
actually, the pedestrians were not violating the law, and were, in fact, acting in accordance with CHP instructions (a call was made to the CHP beforehand to clarify the legality of pedestriation along the SIDE of the highway, and the ok was given by CHP personell).
Officer PiDUNCEski tried to force the pedestrians to take the unsafe path on the railroad bridge, he also blocked safe passage along the shoulder. VERY DANGEROUS.
I don't think that those kids and adults expected to have a confrontation with police. They just wanted to get from Arcata to Eureka without driving. Traffic was not impeded by the pedestriation at all. Nothing was unsafe or illegal untill the CHP showed up and tried to make a statement through the use of violence.
"Push the limits"? REally? They were just WALKING, peacefully, causing no trouble. Hardly "pushing the limits."
Trying to get their names in the paper? sorry, anonymous - that's just ridiculous. Why didn't they jsut take their chances on the unsafe railroad bridge, in obvious disrepair? Well, like you said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist.
Leonidas is indeed a bit unclear. Rights? What rights? Good point. Please refer to United States Constitution, specifically, the Bill of "Rights."
Fred,
You said it much more calmly that I can.
dog,
Don't give me that whole, "But they were so peaceful and innocent and had no reason to think the police would confront them."
Growing up here, I have seen and heard it all. And 99% of the protestors claim to be peaceful and then do everything they can to be a giant pain in the ass and get police to react so they can have their shocking video footage of police brutality. And then they pull the "HOW DARE THEY!" card that Fred spoke of. It's tiresome. Find some new tactics.
Try protesting within laws, without being asses. People would respect you more for your alibility to protest within the guidelines/laws even though you hate the establishment so much. You would also be taken more seriously. As it is now, people don't have much sympathy for the poor wittle protestors that get picked on all of the time.
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
Dog, Leonidas has a copy of the first 10 amendments and fails to note that a right is protected to interfere with safe vehicular traffic on a roadway. Sounds like officer "PiDUNCEski" made a good call with regard to the less traveled RR bridge. By the way dog you haven't indicated what the protest "march" was about. Was it demanding "rights" for mojados (wetbacks) and if so which ones?
Is dog's real name Sara?
I have seen and heard it all
Guess this means you stick your fingers in your ears and yell "la-la-la" really loud and stamp your feet when views and opinions that don't conform to yours are expressed.
Protestors generally do what they do figuring they care enough to go to jail.
So, then they get their wish.
Stand up and take your medicine. You got what you wanted.
Don't cop out, and start demanding special treatment.
You cared enough for the cause to die for it, or go to jail for it, or get your eyes pepper sprayed for it - so take it and be proud and move on.
No lawsuit bullshit. No whining, no begging the Da to prosecute the cops you provoked.
I think the Gallegos bots are spamming the blogs...look at this
Tasting complexity in wine
8 Mar 2006 by Admin
Eureka Reporter - More than 100 supporters, including his children, former Friends of Paul Gallegos spokesmen Patrick Riggs and John Ford and former campaign manager Richard Salzman, attended the kickoff for Humboldt County District ...
Wine Online Secrets - http://www.wineonlinesecrets.info
People puzzle over Sudoku numbers News-Courier - TAHLEQUAH DAILY ...
7 Apr 2006 by search-n-terms
Eureka Times-Standard - In a recent Times-Standard article by James Faulk (March 27), Jerry Partain (local conservative opinion maker) and Dave Parris (Worth Dikeman's campaign manager) both accused Paul Gallegos' campaign of conducting ...
Search-n-Terms - http://www.search-n-terms.com
Measure T talk scheduled this week
23 Apr 2006
... on Measure T is scheduled for Tuesday at the Labor Temple in Eureka, starting at 7 pm John Bonifaz, attorney and founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, District Attorney Paul Gallegos and Measure T campaign manager ...
Consolidation loans - http://consolidation-loans.attain1.info/
CRM profit rises
28 Mar 2006 by organizetoday
District Attorney Paul Gallegos' re-election campaign is defending a decision to spend $5000 of its campaign money on polling. ... Source: www.mercurynews.com New PBS Series 'California's Water' to Premier April 2; Huell ... ...
art california - http://www.organizetoday.org/art-california
Note to Paul, SPAMMING is bad.
problem with many of these protesters is that they are in reality angry not because someone is doing something they don't like but because THEY are not the ones in charge and profiting from the behavior that they are protesting.
I think if one were to do a psychoanalysis on some of these people one would find they are no diferent than the people they condemn, some, such as Fhyre Phoenix, are worse.
Speaking of Fhyre, why is it Dave Meserve has aligned himself with that disreputable character? Seems Dave is desperate to take out Greg, perhaps it is Meserve's attempt to beat Greg down in case Greg decides to run against him.
Note to Meserve: You've made Arcata a laughing stock for thousands of people across the country thanks to FOX News. People as far away as Nebraska, Arizona, Florida, and New York know what a aged hippie that Arcata has as part of it's city council. Too shame.
Oh my god - dog at 6:11 is Sarah (bow wow) Salzman! Hee hee hee hee - way to go 8:40 thank you for pointing that out.
It's just amazing to me that these protestors can regularly get time off work to participate in marches for any and all causes.
Many like Salzman, they just have way too much time on their hands.
Such lazy-minded black and white thinking. You say "these protestors" in reference to people whom you claim march for "any and all causes," like there is a set group who all think and feel the same, and who participate in every demonstration. You put "these protestors" in a box, slap a label on them and then cheer for the cops who step over the line and get unnecessarily violent.
Lets institute the 80-hour work week so that no one will have time to protest. And anyone who takes a day off will be hunted down by the work police and shot. Yeah, that'll be great.
The cops lost in the pepper spray lawsuit. Participating in civil disobedience does not give the cops a free pass to be sadistically cruel and violent.
"Participating in civil disobedience does not give the cops a free pass to be sadistically cruel and violent.".
True 9:36, depending on the circumastances. As far as the court case, a court ruling doesn't necessarily make something right, it just makes it the law (subject to other courts' interpretations, of course).
No, but civil disobedience does mean that you make the choice to make the sacrifice to make your point. So don't back down and whine afterwards. You degrade your position.
first, Leonidas:
wow, you racist pig. "wetbacks"? How about "the people who feed America"? - I think that label fits a little better.
Also, no vehicular traffic was impeded, so you basically have no point, or argument, just racist slander. By the way, the RR bridge is VERY DANGEROUS, but hey, thanks for sticking up for the cops even when they're wrong. You do a disservice to your own credibility and that of the so-called "justice" system that you lick the boots of.
"Demanding recognition for their many contributions to American society, and taking a stand against discrimination, millions of immigrants and their supporters marched in over 75 U.S. cities on Monday, May 1st. Nearly one million marched in California alone. Reports from L.A. cite hundreds of thousands turning out. San Jose and San Francisco each were estimated to have had 100,000 people march. Throughout Northern California tens of thousands took the day off from work or school, refused to buy anything, and marched united for immigrant rights." from indybay.org
No one agrees to be abused just because they decide to stand up for their rights, even if it means taking chances with thier level of comfort. Poor argument.
So now you're resorting to personal attacks on the dog? Weak.
Fred, too bad you don't have a "bad argument" filter on this blog!
10:25 wrote: "No, but civil disobedience does mean that you make the choice to make the sacrifice to make your point. So don't back down and whine afterwards. You degrade your position."
I had a tough time with a "guest" once, on our West Coast Libertarians Yahoo Group.
She made a post asking for help after facing punishment for trespassing on a military base during an anti- war protest.
They were warned that they would be arrested if they went past a certain point. They chose to cross that line to make a point. They were arrested, brought up on charges and convicted.
They really nailed her. I forget how much time, if any, she actually served, but she got something like five years formal federal probation or parole, or some such and her travel was severely restricted. She wanted some help to see if she could get her sentence reduced.
That's understandable, and she had my sympathy. I think she might have been treated a bit harshly. But, she should of known what she was getting herself into. She was warned.
By crossing that line she just got herself in trouble and did no more for her cause than the people who chose not to and, instead, stayed behind and just marched peacefully.
I didn't mean to sound unsympathetic but I had to tell her; When you play with fire, you'll likely get burned.
I don't do that sort of "civil disobedience" because I don't want to face the consequences, aside from feeling such actions can often be pointless.
dog (poop), you still haven't answered the question: WHAT RIGHTS HAVE THESE WETBACKS BEEN DEPRIVED OF??? You're good at resorting to the usual tactics of collectivists like hurling "racist" at people with which you dissagree. You remind me of a jerk I once threw in jail who screamed all the way to the slammer that the reason for his arrest was that he was black. Never mind that his victim later bled to death from multiple stab wounds that 14 wittnesses saw him inflict. And why do the same faces turn up at all these "events"?
I agree heartily!
FRED: again, these folks were NOT BREAKING THE LAW - not trespassing on a military base, NOT COMMITTING CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE!!!! - just WALKING TO EUREKA FROM ARCATA!!!!
as for the pig Leonidas:
yes, you are a racist pig.
what rights? they're called "HUMAN RIGHTS."
Would you still call the person who provides you with food and clothing and shelter a "wetback" if you had top confront that person face-to-face? without your gun and your badge?
and I remind you of someone who killed somebody? wow, Leonidas, you have become delusional!!! Maybe you spend too much time on the computer.
Dog, you need help.
But here is how life without a mexican day (because it sure wasn't any other race of people out getting protested, and I sure didn't see any Chinese or Hmong flags in any of the pictures) affected me.
It didn't.
I got up, went to work, did my job, and went home.
The drive was a little longer because of the traffice mess, but stuff didn't shut down, the world didn't end, and nothing happened. My life would not change if we tossed out all the illegals.
We're still waiting dog poop. I guess you aren't going to tell us what "rights" the wetbacks are being denied or how many wetbacks participated in the "walk". That's OK though, I lived in Mexico long enough to learn how the government there deals with unwashed jerks who interfere with the functions of their society. They're called machine guns and they are not shy about using them. Talk to the Ejercito Federal about "derechos humanos" and what happened on 2 October 1968 at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlatelolco_massacre There have been no "protests" by the great unwashed since then. By the way putita, Leonidas' wife is a LEGAL immigrant and we resent those who break laws and then DEMAND special treatment. STFU unless you know what you're talking about.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
That's the thing - how can you say it is fair to all the people who have followed the law and are patiently waiting their turn.
Funny that so many whodefend the "RIGHTS" of these guys to break th law are the very same who want to pillory PL and any other corporation on the grounds of "violations" of htis that or the other rule...
Hypocrites at every turn.
hypocrites indeed - "I can cross the border but you can't."
And as for all your "law and order" bullcrap, this land is occupied ILLEGALLY by the United States.
By the way, Leonidas, I don't care who your wife is, or who you think you are: racist is racist.
And are you saying that there hasn't been protests in Mexico since 1968? DO YOU READ THE NEWS? Or don't they teach you how to learn and think for yourself in cop-school?
The ignorance of anon.r.mous is not worth responding to, but I will aknowledge that yet another ignorant viewpoint has been expressed at this poor abused blog.
nonetheless, dog, if YOU go to Mexico, you will have none of those rights, not even those you are accustomed to. You can't own property unless it is in partenership with a Mexican national... just for one example... fair's fair.
dog - aka "sarah (bow wow) salzman" aka Richard's dog: go blog somewhere else - you are boring us again
www.mexperience.com
If you want to know how mexico deals with immigrants and people wanting to live there, go find the links. It flat out says they will NOT support you with state money. You are on your own.
Illegals will be jailed and deported.
Only nationals can own waterfront land.
It's under the work and live link.
No wonder so many of them come here. They get a much better deal as an illegal. And they STILL throw a fit demanding "rights" they aren't entitled to unless they come legally.
Students
If you want to study in Mexico, a non-immigrant permit which enables you to live and study in Mexico can be granted by the Consulate. You must be able to prove your ability to be self-sufficient by showing a certain amount of funds in a bank account. The exact amounts change yearly -
You forgot to warn the students that they may not protest the government policies or fly another countries flag.
go to prison if you drive without insurance...
The Mexican Government uses its vast military and police
forces to keep its citizens intimidated and compliant. They
never protest at their White house or government offices but
do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The
US embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and
during most protests the Mexican Military surround the block
with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear
to protect the Embassy. These protests are never shown on US
or Mexican TV. There is a large public park across the street
where they do their protesting. Anything can cause a protest
such as proposed law changes in California or Texas."
http://doctor-horsefeathers.com/archives2/000574.php#000574
It's true - when I was in Mexico, some in our group were shocked when they left the "pleasant" tourist section and went into the "real" part of town, to find the cops were armed with machine guns.
Back to the original discussion, this editorial from the Arcata Eye is the most comprehensive article I've read on the May Day protest situation.
Nice editorial, 8:29.
what a bunch of crap. the arcata eye has been hostile to police review from day one and now they act like they invented the idea. youll note that kevin hoover only questions the chp while the arcata police are never called to the mat no matter what they pull.
I've been helped by the chp many times.
When I've run out of gas, they have stopped, offered help, and when I told them help was on the way, the guy waited behind the car until help arrived. I appreciated it because it was dark and rainy and I had two little kids with me.
When I've had a flat, the guy (the officer) stopped and changed it for me, in the pouring rain.
No one asked it of them no one expected it. They just did it, and then drove away. I never even knew their names. Couldn't even thank them.
So my sympathy is not with the protestors.
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