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Showing Original Post only (View all)Dec. 27 Los Angeles, #Occupy the courts: The way the morning broke was quite unusual (Dialup warning [View all]
Today continues the discovery hearings for the #Occupy Los Angeles members arrested on November 30th when the site was cleared, and Anthony as well, who was grabbed up by police during a march protesting the encampment's clearing.
This first group involves about 24 people, three of whom are still in custody, one awaiting five counts. They vary widely in age and race; there are several with hair gone grey and a few youngsters too.
It is a large courtroom, with three long benches for those awaiting hearings; there was standing room only, with several #Occupiers standing along the back wall, and a minimum of six sheriffs (going up to eight at one point) the entire time. The judge seemed decent; he really meant it when he asked someone just sentenced to take care of himself. He also complimented a baby's little blue hat.
There was contention between the defense and prosecution on a number of issues, including an order for the police to produce one specific video they claim to not have. There is debate on whether #Occupy met with certain city representatives. And when the prosecution stated that there had been no police violence during the raid, the entire courthouse, until then silent, broke into a group chuckle (which the judge quickly quashed, saying we'd have to leave if it were repeated).
So yes, the city of LA is actually attempting to claim that there was no violence involved in the raid. But we know about the person in the tree who was shot with beanbags several times, the man who was thrown to the ground, several including Spencer (Oakfosho) who had a "less than lethal round" shotgun aimed in his face:
and how the search and destruction of the tents was anything but an act of kindness:
Note that the LAPD demand to create a "press pool" deliberately limits potential documentation of the raid, as they wanted, so they can attempt to get away with the (obviously intended) claim of "no violence to protesters". No pictures? No video? Why believe a bunch of dirty squatters over nice, shiny police?
See a similar claim to describe the hoops they jump through in order to LIE:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=2891
and why, from February:
"Councilman: Trutanich Wants To Silence Civil Disobedience"
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/councilman-trutanich-wants-to-silence-civil-disobedience/
And the sad truth of it:
"My Occupy LA Arrest, by Patrick Meighan (UPDATE: 12/9/11)" (Updated with an odd apology!)
http://myoccupylaarrest.blogspot.com/
"16 complaints filed about Occupy LA raid"
http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/12/07/30226/fifteen-complaints-filed-against-lapd-regarding-oc/
The LA Times, an MSM mouthpiece, published the names and data of all arrested:
http://spreadsheets.latimes.com/protestors-arrested-occupy-la/
There is another possible issue of contention that has been brought up but we'll have to see if it is what we think it is. I'm hoping so.
Most of the arrests were done under code 409, refusal to disperse.
The prosecution fell short in a couple of places I'm not sure I should mention outside of the court as this is ongoing.
Each defendant was photographed along with their property. I believe the destruction of this property falls in the 4th and 14th Amendments...
I'm not sure how much I should say, how much can or should be made public. Let's just say that not everything is going the city's way on this. Suffice to say, there was plenty of chat afterward amongst the #Occupiers, about missing bits, contradictions, etc. We'll see.
All of this was over at only a little past noon. The #OLA action statement on this didn't mention anything like this...the actual court cases begin on the 29th and those may take longer.
Stepping outside of the courthouse, one sees city hall, and the steps where we now hold General Assemblies. The building in the back with the point is LAPD headquarters.
Spent money I didn't really have on a snack, saw this interesting bit...co-inky-dink? I dunno:
Shots of downtown, for grins:
More shall be revealed.