Judge denies motion to stop the Rainbow Family trials in the firehouse.

[KyndCulture]

The trials for the Rainbow Family members camping in the Routt National Forest will continue in the small firehouse near Steamboat Springs, a federal judge said Thursday.

U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Krieger denied a motion for a temporary restraining order filed by David Lane, an attorney for several Rainbow Family members.

But Krieger later set a hearing for today in Denver on a second attempt by attorneys for the Rainbow Family to stop the trials.

----

She said 15 Forest Service law enforcement officers were explaining the severe fire danger in the area and asked several people for identification. About 200 people surrounded them and assaulted three officers, who defended themselves with pepper spray and batons, she said.


http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4812440,00.html


It's good to hear they've got some lawyers with them now. The trials are still illegal... until they make them public they are still trampling all over the constitution.

[Robb]

1. They're going to need them

Fire season in CO is not foolin' around. I don't see why they think the rules shouldn't apply to them, like they have some kind of monopoly on forest use because they come in such large numbers.

[msongs]

2. maybe they are all republicans - above the law nt

[Warpy]

3. Whose idea was it to camp in a forest during extreme fire danger?

That's the problem. Surely they could have found an alternative. It's hard for people outside this area to realize just how dangerous it is in the forests right now. Everything is crisp-dry and the vegetation out here is loaded with oils that burn hot as hell once any sort of spark is applied.

Things are so extreme here that it's illegal to smoke outdoors unless it's on pavement. It's illegal to walk off an improved trail, even if no combustible materials are on your person. Extreme danger means just that.

I could understand gathering if the denial of a permit had been pure harassment. I know that happens and I fully support their right to do so. However, extreme fire danger is a completely different thing, and the Rainbows should have respected that.

Whoever had the bright idea to camp HERE, NOW needs to be removed from the decision making process in the future. S/he is obviously not wrapped tight enough.

[Robb]

4. I can't imagine why they didn't get a permit

From the Vail Daily (registration required):

"Also Tuesday, an incomplete special-use permit application was submitted to the Forest Service, Ritschard said. She said the application contained profanity where the applicant was supposed to write the location of the gathering."

:eyes:

[Warpy]

5. Jeez, they're not the Rainbow Family I remember

from just 10 years ago.

I guess they've been co opted by Repuglicans.

[Howardx]

6. agent provacateurs

n/t

[Kailassa]

7. More likely just seeded with a few agent provocateurs

to make them look bad.