-Caveat Lector-
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A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
http://www.ainfos.ca/
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URGENT * URGENT * URGENT
>>
[please publicize widely; excuse duplicate postings]
>>
ANTIWAR ACTIVIST JAILED IN SANTA CRUZ
Anti-war activist Steve Argue was brutally beaten with
night sticks by rampaging Santa Cruz police before
being arrested on Saturday evening, May 22, during a
protest prepared by the Santa Cruz Coalition to Stop
the Bombing.
>>
While on the ground, a cluster of police kicked and
struck him as one officer forced pepper spray into his
throat and directly into his eyes. The police then
waited almost an hour before taking their nearly
comatose victim to the hospital.
>>
Funds are needed immediately to secure Steveos release
from jail and to provide him adequate legal counsel.
Two thousand dollars must be raised to secure his bail
which was set at $20,000; a Santa Cruz resident has
offered their home as collateral for the remainder.
Contact "The Organizer" at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or
telephone us at (510) 234-6442 for information on where
to send money and an update on what you can do.
Background:
On Saturday evening, May 22, the Santa Cruz Coalition
to Stop the Bombing held an anti-war protest in front
of the McPherson Center, site of a black-tie fundraiser
for Congressional Representative Sam Farr. It was the
third event that week targeting Farr who had voted for
war appropriations. Twenty-five people had been
arrested in the prior two civil disobedience actions,
charged with trespass and released immediately.
Seventy-five to 100 people gathered for the Saturday
evening event. They shouted chants against the war and
banged on the buildingos glass pane windows to attract
the attention of the $50/plate diners inside. Just as
at other demonstrations, they brought a boom box upon
which they played a recording sent from Belgrade.
"Terrifying," is how one participant described the
sounds. "You could hear the Cruise missiles falling and
people screaming in fear. It made the war real. It was
powerful."
It was too real for one Farr supporter. She made a
citizenos arrest of the Yugoslav woman who happened to
be holding the boom box. Santa Cruz police, whose
violent treatment of the homeless and their advocates
has been exposed repeatedly, lashed out against the
demonstrators as soon as the police squads arrived on
the scene.
"They ripped the boom box out of the Yugoslav womanos
hand, but didnot arrest her. Instead, they arrested an
18-year old girl who was standing nearby. This
infuriated the peaceful crowd which started crying out
at the police: "Why are you arresting her?"
Police then lunged at other participants, taking as
their immediate targets, a young woman and a man, each
holding young children. As Officer La Favor seized the
young woman and applied a pain compliance hold, two
other policemen "tried to tear the child from her
arms."
It was at this moment that Steve Argue intervened to
rescue the woman and her baby. He allegedly punched
Officer La Favor in the face and when police turned on
him, Steve began to run. He didnot get far before
police tackled him to the ground and started kicking
and beating him mercilessly, _ la Rodney King.
Officer La Favor struck Steve repeatedly with his
nightstick with full force. This brutal treatment
wasnot enough for the police. It was at this point that
they forced open Steveos mouth open and saturated his
throat and lungs with pepper spray. They then pried
open his eyes and applied the spray directly into them.
Although he was nearly comatose and a hospital was
located less than five minutes away, the police refused
for nearly an hour to take him to the hospital for
treatment. He was then taken to jail and held in a
solitary cell for over 72 hours.
Steve was been charged with Felony battery of a
custodial officer, Section 243C1, as well as Resisting
and Obstructing, Section 148 A1.
News reporters from Radio Free Santa Cruz were also
arrested, their tape recorders taken from them. Despite
police efforts to remove evidence of their brutality, a
demonstrator and a camerman from KION-TV took video
footage of the police assaults.
Angered at a pattern of police provocation and
mistreatment of legal protesters, the Santa Cruz
community has risen to Steveos defense. A "Free Steve
Argue Committee" has been formed. A large audience
attended the Santa Cruz City Council meeting to protest
the brutalization of Steve Argue and other
demonstrators, including children. Not one member of
the Council responded.
Community activists and attorneys are discussing
bringing charges against the police and a civil lawsuit
against the city of Santa Cruz.
Money is needed urgently to get Steve out of jail and
for his defense.
Checks should be send to the Steve Argue Solidarity
Committee, c/o Tracy DeAngelis,234 High St. Apt #3,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Make checks payable to
Kate Wells. For more information about what you can
do to help, call Tracy at (831) 421-9794.
Whispered Media
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PO Box 40130 San Francisco, CA 94140
coming soon... www.videoactivism.org
Video Production Video Witnessing Issue Promotion
"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Edward Abbey
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