🚀 go-pugleaf

=o= Remember last July's Critical Mass ride in San Francisco?
The one that made nationwide news because, the police claimed,
there were crazed cyclists running amok and attacking people
and 250 arrests were made.

=o= Here's the state of those arrests:

  o 250 was more than twice the number of actual arrests.

  o No evidence of crazed cyclists running amok or attacking
    people has come to light, despite copious numbers of
    cameras, camcorders, etc.

  o NO CYCLISTS HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ANY WRONGDOING
    WHATSOEVER!  No running amok, no attacks, not even a
    single traffic violation.

=o= Please bear the above facts in mind whenever you come across
future media depictions of Critical Mass.  Next time you the TV,
or newspaper, or _Bicycling_ magazine starts trashing CM, let
them know they'd better be damn sure of their facts.

=o= There is one case remaining:  the city of San Francisco
is continuing to persecute a pedestrian for his small role in
attempting to document police misdeeds.  Read below, and act.
    <_Jym_>


================================================================
=> To: sf-critical-mass@cycling.org
=> From: bhimages@sirius.com
=> Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 19:26:11 -0800
=> Subject: ALERT:  The Only Trial of 7-25 is About to Begin, A Pedestrian!
=> Message-Id: <v01520d03b148ace7f6b2@[205.134.228.18]>

I wouldn't believe that this is happening, but, brace yourself:

San Francisco District Attorney Harry Dorfman as of this writing, is going
to argue motions and begin jury select for the trial against Eugene Hill,
the pedestrian who was arrested for trying to take my camera which had been
seized by the SFPD about 20 minutes before the riot broke out on 7-25.

He intends to argue that the film in my camera, still under seizure
(despite my case being dismissed!!), is not relevant evidence to Eugene's
case tomorrow AM at the Hall.........that film, which shows pictures of the
scene, how peaceful it was (Pre-Officer Cardenas) and what happened after
the police came, is NOTHING BUT EVIDENCE.   Those of you who enjoy a "good
circus" may want to attend.

To contemplate that the ONLY trial that the City seems to want to spend
taxpayers money on leaves me astounded (NOTE: out of allegedly 250*
arrested, as the press reported it.....hmmmmm....I wonder where they got
their numbers) .

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would like to recommend that those of you who care about this matter,
consider taking action related to this case.  Remember that Eugene, like
myself, were innocent bystanders to this mess.  Our arrests occurred 15-20
minutes prior to the riot, and strategically removing my camera, preventing
me from shooting this event, making me wonder whether the officers that
arrested me KNEW that the riot was about to start.  If they DID know the
riot was about to occur, shall we contemplate the implications??

*       Ask the OCC why they have not presented even preliminary findings
on this matter
*       File a claim if you were arrest and have not done so
*       Call the DA, Board of Sups, Mayors etc. and DEMAND that the charges
against Eugene be dropped
*       Ask the Media why they have never investigated or revealed the
truth about what happened 7-25
*       WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITORS OF ALL MEDIA RESOURCES

Make sure that all witnesses who saw this event have come forward:
DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS NOT STEPPED FORWARD IS THE BASIC QUESTION!!!!
WE STILL NEED WITNESSES!!!!

Remember that the Bay Guardian article was merely the tip of the iceberg
and the truth is far from out in the open about who, how and why the 7-25
riot and mass arrests occurred.

There are a number of individuals who I would like to see those on this
list and the community acknowledge for their generous work in helping the
people who were hurt by this egregious event.  Some of these individuals
have invested countless hours and thousands of dollars with little it any
return personally, if not in some case detrimental consequences.  I would
especially credit the exacting investigatory work of Mark Motyka, Jennifer
Grannicks generous legal assistance, and Ken MacCArthy and his e-media/cm
web-site(which precipitated many witnesses coming forward and broadcasting
a more "truthful" story than what the local media presented).

Remember also, that there are still ongoing cases and one must assume that
the SFPD will continue to harass Critical Mass until it is non-existent.
In that regard, there are still many people who care about what has
happened here and are working to bring these matters forward.

Thank you again for continuing to care.  I only hope that there can be an
eventual end to the hostilities in the streets and TRUE justice applied to
those responsible for the 7-25 riot and mass arrests.

sincerely


Bennett hall
photographer
ex-president and founder of City Center Partnership


NOTE:  For those of you don't know the story, please send me a request for
information and I will forward a detailed summary and review of the matter,
thereby mitigating the risks associated with posting to this public list,
which as we now seem to assume, is likely to be monitored by the PD and
perhaps the DA.