Take Action for The Free Speech 8

BACKGROUND | FROM FACEBOOK & DENIS HENRY HENNELLY

The Free Speech 8 are eight activists in Los Angeles who are being prosecuted for legal protest activity. They need a few minutes of your time.

This video will give you basic info about the case  (see video below) –

http://vimeo.com/28777156

Invite others to this event and spread the word!

And then write emails and call to support The Free Speech 8 as they battle government repression and animal exploitation. Their trial begins December 5th in Los Angeles.

There is suggested email text below, but feel free to write something in your own words!! Just be sure to reference the case number and The Free Speech 8.

As always, be polite and respectful when emailing and speaking with officials.

VIDEO

Vodpod videos no longer available.

WHOM TO CONTACT

TO:

ctrutanich@lacity.org
mayor@lacity.org
councilmember.garcetti@lacity.org

CC:
zev@bos.lacounty.gov
molina@bos.lacounty.gov
seconddistrict@bos.lacounty.gov
rvelasquez@lacbos.org
fifthdistrict@lacbos.org

TELEPHONE:

Carmen Trutanich – Los Angeles City Attorney – 213-978-8100
Antonia Villaraigosa – Los Angeles Mayor – 213-978-0600 or 213-978-0721
Eric Garcetti – Los Angeles City Council President – 323-957-4500

You can voice your concerns regarding the city pursuing criminal charges against the Free Speech 8, a group of activists who were legally protesting against UCLA vivisection, always within the rules of Los Angeles city ordinances and in front of LAPD, who judged their activity to be legal. Please view the video to familiarize yourself with the basics of the case before calling.


SAMPLE LETTER

Subject: Drop charges against The Free Speech 8! (case # 0CA01276)

To Whom It Concerns,

At a time when budget cuts are creating a “threat to public safety” in the city of Los Angeles (http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/20/local/la-me-0120-city-attorney-20110120), I’m disturbed to discover that the City Attorney’s office is prosecuting “The Free Speech 8” — citizens who did nothing more than engage in First Amendment protected protest activity, fully in compliance with federal and state law, as well as all relevant Los Angeles city ordinances. In fact, UCLA and LAPD police officers monitoring the protests affirmatively told protestors on multiple occasions that their conduct was lawful, which they, of course, relied on. Only later were charges brought for the very activities officers had for years sanctioned on the scene. Please take a look at this video – http://vimeo.com/28777156.

It seems that Deputy City Attorney Spencer Hart is pursuing this case to protect the interests of vivisectors at UCLA over the firmly established constitutional rights of other Los Angeles city residents. Considering the budget problems Los Angeles is having, do you really want to be spending tens of thousands on this prosecution? The City’s scarce resources would be better used protecting the public from actual threats to their safety, not prosecuting citizens who engaged in peaceful protest activity protected by the First Amendment.

Regardless of whether you agree with the interests advocated by The Free Speech 8, you certainly can agree that they have a right to lawful free speech, including a right to lawfully protest, which is exactly what they were doing.

The citizens of Los Angeles and the citizens of the United States are watching this case. We’re worried about the waste of resources and the clear attack on First Amendment rights.

You have the power to help right this situation. The trial is set to begin on December 5, 2011. It’s Case # 0CA01276.

Sincerely,

See More:

• Vegan Guides
• Human Rights
• Animal Wrongs
  

We are allowed to
Disagree
That is the essence
Of a free society
So we must be
Sure our right
To free speech
Does not become
A thing of the past,
Too far to reach

Karen Lyons Kalmenson