Humboldt Revolution

This afternoon Jack, Ellen, Sly and I joined with the VFP vigil at the Eureka Courthouse. Because Jack had announced it as a press conference, the T-S, Reporter, and ch. 3 news were all there. I thought that was quite good, actually. Anyway, after being interviewed by James Faulk for the Times-Standard, our conversation stayed in my head awhile. I just e-mailed him the following additional thoughts…

During and immediately after Katrina, as we all watched in horror and disgust, there was a very clear and strong sense that we have to protect ourselves from our government. For many of us, this was only a reminder of what we already knew. For others, it was a wake up call.

Katrina, as a unique weather phenomenon, was hardly the first sign that we need to protect ourselves from our government. We should know this from the way global warming and Peak Oil are ignored. From the threat of jail without charges or access to an attorney. Because peace organizations are infiltrated and spied upon, and protests are forced into “free speech zones.” In the name of the US, torture is conducted at secret prisons. Warrantless wiretapping. 9/11.

If we are supposed to fear terrorism, let us clearly identify it. Those who inflict terror are those who have repeatedly ignored warnings before failing to protect us. Those who hate our freedoms are those who sign legislation to restrict or cancel them.

Fascism is a formula, a recognizable pattern that gradually engulfs a society. It is so blatant that it can’t be seen only when the media distorts reality by maintaining illusions of normalcy and by perpetuating the myths of democracy, capitalism, free speech, free markets and free press.

We do not Consent. Support the truth.

I have been sitting in on what are known as the Pacific Lumbar SLAPPS. Specifically the suit against Verbena, Kimberly Starr. Up until the end of yesterday (Thursday, March 2nd) it has consisted entirely of picking the jury but now the presentation of evidence has begun with Pacific Lumber (PL) showing photographs and a 40 minute video of the demonstration which entailed Verbena and a group of other protestors driving an old car to the front door of PL’s office in the company owned town of Scotia (you heard me correctly…Scotia is a company owned town as in the 1880s) While I thought simple trespassing and maybe resisting arrest would be the charges, and not any sort of civil proceeding, PL is claiming that they were threatened, have had to hire a “security” company for $30,000 a month to protect themselves from the dimunitive, unarmed demonstrators. PL is claiming that they pose a “fire hazzard”. Again, you heard me correctly; a fire hazzard. This demonstration occured after repeated promises by PL to meet with their critics which included more than the group in this demonstration. I believe a lot more.

During the jury selection it seemed to me that an inordinate number of prospective jurors had connections to PL. Now I am taking into account that PL is a major corporation in Humboldt County and employs a lot of people but I am also reminded of my own jury duty experience. Three juries were picked at that time including a drunk driver case and two murder trials. They divided us into three groups prior to actual selection by the parties involved. This division did not seem to follow any pattern other than social economic status. Other jurors on my jury pointed this out to me. I was on the drunk driver case and other jurors included mill workers, a beer salesman and SSI recipients.

Verbena’s objections that the video tape had been heavily edited were swept aside without pause for consideration by Judge Watson though the tape showed anything but a threatening situation for anyone. A nuisence maybe, but nothing that should have prevented a single board from coming off the line os a single employee from doing their job.

This last is what makes it a SLAPP. A “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation”, that is, a legal action brought specifically to prevent reasonable public speech, the foundation of democracy. The fact that our court systems are controlled almost exclusivly by money and cronyism is a major factor in this eventuallity. PL is a large corrupt corporation with Charles Hurwitz heavily involved in bribery cases with Jack Abramoff and other big Republican operatives. Locally they have retained Mitchell, Brisso, Delaney, Vrieze and Humboldt County. Well not Humboldt County but they are tight with County government and defended the Sheriff’s use of torture in the notorious “Pepperspray case”. It is unlikely that this trial will be fair or that damages will be reasonable. They will be punative and not to punish trespassing, harassment or any real charge but free speech against an absolutly evil entity.

I attended a meeting of the Coalition For Police Review Thursday evening at 5:30 It was not a big crowd but the average level of education could be characterized as “member of the bar”. There will be another meeting at 5:30 Monday March 6th and I highly reccomend attending. Tuesday there is a planned press conference at the court house to announce the planned civilian police review board for the city of Eureka. While many complaints come in concerning county law enforcement that are not examined in this high crime county the scope is too large at this point. Just the number of person hours required to circulate the petition for signatures is the first concern and it is hoped that such review boards in Arcata and Eureka will set a precedent and be an inspiration to others.

If you have ever complained to a law enforcement agency, the Humboldt County Grand Jury or the California Attorney General you will understand the problem. Rather than deal with the huge number of complaints they are all summarialy dismissed in the guise of “supporting our men and womwn in uniform”. Allowing shoddy police work, lazy targetting of the most innocent members of society rather that actual criminals etc is not supporting law enfoecement and is making us all less safe.

I obtained a copy of the Arcata Police Review Act of 2006.