Dismissed: Judge Dismisses Charges Against Two Activist Journalists
“I don’t want people to think, ‘You went before a judge, the judge was fair, the charges were dismissed, everything’s cool.’ It’s not cool.”
Month May 2012
Banners on Highway 1 in Support of the Santa Cruz 11
On Tuesday, May 15th and Friday, May 18th, supporters of the Santa Cruz Eleven held banners above the slow-moving southbound traffic on Highway 1 in Santa Cruz.
California Judge Dismisses Felony Charges Against Photojournalists
The Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office tried to paint them as activists while ensuring Thaler, the Santa Cruz Sentinel photographer, was there as a bona fide journalist. Fortunately, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick saw through that flimsy argument and dismissed all charges against Allen and Darocy.
Watsonville Supports the Santa Cruz Eleven: Press Conference, March and Rally
On May 4th, over a hundred people gathered at the Santa Cruz Courthouse for a press conference, march, and rally organized by the Watsonville Brown Berets to demand District Attorney Bob Lee drop the charges against the Santa Cruz Eleven.
Rally for Santa Cruz 11
Participants held signs bearing slogans like “Journalism is not a crime”
Call for Justice for Santa Cruz 11
District Attorney Bob Lee said Indybay photojournalists Bradley Allen and Alex Darocy, two of those charged and not acquitted, "effectively served as the media arm of the organization; the group's propagandists."
Criminal Charges for Committing Journalism
“Prosecutions such as this one can serve to chill speech even if they do not result in a conviction…” wrote Michael Risher, ACLU attorney.
Community Members Rally for Charges to Be Dropped Against the Santa Cruz Eleven
Community members gathered at the Santa Cruz Courthouse for a press conference and rally to demand District Attorney Bob Lee drop the charges against the Santa Cruz Eleven.
ACLU-NC Submits Brief in Support of Indybay’s Bradley Stuart Allen and Alex Darocy
Allen and Darocy were engaged in conduct that is protected under the First Amendment and article I, § 2 of the California Constitution. The prosecution’s theory that these reporters are vicariously guilty of the crimes that they photographed endangers the First Amendment.
The People vs. the 99 Percent
The accused journalists work for alternative news sources such as Indybay and Free Radio Santa Cruz and argue that they were covering the occupation as a newsworthy event.