Opening arguments began Thursday for the last three of the March 2 protesters facing trial at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
The trial — which completed jury selection earlier this week — will determine the legal fate of three non-UC Berkeley students who refused to leave Wheeler Hall March 2 while protesting against budget cuts and fee hikes.
Jason Ozolins, Michael Veremans and Elizabeth Bamaca each face one misdemeanor resisting arrest and one misdemeanor trespassing charge from the demonstration. They could face a maximum of one year in jail for the resisting arrest charge and six months in jail for the trespassing charge.
After the jury heard opening statements from the prosecutor and watched a video from the protest, Thursday’s portion of the trial moved on to the cross examination of UCPD Sgt. Andrew Tucker, who gave the arrest directive to police officers at the demonstration.
The defense tried to establish that the arrested protesters were not the only people remaining in the building after its closing time. It asked Tucker whether members of the media were allowed to stay in the hall’s lobby past the police’s order to leave the building and whether he knows of other people who remain in the hall after its technical closing time.
Tucker said police allow media to remain in situations such as the protest past the building’s closing time without making arrests so that they can transmit information to the general public. He said he has encountered people remaining in the hall past its closing time, such as professors there for a “job purpose” or students allowed to be in the building after hours as well as people looking to sleep in the building, whom he has asked to leave and sometimes arrests.
Defense and prosecution also questioned UCPD Officer Michael Miceli, who was present at the protest. Miceli said he had to exert “minor effort” when arresting Veremans, adding that Veremans “went limp” during the arrest. In California, going limp constitutes resisting arrest.
There were also a few supporters for the protesters present in the courtroom Thursday.
“As one of the people who was in some of the original (Berkeley) protests … I think these protesters are very brave,” supporter Jackie Hermes said outside the courtroom. “I think they have the right to protest public education being taken hostage.”
Sarah Burns is the lead crime reporter.
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How can an educational institution of higher education miscontrue the
definition of the words “went limp” to mean resisting arrest? The definition
of doublespeak’ according to Webster’s dictionary as evasive, ambiguous and
meant to deceive or confuse. Every one of these high achieving students were
taught by their parents and teachers to ask questions and speak up when they see
something wrong.
expel them
Another poorly written title that suggests these individuals are facing charges for protesting, which is clearly not the case.
Because these people violated the law, they should be prosecuted, found guilty, and punished to the full extent of it…
Totally agree, but because this is the United States, your comment should read, “…IF found guilty, they should be punished to the full extent…”
police lie constantly,
on the street,
in student conduct hearings,
http://www.dailycal.org/2011/06/29/grievance-aaida/
in court,
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/06/21/18651466.php?show_comments=1
http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-03-15/opinion/28690247_1_drug-defendant-drug-cases-police-officer
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/ex-nypd-cop-we-planted-ev_n_1009754.html
http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-12-14/bay-area/17457672_1_excessive-force-jude-siapno-keith-batt
that’s the way the do business,
DON’T EVER TALK TO THE COPS (advice from a law Prof. & fmr. defense atty.)
http://volokh.com/2011/09/30/prof-duane-dont-talk-to-the-cops/
same advice from ACLU:
http://www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform-immigrants-rights-racial-justice/know-your-rights-what-do-if-you
Take it from Adrian Schoolcraft: corruption of the police is at systemic levels
http://www.villagevoice.com/related/to/Adrian+Schoolcraft/
50,000 SWAT raids per year!
http://reason.com/topics/militarization-of-police
Let us know when your flight leaves to take you to a better place, and we’ll all come down and bid you a very fond farewell. Here’s to hoping it will be very soon.
I like Cops.
I obey the law, and don’t go out of my way to try to get in trouble.
I treat them with respect, and they treat me with respect.
I thank them for risking their lives to protect my safety and my property.
Cops are awesome!!!