Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 09:09:35 -0800 (PST)

From: Douglas Squirrel

Wow, sounds like the sort of thing we had for several years.

Ideas, in no particular order:

1. Get defendants to evaluate their attorneys, and fast. Most public defenders are actually quite good, in my opinion, at least here; but the occasional one is just too overworked. Contact National Lawyers' Guild (phone book) or Ed Jones of Multonmah Defenders (Portland phone book -- our attorney for all CM cases) for referrals. (Be sure to ask the NLG for referrals, not for full-bore support, which you might get but which will take several months to bureaucratically work through).

2. Get the remaining person out of jail, if you can. If not, visit her a lot, hold vigils outside the jail, etc. etc.

3. What kind of charges are being filed? Usually they are reduced a lot before trial -- the cops file "assault with deadly weapon" and the actual thing that goes to trial is "trespassing" (I'm not kidding). The goal is usually to wind up in traffic court (which covers much more than traffic cases -- all sorts of minor offenses) where you don't get a lawyer and usually get railroaded.

4. Media support may be difficult but you can try talk shows (call producers today! be careful of being identified as a leader!) and attracting them to the ride on Friday (press release faxed to every station -- be sure to mention violence prominently -- it works every time, sad though it is) (or deliver the press release by bike courier!)

Good luck! I'm glad to help however I can.

Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 09:18:55 -0800 (PST)

From: Douglas Squirrel

Also, what is the nature of the "injuries" of the police?? Usually when you get the police report (happens far too late -- try going down and requesting it today from the bureaucrats -- need full name, birthdate, etc. of the person, and >$10 -- also possibly the person themselves) you find that the "injury" is "momentary pain in the struck area" or "a small contusion [cut]".

One might call up the police sniveling spokesperson (be a reporter for some radical journal with whom you've OK'd this, and for whom you're writing an article anyway, right?) and ask whether the officers missed work, what their names are, how they were injured, where, etc. etc. I suspect the details will evaporate and what sounds like five moaning officers on the ground is actually a few bruises at best.

Also, tell *everyone* to bring a video camera and a still camera to the next ride.

Good luck! Sorry to hear such bad news. Hope this helps.

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