Trial of GOP convention protesters begins

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, Apr. 06, 2004

Trial of GOP convention protesters begins

Three men are accused of fighting with police officers, including the commissioner, in 2000.

By Linda K. Harris
Inquirer Staff Writer


After a three-year delay, the trial of three Republican National Convention protesters accused of brawling with former Police Commissioner John F. Timoney and other officers began yesterday in Common Pleas Court.
(snip)

On trial before Judge William J. Mazzola are Eric Steinberg, 26, of Northern Liberties; Camilo Vivieros, 34, of Providence, R.I.; and Darby Landy, 24, of Durham, N.C.
(snip)

Defense lawyers promised in opening remarks yesterday to present evidence including a videotape that would exonerate their clients.

Robert J. Levant said the videotape would refute the charges of assault and resisting arrest against his client, Vivieros, who faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
(snip/...)

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8363382.htm?1c

[papau]

1. 4/6 -all acquited- Of the 400 to 500 arrested did they convict even one?

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHHX2NQSD.html


Judge Acquits Three Who Protested at 2000 GOP Convention in Philadelphia

By David B. Caruso Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 6, 2004

[Voltaire99]

2. Good luck to the defendants (n/t)

[Snazzy]

3. lede from that story

Judge Acquits Three Who Protested at 2000 GOP Convention in Philadelphia

By David B. Caruso Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 6, 2004

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge cleared three activists Tuesday of charges they brawled with police during street demonstrations outside the 2000 Republican National Convention.
Judge William J. Mazzola acquitted the trio of riot and assault charges after reviewing a videotape of the fracas shot by another protester.

Defense attorneys said the tape showed that one of the defendants, Camilo Viveiros, acted peacefully as he was grabbed and hit by police, despite testimony from officers that he resisted arrest.

....

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHHX2NQSD.html

[Judi Lynn]

4. .Isn't this perfection? Justice, finally!

From Snazzy's article:

Prosecutors said the tape was inconclusive and asked the judge to believe the officers, who said Viveiros, Darby Landy and Eric Steinberg instigated a fight.

Viveiros, a housing-rights activist, credited the videotape with strengthening his case.

"Without that video, it would have been more difficult. It would have been my testimony against the testimony of three or four different officers," he said.
(snip)

I read earlier that if one of them had been found guilty, he could have faced up to 40 years, if I remember correctly. Damned lucky someone had that tape!

Remember that Philadelphia Police Chief Timoney, who originally testified at their trial, moved on to Miami, where he oversaw that nasty police attack on protesters, including elderly people, and union AFL-CIO people, as well as young, non-violent people at the FTAA meeting last summer.

[Snazzy]

5. Chief Timoney

Bet he makes an appearance in NYC.

Good thing these folks are out so they can make it too!

----

Thing that blows me away about Miami, besides the sadly predictable amount of non-coverage it received, was the $8+ million in Iraqi reconstruction funds that found there way there.

Too many outrages to keep track of, much less protest.

I had a tinfoil wrap-up going on this too--some of that gear ended (or replaced gear) ended up in Haiti. Just a guess by me, no source or expertise, 'cept looking at the photos it seemed like riot gear on a bunch of the rebels, not body armor.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Tinfoil?

Just found a few tinfoil fashions:
&imgrefurl=http://www.hallucinaut.com/foilhats/&h=480&w=640&sz=126&tbnid=0sIwIW2ulasJ:&tbnh=101&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Bfoil%2Bhat%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG

as well as a tinfoil hat ensemble with ducttape:



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Just checked the first story again, written before the verdict, and it said that Vivieros would have faced a 40 year sentence, had he been convicted.

Forty years, for something a tape shows was a lie by the cops trying to bag some protesters.

This year's conventions should be very interesting.

[Snazzy]

7. Very nice.

I'll wear that at NYC pork fest if someone buys me a lot of beer.


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