Legal experts blast San Diego for arrest of Ray Lutz for voter registration activities(at Occupy SD)

[Liberty Belle]

Source: East County Magazine

“This is what they do in banana republics and undemocratic societies.”—former San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre, calling arrest a violation of the Civil Rights Act and the First Amendment


November 28, 2011 (San Diego)—Attorneys, civil rights activists and community leaders tonight are expressing outrage at the arrest tonight of Ray Lutz, former Democratic Congressional candidate who ran against Duncan Hunter in 2010 seeking to represent East County.

San Diego Police arrested Lutz late today for refusing to remove a voter registration table at the Civic Center Plaza downtown (dubbed "Freedom Plaza" by Occupy San Diego protesters). View arrest video.

Lutz greeted voters after his debate with Duncan Hunter in 2010Former San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre, in an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, called the arrest a violation of Title 42, Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, which prevents the state from denying voting rights, as well as the First Amendment constitutional right to free speech.

“Every San Diegan, whether the most conservative Republican or the most liberal Democrat, should be concerned that someone registering voters could be arrested on the city’s civic plaza because Republicans and Democrats register voters there, as do all parties,” Aguirre said. “This is the most constitutionally protected activity that you can engage in.”



Read more: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/8006

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Some of you may remember Ray Lutz, the Democratic Congressional candidate who went on a hunger strike because his opponent, Duncan Hunter, refused to debate him before absentee ballots had been mailed out. Now Ray's been arrested for putting a voter registration table in the civic center plaza where Occupy protesters are staging events.

This story has some exclusive interviews with legal experts--including the city's own former attorney saying they broke the law. there are links at the bottom of the story to contact the Mayor and other officials urging action be taken.