Los Angeles gets tough with political protesters, new city atty is pressing for jail time

[Liberal_in_LA]

For acts of political protest that his predecessor treated as mere infractions, Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich is seeking jail time.

Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich is throwing the book at dozens of people arrested during recent political demonstrations — a major shift in city policy that has him pressing for jail time in types of cases that previous prosecutors had treated as infractions.

Some of the activists arrested, including eight college students and one military veteran who took part in a Westwood rally last year in support of the DREAM Act, face up to one year in county jail.

Trutanich's aggressive stance is the latest episode in the city's decades-long legal struggle over the rights of protesters. The Los Angeles Police Department's treatment of demonstrators at the 2000 Democratic National Convention and at a 2007 May Day rally at MacArthur Park led to lawsuits against the city.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-protester-prosecution-20110211,0,3758689.story

[AsahinaKimi]

1. Bad idea...what?? They don't remember the

Watts riots? The Rodney King decision?

[marmar]

2. .................

[Dawson Leery]

3. Another DA who does not have the balls to go after real criminals.

Typical.

[JDPriestly]

13. He is the city attorney, not the DA. He probably wants to be the DA.

I don't think he will last long. He is very insensitive to minorities.

[tpsbmam]

4. Wait, weren't the Pres and the Sec'y of State just supporting Egyptians' right

to protest peacefully? So wouldn't that apply to U.S. residents/citizens as well?

Oh never mind. Just never fucking mind.

:grr:

[Vattel]

7. but it's only one year in jail for blocking a sidewalk.

seems proportionate. (sarcasm)

[AnneD]

5. No money for education.....

But plenty of money to arrest those exercising their first amendment rights.

[Initech]

6. Doesn't this violate the 1st amendment?

[cascadiance]

8. Yup, it appears more anti-American jerks in power that don't believe in our American freedoms!

[Jackpine Radical]

9. No. I think the First Amendment says you are free

to say whatever you like as long as it correspondes to official policy.

:puke:

[JDPriestly]

14. Protestors have to read the local ordinances and follow them when protesting

because the government has the right to impose reasonable regulations on protestors. Even the First Amendment has reasonable limits.

[krabigirl]

10. Trutanich is a major fascist.

[RKP5637]

11. Very uncomfortable feeling. Elements of a fascist police state. n/t

[tsuki]

12. Yeah, put them in jail 'cuz California is swimming in money. Put everyone in jail. nt