Most Recent Legal Update

Today, Monday January 20th, Martin Luther King Jr. day, 50 supporters of anti-war activists, Jonah Zern and Jeremy Rochelle, rallied outside the SF jail at 850 Bryant St for 2 hours.

They demanded that they be released with charges dropped, as well as making a statement that "all prisoners are political prisoners and should be freed."

Some speakers brought up the housing crisis and increasing unemployment in the bay area, citing this lack of opportunites during the war-time budget as the criminalization of the poor and working class.

Others candidly pointed out that on the break-away march, while the black bloc and the pink bloc showed their militant opposition to the war, only the blue bloc were armed and dangerous. The blue bloc was publicly charged with kidnapping, beating up protestors, and beating up themselves.

One eyewitness at the march described what they saw when Jonah was arrested.

"The police made a mistake by choosing to have a black officer do their undercover work. When the plainclothes cop wrestled Jonah to the ground, the regular cops on the sidelines saw one more opportunity to bring their batons down on the black man. They showed their racism blatantly, and in the process, injured one of their fellow officers. Then, after realizing their mistake, they cuffed Jonah, arrested him, and charged him with the injury."

At 2:15 the group standing outside received word that Jonah and Jeremy will be released on their own recognisance (OR), meaning that they will not have to post bail since they were able to prove that they live in the area and made assurance they would not leave town before their trial.

They will be released tonight between 10 pm and 12 midnight.

The charges have not yet been dropped. (A)