5/12: Sacramento Showdown with AG Bill Lockyer

Dear friend,

Come to Sacramento with us and give Bill Lockyer a piece of your mind.

As you have probably heard, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has announced
that, despite overwhelming video evidence, he is letting the brutal prison guards
who viciously beat two young CYA wards walk scot-free.

- See this shocking video that has made national headlines:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/cyabeating

One week from today, a Books Not Bars caravan is going from Oakland to Sacramento to
demand that Lockyer reverse his decision and prosecute these guards for their
crimes.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12

7.30 AM -- OAKLAND DEPARTURE
Youth Empowerment Center
1357-A 5th Street at Mandela
(near West Oakland BART)

11.30 AM -- SACRAMENTO MEET-UP
Bill Lockyer's Office
1300 I Street, Suite 1120

- Not in the Bay Area? Update your info and avoid regional updates in the future:
http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe/update


* * * PUBLIC OUTRAGE -- FEDS STEP IN * * *

Since his announcement, people have been flooding us with calls, asking what they
can do to make Lockyer change his mind.

Frightened parents with kids in CYA. Former wards who experienced the same kind of
brutality. Californians who have no direct connection to CYA but are appalled that
this is happening in their state.

Californians of all stripes are shocked and outraged that, of the millions who have
seen the video of the brutal attack, Lockyer is the only one who "doesn't have
enough evidence" to prosecute the guards involved.

And they aren't alone.

Now, the federal government has stepped in to investigate whether the guards can be
prosecuted in federal court.


* * * LOCKYER: STOP DUCKING YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES! * * *

Lockyer can't shirk his duties in hopes that the feds will take care of everything
for him. Even if the feds do bring charges, they can't prosecute anyone for
breaking California's laws. Only California prosecutors like Bill Lockyer can do
that.

This doesn't look like a sound legal decision so much as it looks like running from
a fight with the corrupt and powerful prison guard lobby. If Lockyer continues to
turn a blind eye to this incident, how can Californians trust that he cares more
about protecting our children than about the risk of going against these bullies in
the courtroom and at the ballot box?

It's time for Attorney General Lockyer to step up and prosecute these guards for
every state law they broke by viciously beating two kids trusted to their care.

Please join us next Wednesday as we tell Attorney General Bill Lockyer to live up to
his title and prosecute the brutal prison guards caught beating CYA wards on video.

Many thanks,

Lenore Anderson and Rima Vesely
Books Not Bars
http://www.BooksNotBars.org

For more information, contact Mike Molina:
mike [at] ellabakercenter.org
415.951.4844 x229

For more about the Books Not Bars "Alternatives for Youth" Campaign, visit:
http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaign