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Indybay Feature

UCSC Admins Seek 3 yr. Suspension/Expulsion of Prominent Black Activist

by UC Activist Defense Committee (contact[at]ucactivistdefense.org)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2007

UCSC Admins Seek 3 yr. Suspension/Expulsion of Prominent Black Activist
Community Fights to Defend Alette Kendrick, Protect Free Speech & Fight Racism
SANTA CRUZ, CA – Administrators of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have announced their intention to “suspend” Alette Kendrick, a prominent Black activist, for a period of three years – in essence, a sentence of expulsion for the third year student. In response, Alette has immediately requested a formal hearing – her right under the school’s judicial process – while supporters have organized a week of action culminating in a large rally on Thursday, May 24, featuring Angela Davis as a speaker.

Who: The UC Activist Defense Committee, with Angela Davis and hundreds of students
Where: UCSC’s Chancellor’s Office – Kerr Hall
When: Thursday, May 24, 12pm
Why: To Defend Alette Kendrick, Protect Free Speech, and Fight Racism

Alette Kendrick asserts that she was racially and politically targeted as a Black woman at a student speak- out against the visiting UC Regents on October 18, 2006. To date, thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and dozens of respected organizations agree. A letter, including 10 demands to defend Alette and combat an environment of racial violence and political repression on campus, has received the support of the official undergraduate student government (the Student Union Assembly), the African/Black Student Alliance, the T.A. union (UAW 2865), the campus chapter of the ACLU, the queer Network, and almost 20 different campus organizations. Additionally, support for Alette has come from the UC Student Association, the UC Santa Barbara student government, and UCSC’s Grad Student Association.

Currently, UCSC administrators are denying Alette legal representation at her formal hearing, while still expecting her to cross-examine the police officers who assaulted her. This raises serious constitutional questions and is in the process of being appealed.

The 3 year “suspension”/expulsion was issued by the Director of Student Judicial Affairs, Doug Zuidema, in consultation with other high-level administrators, including Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs Jean Marie Scott, and Chancellor George Blumenthal. Without a jury of her peers or the opportunity to adequately defend herself, Alette was found “guilty” of 8 charges, ranging from “lewd conduct” to “refusing to identify herself to a University official.” Meanwhile, a white male student arrested at the same time as Alette was only given one quarter of academic probation.

The October 18, 2006 protest against the UC Regents was organized to fight tuition increases, campus expansion, institutional racism, UC’s role in the development of nuclear weapons, the undemocratic nature of the Regents, and many other issues. It was likely the first use of police pepper-spray at a protest in the history of UCSC. Rather than expressing concern about the safety of students, Chancellor George Blumenthal emailed the whole campus the next day to condemn the protest. After obscene racist graffiti was found at Baskin Engineering months later, it took administrators a week and a half to send a message to the campus.

Additional Resources:

• Alette’s personal narrative of what happened: http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/background
• The letter & demands: http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/what-you-can-do/sign-the-letter/
• A list of supporting organizations: http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/supporters/
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by UCB alum
What the fuck is a 3 year suspension? Has anyone ever been "suspended" for three years from any UC?
I have this feeling someone isn't telling the truth about what she did. What "lewd contact?" I don't trust the university that much myself, but the issue of her actual behavior is not being addressed here. More specifically, Alette, in detail, explain what the Regents are accusing you of, even if you don't agree with their version. It will help us all to have a more clear picture of what is going on.
by SCmoderate
It appears that they are saying she hit some cops. Is that true, Alette, or is your defense that you did NOT batter a police officer ? Your personal testimony seems to focus more on your arrest and not on the events that led to your arrest. Perhaps you can clarify for us?

http://www.gtweekly.com/03-15-07/charges-pending

Kendrick, through her lawyers Greg Coben and Ben Rice, pleaded “not guilty” to the four charges filed against her. Kendrick faces three misdemeanor counts of battery upon a peace officer and one count of resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer in the performance of their duties. The battery charges are based on the claims of Sgt. Robey and Officers Tinney and Suttles of the UC Police Department.

Initially classified as felonies, Kendrick’s battery charges were reduced to misdemeanors, according to Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Brock because “the criteria for felony assault requires injury. There were some minor injuries incurred by the officers, but not to the degree that we’d associate with a felony charge.”
by John Thielking
Her account focuses enough on the events that led to her arrest to suggest that if the police officers were assaulted, it was probably that her head or other vital body parts "assaulted" their batons repeatedly. Interferring with an officer probably consists mostly of not allowing the baton to swing freely without contacting anything. The usual story.

I am a bit perplexed however that racism could be so rampant at a university that featured Mumia Abu-Jamal as a commencement speaker in or about the year 1999 or 2000 at I believe it was the Stevenson and Merrill graduation ceremonies that year.

I am a Stevenson UCSC Alum, graduated in 1988.
by Robert Norse
I'd be interested in hearing Alette's personal account as well.

The problem there is that if she's under indictment for criminal behavior by both UC authorities and the Santa Cruz D.A., it might compromise her legal defense, if, for instance, she wants to remain silent at her trial.

To give specific details of the charges, on the other hand, would seem to be appropriate and not cost the defense anything.

Perhaps other witnesses could give their accounts of what already happened (if they haven't already) in terms of the specific events?

Were any officers ever disciplined for their behavior around the Regents protest or the Tent University assaults of 2005?
by scmoderate
"To give specific details of the charges, on the other hand, would seem to be appropriate and not cost the defense anything. "

Yes, that is the point I'm trying to make. I do not have a hard time believing instances of police brutality or racism, but to take those charges seriously and support the person in trouble here with the UC requires being forthright about what happened. To address the other poster, if I am not mistaken, the events described where they arrested her and said "that is the one we want" happened at an event AFTER the original one where she was accused of battery? This is why clarification is needed. Also, wasn't a lot of this stuff caught on videotape? Perhaps there is video evidence of Alette responding nonviolently to police attacks? That would help make her case and keep her in school?

by a UCPD officer said it, not me
"I'd be interested in hearing Alette's personal account as well."

A Personal Narrative By Alette Kendrick
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/05/23/18420434.php

"That's the one we want, Get Her!"
-UC Police Officer before attacking Alette
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2007/05/09/18413302.php?show_comments=1#18420437
by nonviolence
I grow tired of those that preach non-violence in non-violent situations. Its orders of magnitude easier to be non-violent when your not getting the crap beat out of you than it is to claim non-violence in conversation or as a principal that has never been tested. Ofcourse we should support non-violence and promote it for our alies etc. But we should have understanding that when people are getting beet up its a normal human reaction to resist and attempt confront violence with violence in an effort to stop the violence that is occurring. It often called self-defense. Ofcourse the details of any given situation should not be neglected but given the wide support by people who were present is a strong indication of support ofcourse its always ideal to have MORE information about a given situation...
by scmoderate
Personally, I am not preaching nonviolence, and believe in self-defense. HOWEVER, many student activists claim to follow the example of Gandhi and believe in "nonviolent resistance" and I would assume that was one of the guiding principles of the movement Ms. Kendrick was involved in. If not, and the activists agreed that if the police used force, they would resist, well that makes this NOT an act of "nonviolent resistance". The whole point of NR is that you DON'T respond to violence with violence, even though that is a dangerous and potentially fatal path. It is, however, the sacrifice one is willing to make if they feel that strongly about a cause.

From the responses (and non-responses) I am getting a feeling that perhaps Ms. Kendrick DID use violence to resist the police.

Questions for those more involved:

1. Was this meant to be an act of nonviolent resistance? If yes, then Ms. Kendrick may have broken ranks with the intent of the protest, and if so, why are people who believe in nonviolent resistance defending her? Doesn't this hurt the credibility of your cause? If the answer is NO and it was intended as a provocative act which might include violence, then she and her fellow organizers got what they wanted, why complain about it after the fact?

2. Is there video of this incident online showing that Ms. Kendrick used the same amount of force as those who received lesser punishments? If so, that would be a clear indicator of a racial bias and would help garner support.

Also, here is the Sentinel's latest report on this incident. It appears that she pleaded "no contest" to the charges and is apologizing for what she considers wrongful behavior...

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/May/25/local/stories/07local.htm

In a deal with the District Attorney's Office, the student, Alette Kendrick, 20, apologized for her behavior and pleaded no contest Tuesday to two misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest and disturbing a lawful public assembly. Prosecutors dropped charges of assault against a police officer in exchange for the apology, which Kendrick read before the court.

"I'm sorry if my behavior injured anyone or endangered the safety of anyone," she said. "In the future, I promise to do my best to avoid any similar behavior with the UCSC campus police"

by habitual offender
I would like to share some advice that my lawyer gave me when I was arrested at a protest: "Do not discuss the events that led up to the arrest, only what happened during and after the arrest."

This is to prevent divulging evidence that can be used during trial against yourself or against others. The evidence can be anything that would prejudice a judge or a jury against you or your co-defendants. If this startegy sounds conspiratorial or somehow makes an arrestee seem untrustworthy, you should examine your biases and your expectations of a defendant. It is the job of the police to prove she is guilty, not her job to prove that she is innocent especially not to random members of the public. Hopefully you can support someone even though they have not proven to you and the rest of the folks on the internet beyond a reasonable doubt that they are innocent.

Also, please bear in mind that police lie and selectively enforce laws and beat people and pepper spray them and shoot them for reasons that only they know about. The best part is that its all legal, unless you survive and can afford a lawyer (not a burned out public defender) who can convince a judge and jury otherwise.

Alette, don't let the pigs (in or out of uniform) get you down.



by John Thielking
From her account of Oct 18, 2006: (not some later date)

"A few were grabbing at a shirt-less and bruised man. I saw this and in wondering aloud my confusion, caught the officers’ attention. I heard their call at me and next I knew, I was on the ground being forcefully dragged by the arms through the crowd; sustaining injuries I am still to this day treating. Pulled inside away from everyone else, I was face-down on the floor, only able to see the dozen or more black boots surrounding me. "

What part of this constitutes disturbing the peace or interfering with an officer or assault on a police officer? Reading between the lines, she was probably beaten with batons as she was dragged. Officers usually like to see the suspect walk under their own power and will force pain compliance to assure their orders are obeyed.

I think that it is unfortunate that she feels intimidated enough still to plea bargain and admit to anything. Students just don't have the funds needed to mount a competent legal challenge to this BS.
by slugger
"Reading between the lines, she was probably beaten with batons as she was dragged."

No, I did not see any officer beat her with a baton as she was dragged. I saw everything that Alette describes. If she was beat with batons, she and the UC Activist Defense Committee would be sure to make a note of it.

There is a lot of coverage on indymedia from October 18th, 2006
UCSC Community Confronts Regents, Cops Respond with Violence, Pepper-Spray
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/20/18321848.php

Victims of Violence: When UC Police Attack
http://indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/22/18322461.php
by Ike Solem (ike_solm)
The UC Regents and their local apparatchiks at UCSC are simply out of control. They gone the full corporate route, which really has no place in a publicly funded university. Everyone was howling at George Blumenthal at the protest, but the real UC Regents-approved point person is EVC David S. Kliger (the guy in the white shirt who was standing next to Blumenthal).

Their goal is not to educate students, it's to generate lucrative patents for their corporate cronies. This has resulted in the abandonment of scientific integrity in favor of secretive agreements, such as the one between the UC, Bechtel, Battelle and BWXT to run Livermore Labs - as well as the very secretive deal with Hewlett-Packard that UCSC has just entered into. It's all about intellectual property rights and public-private partnerships that the University doesn't want examined.

It's worth recalling the recent spying scandal at HP, in which various means were used to spy on corporate executives using illegal means. Compare this to the University and their use of undercover officers on campus - it's clear that the police officers knew who to target, and they've been caught infilitrating undercover officers into student organizations before.

If students are allowed to ask questions and protest the UC Regents, the whole cloth that covers the corruption and rot at the University will come unravelled - and they have a lot to hide. That's why the University is cracking down in such a draconian manner.

Incidentally, I have a BS in Biochemistry from UCSC, and MS in Ocean Sciences from UCSC, and spent three years in the UCSC Chemistry PhD program, and I am the recipient of an NSF graduate student fellowship in microbiology, and I know exactly what I'm talking about.
by Sean O'Brien
so was she suspended for three years? I understand she settled on lesser charges (which is always the purpose of trumping up charges in the first place- a friend of mine was charged with assault on a police officer for allegedly throwing a milk crate in the general direction of an officer) but did the campus go through with the initial expulsion/suspension???
by slugger
"so was she suspended for three years?"

As far as I know, this is still accurate and up-to-date information:

"Administrators of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have announced their intention to “suspend” Alette Kendrick, a prominent Black activist, for a period of three years – in essence, a sentence of expulsion for the third year student."

"I understand she settled on lesser charges"

Yes, in a deal with the District Attorney's Office, but this was separate from the University.

"did the campus go through with the initial expulsion/suspension???"

That still remains to be determined. When Blumenthal addressed students at the rally, he said he would evaluate the facts when they got to his desk. Students and other supporters of Alette are asking Blumenthal to dismiss the charges. He has the power the power to do this.

Call the Chancellor!
http://www.ucactivistdefense.org/2007/05/23/call-the-chancellor/

We need your help today!! Call the Chancellor’s office (831-459-2058), then email/fax these three admins! They’re keeping a tally of the # of calls, so let’s show them how much we care about Alette!!

Jam the System!!
Call, fax and/or email these administrators:

Jean Marie Scott: vice chancellor of student affairs
jmscott [at] ucsc.edu - fax: 831-459-3188

Doug Zuidema: student judicial affairs
dzuidema [at] ucsc.edu - fax: 831-459-3188

George Blumenthal: Acting Chancellor
chancellor [at] ucsc.edu phone: 831-459-2058 - fax: 831-459-2760

Tell them how you feel about systemic racism!!

Call In Sheet

Hello, my name is __________ and I am with __________. I’m calling to demand that all academic charges against Alette Kendrick be dropped immediately to prevent the university from harming her any more than it already has. The police attack on Alette was racist and completely unjustified, and we will not tolerate this attack on free speech at our university.
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