Feature Archives

Progressive Lawyering Day is a free annual conference organized by Bay Area National Lawyers Guild students. Attorney and advocate Banafsheh Akhlaghi, founder and president of the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement, gave the keynote address at this year's event on September 15th in San Francisco.

On Sunday, September 9th, the day before Eric McDavid's trial began, Sacramento Prisoner Support learned that the Sacramento County Jail has cut off Eric's commissary. When he did not receive the items that he expected, Eric checked the jail's lists to see if he had any money in his account-- his name was not on the list. Since the jail stopped bringing Eric vegan meals, commissary was his only opportunity to get a few more dietary essentials beyond the fruit and bread that he receives in his meals.

Taser survivors, civil and human rights advocates, and cultural performers came together on Tuesday, September 11th to kick off a campaign to ban tasers in San Jose. People gathered at 5:00pm outside of the District Attorney's Office at 70 West Hedding St. From there, participants marched to the San Jose Police Department. A final rally was held at City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St., at 6:30pm.

Fresno mayor Alan Autry and police chief Jerry Dyer announced plans to crack down on westside gangs. Fresno City Council member Jerry Duncan, stressing the urgency of this effort compared the campaign to the war on terror. Duncan, speaking about gang members, said "make no mistake about it, they are terrorists and they are as much of terrorists as those people in Iraq that are blowing up innocent people." They also promoted technology that will increase video surveillance and put GPS tracking devises on West Fresno residents in order to reduce crime.

After more than 19 months in jail without having been convicted of any crime, Eric McDavid's trial is set to begin in Sacramento on September 10th. Supporters are still raising funds to pay Eric's legal expenses.

Pamela Kincaid died earlier this month under disturbing and suspicious circumstances. Kincaid was the lead named plaintiff in the lawsuit filed by the homeless against the City of Fresno, because the city was taking and immediately destroying their property. This sometimes included their IDs, clothing, tools, kittens, and in one case the urn containing the ashes of a grandchild. Pam stood up against this injustice and was willing to put herself on the line to protect the rights of all homeless people in this community.

On Thursday August 16, a Miami jury found Jose Padilla and two co-defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Chechnya, as well as providing material support toward that goal. Padilla was initially accused of plotting to set off a radioactive dirty bomb inside the US and was stripped of all rights and held in extreme isolation for 43 months. Faced with a Supreme Court challenge, President Bush announced criminal charges against Padilla unrelated to the dirty bomb plot. Defense attorneys and experts say his isolation and interrogation has led to severe psychological effects.