On March 26th a public read-out for Justice in Oaxaca, Mexico was held just prior to David Solnit's hearing for allegedly throwing red paint on the entrance to the San Francisco Mexican Consulate last fall. At 12pm, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Arnoldo García, Rebecca Solnit, Larry Bogad, and others read from their works outside of the Mexican Consulate between 1st and 2nd Streets. Afterwards, a pre-trial hearing on felony vandalism charges against David was supposed to have been held at the Hall of Justice. The District Attorney's office was not prepared for the pre-trial--which should have been a basis to drop the case--but the judge refused to grant attorney John Viola's motions and re-scheduled the case for April 18th, 9am, department 9, 850 Bryant St., SF.

The charges against local activist David Solnit stem from a protest outside of the entrance to the San Francisco Mexican Consulate on Halloween night 2006, which was one in a series of international vigils, protests and actions against the human rights emergency in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is believed that these actions decreased the potential violence against protesters, as well as the numbers of people who were arrested. The October 31st action ( Photos: 1 | 2) took place just days after schoolteacher Emilio Alfonso Fabián, Oaxaca resident Eudocia Olivera Díaz, and American independent journalist and community activist Brad Will were shot and killed on the barricades of Oaxaca by paramilitary vigilantes connected to the state.

The felony charge against David is seen as a draconian response to protest, a threat to free speech and nonviolent direct action, and a waste of thousands of dollars of limited City resources. On March 21st and 22nd, Brad Will’s family visited Mexico, demanding justice for Brad, for other journalists in Mexico and for the people of Oaxaca. "The cycle of impunity related to crimes against journalists and human rights violations in Mexico must end," said Craig Will, Brad's older brother.

Video & Photos

Indybay coverage from October of 2006 | More Indybay coverage: Women's Role in the Movement | Dirty War in Oaxaca | Disappearances and Deaths Mount | Another Brutal Day | 7th Mega-March