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Coronado Free Speech Case Goes To Trial in San Diego
Rodney Coronado, well-known environmental, animal rights and Native American activist is facing charges brought by government prosecutors related to a public speech
For immediate release - September 6, 2007
Prominent Environmental Leader Goes To Trial in Free Speech Case
Rodney Coronado, well-known environmental, animal rights and Native American activist is facing charges brought by government prosecutors related to a public speech
WHEN: The trial starts Monday, September 10, 2007, 9 am with jury selection.
A hearing for in limine motions regarding admissibility of evidence will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 6. There will be a press conference after jury selection as proceedings begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Time TBA.
WHERE: Federal District Court, 940 Front St., San Diego, California; court of Judge Jeffrey T. Miller, Room 16, 5th floor
WHAT: Rod Coronado is being prosecuted by the federal government for a public speech he gave in 2003 in San Diego. During a question and answer period following the speech, he was asked about previous direct action he has taken in defense of animals and the environment. The government is employing a rarely used statute to prosecute Coronado that relies on the intent of the speaker to foment criminal activity.
WHO: Rod Coronado has been affiliated with many environmental and animal rights organizations, beginning with his work with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the late 1980's. He stands as an effective and inspiring speaker and writer on the ecological crisis facing current society. Coronado served a 4 _ year sentence for destroying a fur farm in the 90's and more recently, was imprisoned for moving and setting off traps set to harm mountain lions in a wilderness area in Arizona.
The legal team defending Coronado in this case includes San Diego attorney Jerry Singleton, legendary San Francisco attorney J. Tony Serra, and Omar Figueroa from San Francisco.
# # #
--
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
phone: 510 548 3113
email: bach [at] headwaterspreserve.org
http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
Prominent Environmental Leader Goes To Trial in Free Speech Case
Rodney Coronado, well-known environmental, animal rights and Native American activist is facing charges brought by government prosecutors related to a public speech
WHEN: The trial starts Monday, September 10, 2007, 9 am with jury selection.
A hearing for in limine motions regarding admissibility of evidence will be held at 1:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 6. There will be a press conference after jury selection as proceedings begin on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Time TBA.
WHERE: Federal District Court, 940 Front St., San Diego, California; court of Judge Jeffrey T. Miller, Room 16, 5th floor
WHAT: Rod Coronado is being prosecuted by the federal government for a public speech he gave in 2003 in San Diego. During a question and answer period following the speech, he was asked about previous direct action he has taken in defense of animals and the environment. The government is employing a rarely used statute to prosecute Coronado that relies on the intent of the speaker to foment criminal activity.
WHO: Rod Coronado has been affiliated with many environmental and animal rights organizations, beginning with his work with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the late 1980's. He stands as an effective and inspiring speaker and writer on the ecological crisis facing current society. Coronado served a 4 _ year sentence for destroying a fur farm in the 90's and more recently, was imprisoned for moving and setting off traps set to harm mountain lions in a wilderness area in Arizona.
The legal team defending Coronado in this case includes San Diego attorney Jerry Singleton, legendary San Francisco attorney J. Tony Serra, and Omar Figueroa from San Francisco.
# # #
--
Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
phone: 510 548 3113
email: bach [at] headwaterspreserve.org
http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
For more information:
http://www.supportrod.org/
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If you want public attention to this case you need to provide much more information on what the case is about. The "WHAT" paragraph provides no clue.
Here is some previous reporting discussing legal issues and the specific public speech that is ridiculously being considered felony speech.
It really is an important case, because few people would know that what he said could be illegal in any way. What happened is that during a question after a talk about environmental issues, someone asked Coronado how a gasoline fire had been started. In response, he held up a plastic apple juice container and said something like "oh, they put gas in something like this, and set it on fire". An undercover police officer in the audience has him on felony charges for this. This also brings up the issue, of who in the audience asked that question which would invite the response. Was that also a placed officer too? I've had classes in school where the teacher tries to get you excited about 9th grade science by having you pop a bottle or do things with ethanol and a bunsen burner. Was that illegal too, and why?
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/03/01/18056001.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/02/26/18047421.php
It really is an important case, because few people would know that what he said could be illegal in any way. What happened is that during a question after a talk about environmental issues, someone asked Coronado how a gasoline fire had been started. In response, he held up a plastic apple juice container and said something like "oh, they put gas in something like this, and set it on fire". An undercover police officer in the audience has him on felony charges for this. This also brings up the issue, of who in the audience asked that question which would invite the response. Was that also a placed officer too? I've had classes in school where the teacher tries to get you excited about 9th grade science by having you pop a bottle or do things with ethanol and a bunsen burner. Was that illegal too, and why?
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/03/01/18056001.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/02/26/18047421.php
Please join us on Tuesday for the beginning of Rod’s trial. The date is unsettling
for most of us, but perhaps it is time for a new direction post 9/11. Show the
community of San Diego that this is an issue that is important to us, and make your
presence known!
Monday, September 10, will be reserved for Jury Selection, and with respect for
Judge Miller, we should allow the courtroom to be available for the jury pool.
Please wait until Tuesday, Sept. 10, to support Rod and free speech.
Again, please no protesting outside or disturbing behavior. We are very thankful to
those who are able to be there with us!
for most of us, but perhaps it is time for a new direction post 9/11. Show the
community of San Diego that this is an issue that is important to us, and make your
presence known!
Monday, September 10, will be reserved for Jury Selection, and with respect for
Judge Miller, we should allow the courtroom to be available for the jury pool.
Please wait until Tuesday, Sept. 10, to support Rod and free speech.
Again, please no protesting outside or disturbing behavior. We are very thankful to
those who are able to be there with us!
Activist's case a free-speech test
An intriguing trial could shift the balance between freedom and
governmental power
By Ron Grossman | Tribune staff reporter
September 9, 2007
TUCSON, Ariz. - Ever since Oliver Wendell Holmes said free speech stops
short of a right to recklessly shout "fire" in a crowded theater, judges
and juries have wrestled with finding practical applications of the
aphorism, an opportunity presented anew with the forthcoming trial of
Rodney Coronado...........................................
An intriguing trial could shift the balance between freedom and
governmental power
By Ron Grossman | Tribune staff reporter
September 9, 2007
TUCSON, Ariz. - Ever since Oliver Wendell Holmes said free speech stops
short of a right to recklessly shout "fire" in a crowded theater, judges
and juries have wrestled with finding practical applications of the
aphorism, an opportunity presented anew with the forthcoming trial of
Rodney Coronado...........................................
For more information:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationw...
Coronado is under federal indictment for invoking what he calls his
freedom of speech. Coronado says he was sharing information you could find
anywhere.
Coronado: Not only in, you know, radical bookstores or any bookstore
or the Internet but also gun shows that I've been to, where you can
buy manuals on how to make homemade C4 explosives and all that kind of
stuff. So I always thought that it wasn't a crime to explain such
things.
freedom of speech. Coronado says he was sharing information you could find
anywhere.
Coronado: Not only in, you know, radical bookstores or any bookstore
or the Internet but also gun shows that I've been to, where you can
buy manuals on how to make homemade C4 explosives and all that kind of
stuff. So I always thought that it wasn't a crime to explain such
things.
For more information:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=9572
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