On July 13th, the legal team for the Davis Dozen, students and faculty of UC Davis who allegedly blockaded a corporate bank that appeared on their campus last Fall, filed a Pitchess Motion which alleges that the officers in the case used excessive force or lied about the events surrounding the defendants' arrest. This will provide the court access to the officers' records, allowing confirmation of past use of excessive force against the defendants. Their next court date has been set for Friday, August 24th.

As part of U.S. Bank’s aggressive marketing strategy, U.C. Davis students were issued new ID cards that doubled as debit cards, while students who received financial aid were temporarily blocked from receiving their funds unless they opened an account with the bank. Students and educators began blockading the entrance to the bank in January, preventing the branch from operating for nearly two months. In response to the protest, the bank branch closed its doors on February 28.

It is estimated that up to 200 people participated in the alleged blockade, but only twelve of them are facing criminal charges. They are being charged with 21 counts of misdemeanor, including conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor. They face up to 11 years in prison and $1 million in fines.

Several of the twelve were pepper-sprayed by University Police in November, in an act of police brutality that garnished international attention.

Read More | Defense Files Motion in Bank Blocking Case | Support the Davis Dozen

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