On July 27, 2016 during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, seven protestors were arrested for passing through fence gates outside the Wells Fargo Center after a lock had been cut off. These fences were placed over a quarter-mile away, which prevented protesters from being able to adequately air grievances directly to delegates and public officials. After a night in prison and more than 10 months of pretrial monitoring, they traveled across the country to return to Philadelphia for a three-day bench trial. On June 14, 2017, six of the #DNC7 (the charges against one protestor were dropped) were found guilty of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1752 for knowingly entering a restricted area—a federal misdemeanor. They were convicted despite testimony from ACLU-PA Deputy Legal Director Mary Catherine Roper, Up Against the Law Legal Collective Founder Jody Dodd, and numerous law enforcement officers that the fence was not marked or otherwise announced as a federal zone, and that Mayor Kenney and Philadelphia City Council had even changed local laws so that civil citations would be issued to protestors arrested during the DNC. There was also testimony suggesting that the protestors were not within the sight and sound of the delegates due to the location of the fence, which burdened their 1st amendment rights. Although they disagree with the verdict, they respect the Court's careful consideration of the case and are prepared to accept the punishment imposed for their actions.
We think it's important that you know who these people are. These people are not criminals. They are volunteers. They dedicate countless hours to serving multiple communities around the country by activities ranging from prison inmate support, to food security for the impoverished, to advancing policies that protect the environment, the climate, and tribal autonomy. These are people who firmly believe in bettering the lives of people in need.
We ask for your support by donating to help with their resulting fines, as well as the costs of traveling across the country to stand trial and face sentencing. If we raise more than needed, we will donate the remainder to Up Against the Law Legal Collective* and potentially other organizations that support and vigorously defend the rights of activists.
We thank you for your support! We'd also like to express profound thanks to the attorneys and everyone else who devoted time and energy to protecting our first amendment right:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
*Up Against the Law Legal Collective (UATL) is a Philadelphia-based collective of activists who are lawyers, legal workers, and community members born out of the Occupy movement. They are dedicated to empowering communities by providing Know-Your-Rights trainings, legal training and support to activists, legal observation during protests and demonstrations, and arrest support.
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