Note: The rally mentioned in the announcement below to be held on Thursday, Dec. 1st has been postponed until some day the following week, probably around Noon, on either Dec. 5 - Dec. 8th. Look on www.sbm4peace.org for a later announcement.

November 27, 2005

County Commission to Investigate Powell Protest
Appeals Made to Drop All Charges
By AMAN MEHRZAI

Please write letters, make phone calls, forward this information:

Calls to drop charges against the De Anza Eight protesters were made before the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission Tuesday evening, Nov.22.

The Commission listened during the public forum session as members of the community brought forth allegations of police brutality and racial profiling during protests against former Secretary of State Colin Powell at De Anza College on Nov. 11.

Commission members expressed concern and agreed to investigate the matter further at a public hearing on Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m. at 1880 Pruneridge. After listening to the complaints, some Commission members called for all charges to be dropped, while others compared the allegations to that of the civil rights era.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, the Commission created an ad hoc committee that met with Sheriff Laurie Smith of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department to discuss matters of concern including her visit to Israel for police training.

Local organizations have called for the public to contact the Santa Clara District Attorney George Kennedy, requesting him to drop all charges against the arrestees. "We already have sent out thousands of emails to our national list," said Tahnee Stair, representative of the international organization A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition. "Over a thousand letters have already been sent to George Kennedy during the holidays, and we expect thousands more starting Monday." A.N.S.W.E.R. is planning a to hold further protests at De Anza College including a massive "Youth and Student Day of Resistance to Imperialism" protests on colleges nationwide March 20, to commemorate the invasion of Iraq.

Other organizations such as the South Bay Mobilization (SBM) are urging similar appeals to their lists that reach over 3000 community members in the South Bay alone.

A press conference and counter demonstration will be held by the Muslim Student Movement (MSM) on Thursday, Dec. 1, 12 p.m. at De Anza College [Postponed until the week of Dec. 5th, look for later announcement at www.sbm4peace.org] in an effort to voice their opinion against the actions taken by police during the protests.

Further information regarding upcoming events concerning the De Anza Eight can be reached by contacting; sulaiman@ifacemecca.com , www.answercoalition.org , www.southbaymobilization.org

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