Occupy Tucson is being targeted for citations by TPD

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Occupy Tucson protesters are being targeted for citations by TPD despite what has been a peaceful protest to exercise their First Amendment rights of assembly and speech to petition the government for redress of grieavances. There is nothing more American than that. Protestors are asking the Tucson City Council to intervene at its reguarly scheduled meeting Tuesday night. KGUN 9 News reports Occupy Tucson protesters look to put an end to citations:

Police handed out around 80 citations to Occupy Tucson protesters over the weekend. Many were for staying overnight in Armory Park. Heading into the week, protesters downtown are exploring ways to stop the tickets from coming.

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The citations technically count as arrests, although those cited have not taken to jail. Protesters call them a scare tactic.

"Not only are they intimidating people fiscally by trying to bleed people fiscally as far as the fines they will be accumulating and as far as the legal costs of representation down the line," organizer Craig Barber told 9 On Your Side, "but they're also intimidating people legally by saying, 'Oh, you're going to have all these charges on your record.'"

"It's an ingenious tactic, but we're fighting against it," Barber later continued. "Our representative from the National Lawyers Guild is working with the city prosecutors office to get those charges dismissed."

Others are trying to fight back in other ways.

"We plan on speaking with the city council members and the mayor and have them put it on the agenda of the city hall meeting tomorrow to propose to change the ordinance," said organizer Jon McLane.

"The goal is to get them to throw all of these out and stop writing new ones," Benoit said, holding his citation.

They argue the city ordinance being cited wasn't meant to silence free speech and protests.

"Do you think something could become of that, from those individuals going to city hall?" Keen asked Barber. "Absolutely," he replied.

The topic of the citations isn't on Tuesday's city council meeting agendas, but it is something on the minds of council members. Council member Karen Ulrich told 9 On Your Side the city attorney is looking into whether the ordinance being cited is being used properly.

Courtney Carlmark at KOLD 13 News reports Occupy Tucson stays put, group will head to city council meeting:

On Monday they tried to reach out to council members to get on Tuesday's meeting agenda with no success. Instead, they plan on storming the meeting during the three-minute public comment period. They want the city to recognize their right to assemble and police to stop citing them.

"Storming the meeting" Courtney? Since you do not attribute this as a quotation to anyone from the Occupy Tucson organization, I have to assume this is your editorializing. These people have a right to speak during the call to the audience public comment period. Do you have a problem with the First Amendment, Courtney? Do you believe the First Amendment is limited to media villagers in the corporate media like you? I am sure they can address the council in a "civil" manner — we wouldn't want Mayor Walkup imposing his personal rule for suppressing First Amendment speech at council meetings.

We spoke with Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik who says the city requires all groups and events to purchase a permit and liability insurance to use city property and Occupy Tucson should be treated no differently.

We also spoke with Tucson Police. Public Information Officer Maria Hawke say officers will continue to cite anyone in the park after hours. They support the group's right to speak freely and assemble, but the bottom line is past 10:30 p.m., the demonstrators are breaking the law. They don't plan on using force or physically removing the group at this point. Hawke also says they only arrest and cite folks once a night, despite the fact that the people don't leave the park, because officers don't want to clog city court.

Demonstrators say those who have been cited are due in court next Tuesday and Wednesday and the following Monday.

I am going to suggest, again, that the Tucson City Council take a stand, as the Los Angeles City Council did last Wednesday, when it unanimously approved a joint resolution to officially "support" the Occupy L.A. demonstration and "demand accountability and results from the banks we invest taxpayer dollars in." City Council Unanimously Passes Occupy L.A. Resolution.

Contact the Tucson City Council and Mayor about this issue: 

Regina Romero – city council Ward 1

 Phone: (520) 791-4040  Email: ward1@tucsonaz.gov  

 Paul Cunningham – city council Ward Two 

 Phone: (520) 791-4687  ward2@tucsonaz.gov  

Karin Uhlich – Vice Mayor and city council Ward III

Phone: (520)  791-4711 ward3@tucsonaz.gov 

Shirley Scott – city council Ward IV

Phone: (520)  791-3199  E-Mail: ward4@tucsonaz.gov  

Richard Fimbres – city council  Ward V

 Phone: (520)  791-4231 Richard.Fimbres@tucsonaz.gov  

Steve Kozachik – city council Ward VI

Phone: (520)  791-4601 E-Mail: ward6@tucsonaz.gov  

Mayor Bob Walkup

Phone: (520) 791-4201 mayor1@tucsonaz.gov