On May 4th 2003 several groups of armed and dangerous outsiders invaded our town, menacing the populace and disrupting business for the entire day (with the possible exception of Palcho's Donuts). It is clear from intelligence gathered from news articles and "various websites" that this disruption was planned well in advance. Most wore the uniforms of their hometown gang, but many unsuccessfully tried to blend in.



They blockaded a large strip of main street and a number of side streets before the rally even started, restricting people's movement on public property and denying people access to their homes. The locked down access to and movement on the campus -with the practical effect of declaring martial law by police edict.

Apparently, the police chief is not mature enough to understand the difference between repression and police state tactics and doing
his job of protecting and serving the community.

Our EMPLOYEES must explain who authorized this invasion and abuse of police powers. Those responsible must be held accountable and steps taken to prevent such outrages from occuring in the future.

Video from Rally
Lee
Laura
Art
To the parking lot

WED MAY 7 -7:30pm KENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Council Voted 5-4 to form a committee to review police conduct May 4 2003. Realplayer files of community input at the meeting are at http://portagepeace.org/councilmeeting. The quality isn't great.

WED MAY 21 KENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Council voted 7-2 Wednesday to rescind the motion it had made two weeks ago, which would have seen council reviewing reports of police and faculty observers and holding a public committee meeting to discuss them. Council members Carol Neff, Kathleen Guckelberger and Michael DeLeone all changed their minds, joining Councilmen Garret Ferrara, Ronald Heineking, Wayne Wilson and Robert Felton in supporting a motion to rescind the previous action. Only Councilmen Rick Hawksley and William Schultz voted no -from the Record Courier

As there was no public notification of this planned action, there was no chance for public input. Officer Jim Peach, still unwilling to take responsibility for his part in the overreaction of the police force, "lobbied" on behalf of police secrecy and against personal accountability. How's that for democracy in action. Gee, one person really can make a difference!

CONTACT CITY EMPLOYEES -COUNCIL,POLICE,ADMINISTRATORS



Trial Updates

The charges of 'disorderly conduct' against Mike P. were dropped, who had been taking pictures from the sidewalk. Seems they didn't think they could convict on the basis of Captain Goodlet recognizing him from our April 13 Rally For Peace, and the fact that he was holding a walkie talkie. So much for Jim Peach's arrogant assertions that everyone arrested had been arrested for being in the street.

Linda B.'s charges of felony vandalism (for cracking the bus window with her head, after being shoved by an officer) were also dropped. Again, a smug Jim Peach had assured the public that he was confident the charges were valid.


The trial of Art McCoy, arrested May 4, 2003 on the campus
of Kent State, ended today with verdict of NOT GUILTY.

After the verdict, Jurors explained that they concluded that he did
not impede anyone's ability to travel in a public road
because the police blocked the road. Also, jurors recognized
that that the prosecutor failed to prove that the defendant
was "not engaged in an otherwise lawful activity" - because
he was engaged in the lawful activity of political expression.


the trial of Troy Gregorino ended with a verdict of Guilty.

The lawyers expect to appeal, both on constitutional grounds and on the basis that the State did not prove the crime charged.


This is another good day for the First Amendment.

This morning the Portage County Prosecutor dismissed all charges against Don Bryant.

Bryant was one of 13 people arrested May 4, 2003 when a peaceful protest rally and march at Kent State University was met by a massive police show of force.

Bryant, 47, a letter carrier in North Royalton and KSU graduate, is a board member of Peace Action, the Blue Triangle Network and the Cleveland Non0Violence Network. On May 4, he joined the demonstation at 4:45 p.m. when people were reciting poetry at the memorial site marking the locations where Kent State students were felled by National Guard bullets during the May 1970 protest against the expansion of war into Cambodia. Bryant assisted others in carrying a banner which said "Wage Peace" as the group marched across campus to Main Street, marched approximately one block along Main Street, and crossed the street onto the grass at Rockwell Hall on campus. Bryant was arrested after he spoke to a police officer and offered to take the Earth flag which had been held by another person arrested. When the officer pushed him, Bryant said, "We are here in peace," and continued walking in the direction indicated by the officer. He was then arrested.

Dismissal of this charge demonstrates that the Prosecutor recognizes that arrests were made without cause. The Prosecutor previously dismissed charges against Kent resident Mike Pacifico on May 21, and a jury acquitted Cleveland resident Art McCoy on June 17.

------------------------------------------------------- Law Office of Nancy Grim
237 E. Main Street, Kent, Ohio 44240-2526
330-678-6595 Fax 330-678-6517
ngrim@mindspring.com

July 22, 2003
Another good day for the First Amendment in Portage County

Today the Portage County Prosecutor dismissed all charges against yet another of the people arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Kent on May 4, 2003.

Jason Lynn, 25, is a graduate of Malone College in North Canton. He was arrested on May 4, 2003 while assembled with a group of antiwar protesters on the front campus area of Kent State University. Earlier in the day there was a commemorative rally on the KSU Commons in which President Cartwright welcomed the president of Jackson State University of Mississippi. That was followed by an antiwar rally at Manchester Field, in which speakers spoke out in protest of the occupation of Iraq by U.S. troops, followed by poetry readings at the May 4 memorial. Participants then marched across the KSU campus carrying banners, chanting political statements and drumming, while an Ohio State Patrol helicopter buzzed overhead. When the march reached Main Street at the front of campus, police had blocked vehicle traffic from travelling on the road. Marchers travelled along Main Street for approximately one block, when they were met by a 150-200 police who emerged from vans parked nearby. Lynn and the other marchers then turned and walked onto the sidewalk and grassy area on the KSU front campus, where there was confusion as to whether it was permissible to continue marching on the sidewalk. After a few minutes, Lynn was arrested by police and dragged from the grass into the street.

Dismissal of this charge demonstrates that the Prosecutor recognizes that arrests were made without cause. Previously, the Prosecutor dismissed charges against Don Bryant on July 21, dismissed charges against Kent resident Michael Pacifico on May 21, and a jury acquitted Cleveland resident Art McCoy on June 17.

The remaining cases are expected to be re-set for trial the week of August 18-22, 2003
Nancy Grim

editorial note: As in the trial of Art McCoy, police testified that the operational plan
was to target those police perceived as leaders. Mr. Peach claimed that the order was to
arrest only those targeted as "leaders" who had been observed committing a crime,
but it is clear that the alleged guidelines were not followed by officers. After enduring the
spectacle of the chief of police smirking and making faces more befitting a pre-teen boy
than a civil servant testifying in a court of law, it was not suprising to hear him use the
phrase "olly olly in free" during cross examination.

It's time for a new chief of police.
Hi Jimmy!

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