Serious intimidation

Quanice Hayes' grandmother was scheduled to address the Portland City Council last Wednesday. According to those who were present, Stan, the blonde man in this photo, was among the protesters who gathered to attend the city council meeting in support of Quanice's grandmother. Unexpectedly the council meeting was cancelled, all protesters were forbidden to enter the building, and the riot police showed up, which led to a confrontation between those allowed to enter and those  prohibited from entering the building where the council meets. Stan was assaulted and hurt by a belligerent man in a suit, but days later police arrested Stan and charged him with offenses that, if proven, could send him to prison. He was required to post a quarter of a million dollars in bail money-- a step many feel is designed to intimidate and silence protesters. Today was Stan's arraignment--a legal formality, a meeting in court to set a trial date. I went, along with many others including Mat Dos Santos, the head of the Oregon ACLU, who is standing next to Stan in this photo taken on the steps of the so-called Justice Building in Portland. Stan's lawyer is on the left; other supporters are listening.  

The effort to silence dissent in the USA is deeply troubling. Five years ago I attended the trial of another protester singled out for harassment after exercising his constitutional right to free speech. Last year Teressa Raiford was taken to trial. This approach to silencing protesters is not working and will not work. We will not be silenced.