Redwood Curtain CopWatch, based in the north coast of California, is part of a larger movement of self organized CopWatch groups throughout the US. Our local efforts seek to intervene in the drastic rise of the presence, militarization, and violence of the police, and build support networks based on self-determination, caring, and concrete needs.
District Attorney
Response to Outrageous Gov't Premise for Police Action Against Occupy Eureka
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 01/07/2012 - 2:24pmJan 7, 2011
Open Letter to Humboldt County District Attorney, Paul Gallegos:
We have reviewed your November 2, 2011 email to the Humboldt County Sheriff, County Counsel, and the County Administrative Officer in which you direct that the tents of Occupy Eureka be removed from the front of the Humboldt County Courthouse. The “go get 'em” email, obtained through a California Public Records Request, instigated, with no legal basis, the November 7 militarized raid, arrests, and civil rights violations by the Eureka Police Department [EPD] and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department (and presumably the subsequent raids, arrests, and civil rights violations) and creates a conflict as you attempt to prosecute people arrested in those raids and related police actions. Most egregious, however, is that your email to the County is a malicious work of “shock and awe” deceit that should be retracted immediately. You wrote of Occupy Eureka protesters as if they might be terrorists with “explosives” in their tents. Redwood Curtain CopWatch is outraged and disgusted at your dangerous, wholly unfounded, and secret implications regarding non-violent Occupy Eureka protesters. Undoubtedly, thousands of people who will learn of your disingenuous and inflammatory Nov 2 email and the subsequent similar emails will also be appalled and offended by your actions.
You Can Jail the Resistors, But You Can't Jail the Resistance!
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 12:00amINCARCERATION: Holiday Gift from Paul Gallegos to Occupy Eureka
While the District Attorney vacations with his family for the holidays, he (ultimately responsible for actions of his office) has set in motion another campaign of harassment, wrongful arrests, and incarcerations.
Stop the Attack on Civil Rights at Occupy Eureka
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 12/20/2011 - 11:02amPlease phone and email the numbers & addresses below!
*Demand Return of All
Property including Signs,
Literature,Banners.*
*Insist the Police Respect
Our Right to Protest,
Stop Abusing Us & Stop
September 13, Update on Civil Trial About Fatal Police Beating of Martin Cotton
Submitted by copwatch on Tue, 09/13/2011 - 2:12pmMEDIA UPDATE & CLARIFICATION*: September 13, 2011
Jury Seated and First Testimony Heard in Civil Trial About Fatal Police Beating of Martin Cotton
Oakland, CA: On the morning of September 12, 2011 in U.S. District Court, Northern District in Oakland, CA, a seven person jury was sworn in to hear the civil trial brought by the family of Martin Frederick Cotton II, who was killed by a fatal police beating in Eureka, California four years ago. Supporters and members of Redwood Curtain CopWatch and the Oscar Grant Committee Against Police Brutality rallied outside the courthouse early in the morning, spreading the word about the trial about to occur, speaking out against state brutality, and holding signs "Cops Beat Martin To Death. Justice For Martin Cotton!"
Humboldt District Attorney and Jail Have Regular Practice of Violating Rights
Submitted by copwatch on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 11:30pmMay 20, 2011 Sent Via Email
RE: Mr. Brandon Dyer
To District Attorney of Humboldt County, Paul Gallegos:
This email is a follow-up the message I left on Ms. Shoshani's voice mail at
or about 2:50pm today, May 20, 2011. I am contacting you to, once again,
inform you of the laws that require you to file charges against someone
in the custody of the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF)
within the statutory time; otherwise or that person's extended custody
due to your failure to bring them in front of a magistrate or judge and
the HCCF's failure to release them, is a misdemeanor and violation of
the person's civil liberties.
Mr. Brandon Dyer was arrested on the night of Wednesday, May 18,
2011. He needs to be brought to court TODAY, Friday May 20, 2011, or be
released from the HCCF. The CA Penal code section 825 (a)(2)
specifically mandates:
The Legal System Is a 3 Ring Circus, March 2011 by Lenda Beck
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 9:13pmOur legal system is a circus one act after another. Officers go out and make
arrests and the legal system plays with the lives of that person until they
get to plea to something, then they all get applause. It is a three ring
circus. The Cops arrest,,... The DA makes big charges and the court appointed
attorneys wheel and deal with a bargain that make all winners.. Except the
accused and they are always guilty of something ,,.cause they keep the
circus running.
MESSAGE: from Redwood Curtain CopWatcher to Del Norte WatchDog- Regarding Cop with Taser Killing of (unarmed) Man in Crescent City, June 22, 2010
Submitted by copwatch on Wed, 06/23/2010 - 4:43pmLenda,
Please encourage the family to request an independent autopsy and for the body to be PRESERVED.
When the system tells a grieving family that they have 'this' many days to cremate or bury, the grieving family usually does it quick and has to rally together the money to pay for it. PLEASE tell them that they are entitled, if they request and notice the coroner, to an independent forensics testing (not sure how to pay for it, but it would be a forensic pathologist that the family chooses) and that should halt the "destruction" of Daniel's body.
Also, they should work on not allowing the body to be destroyed so that if or when they sue , there is a body to examine. OFTEN, the coroner's reports (including toxicology) do NOT match up with 1) the injuries that parents have seen on their dead children's bodies and 2) the substances that persons had in them prior to death (i.e. nicotine, marijuana)
Jails Kill Prisoners or Neglect Them To Suffer and Die; Then Blame Death on Deceased
Submitted by copwatch on Fri, 06/11/2010 - 12:50pmSonoma County D.A. says "no fault" in Jail Death
By Mary Callahan, Press Democrat: June 11, 2010
The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office has concluded that a 44-year-old Santa Rosa man found dead in his bunk at the county jail last fall succumbed to sudden cardiac arrest. Prosecutors said there was no evidence of negligence related to the Sept. 18 death of Jon Gerald Moore. “After reviewing all of the evidence in this case, it is apparent that this was a tragic death due to natural causes and did not involve criminal negligence on the part of any individual,” Assistant District Attorney Diana Gomez said in a written statement. “Therefore, no criminal charges are warranted. The District Attorney's Office routinely reviews in-custody deaths under a countywide protocol aimed at ensuring objective investigation of cases in which someone dies while in the hands of law enforcement authorities.
Action at Humboldt DA's Office: Rotten System Reveals Itself (Again)
Submitted by copwatch on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 1:59pmWHY WE PROTESTED AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
On Thursday, April 8, 2010, fifteen to twenty community members gathered in the reception area of the District Attorney's office, fourth floor of the courthouse, to address Paul Gallegos regarding a recent incident and the systematic injustice related to that and many other instances. As you may remember, on March 15th of this year, two people from Redwood Curtain CopWatch were arrested because Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Marsh did not want to be videotaped while he was detaining and searching a man in Eureka.
On April 6, 2010, the two of us who were arrested learned that the DA had not (yet) charged us with any crime related to our arrests. After we were arrested and in jail, we signed Agreements to Appear in court on April 6th. When signing an Agreement to Appear, the document informs the signer that if s/he does not appear on that date, s/he can be arrested again.
On April 6, we were not on the court schedule, which means the DA had not yet decided what charges or if he would charge us at all.
Protest at the Humboldt DA's Office, April 8, 2010
Submitted by copwatch on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 11:00pmWHY WE ARE HERE TODAY!!
NO CHARGES AGAINST COPWATCHERS AFTER BUNK ARRESTS
“In the interest of justice,” the Humboldt County District Attorney, Paul Gallegos, needs to decline from charging Kimberly Starr and Ray Thompson, of Redwood Curtain CopWatch, with any crimes stemming from their March 15, 2010 arrest. We insist that the DA's office today officially put this case to an end. The arrests of Ms. Starr and Mr. Thompson, while they were engaged in copwatch activities (observing and recording police activity), were warrantless, unjustified, and clear violations of their civil liberties. Now , almost a month later, the DA's office continues to say that the case is “pending.”
Open Letter to Humboldt District Attorney Gallegos: Return Our CopWatch Cameras!
Submitted by copwatch on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 8:05pmSent via email and personal delivery
April 5, 2010
Open Letter to Paul Gallegos,
On Monday, March 15, 2010, Mr. Ray Thompson and I were arrested while on CopWatch patrol. CopWatch patrol means that a small group of us were out with video cameras, papers and pens, handouts with CopWatch and Know-Your-Rights information, and watchful eyes and ears- to observe the police as they interact with other members of the public. Both Mr. Thompson and I are experienced observers and also well-versed in constitutional rights. As you know, observing and filming police activity in public is constitutionally protected activity. Although we encourage all people to stop, observe, and if possible film police anytime they see them interacting with the public, when we are 'on patrol,' those of us representing Redwood Curtain CopWatch wear visible patches that read “CopWatch.” Redwood Curtain CopWatch does not interfere with officers; we simply observe and document. Our reputation confirms that.
Pam Africa says: "The time is now for organizing... with all of the strength that you have" for MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
Pam Africa on the Supreme Court ruling against Mumia
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal and granted the Philadelphia DA's petition for a writ of certiorari. Basically, the Supreme Court went against the lower federal circuit court's 2001 and 2008 rulings, which granted a new sentencing phase jury trial if the death penalty was to be reinstated in Jamal's case. Now the case goes back down to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, who will decide whether they will re-impose the death penalty without the jury trial.
