---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 12:47:18 -0700
From: radtimes <resist@best.com>
Subject: Sara Olson's trial begins
>From: "Block, Diana" <DBlock@sfghpeds.ucsf.edu>
>Subject: Sara Olson's trial begins
>Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2001
>
>Greetings all,
>
>Wanted to let friends know that I attended the opening day of Sara Olson's
>trial yesterday. The L.A. Times article below gives a pretty good summary
>of what went on in court. The Judge decided to deny a continuance because
>he deemed the negative impact of 9/11 on juror impartiality "speculative"
>- this even after attorney Shawn Chapman pointed out that CNN had been
>running a news banner all day Sunday during its coverage of the crisis
>that repeated again and again that Sara Jane Olson's trial for planting
>bombs was to begin the next day, obviously linking the trial to all the
>events which have transpired. However, Sara expected the denial and is
>prepared to move forward with the trial. As she stated to the press
>yesterday, and has said before, she has to put her hope in the ability of
>twelve people to see through the lies of the state's case even in this
>inflamed climate. Jury selection began yesterday.
>
>I was able to spend some time with Sara, Mary (the chair of her defense
>committee) her mother and her daughter Sophie. They are all working very
>hard, keeping their spirits up and are focused on getting the word out
>about the case and building community support during the trial, trying to
>overcome the enormous strain of doing this trial in the wake of September
>11th. As her defense committee points out in a recent statement "It is
>essential that progressives support Sara Olson's cause for many reasons.
>First, as a consequence of the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center
>and the Pentagon, the period ahead will surely produce obstacles to
>persons and groups challenging the status quo that are far greater than at
>present-and it's tough enough today to engage in such challenges. Indeed,
>we will all have to unite instruggle to defend the very right to dissent
>in this nation." They have opened an office in L.A. and you can contact
>them at 8124 West 3rd St, #204, LA, CA 90048; 323-653-3610, I'm sure any
>expression of support would be much appreciated at this time.
>
>Check out their website for lots of information about her case as well as
>pictures and description of Sara's tour last summer, including events
>sponsored by San Diego, Santa Cruz and Bay Area California Coalition for
>Women Prisoners.
>
>http://www.saraolsondefense.org/
>
>http://www.saraolsondefense.org/Committee/Committee/caltour6.htm
>
>diana
>
>
>http://www.latimes.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=la%2D101601olson
>
>http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-101601olson.story?coll=la%2Dhome%2Dtodays%2Dtimes
>
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