Pack the courtroom for the ACAC 19 in San Francisco Feb. 8

The following call was issued by supporters of  the Anti-Capitalist Anti-Colonial 19 for a court hearing on Feb. 8 in San Francisco. The ACAC 19 were beaten and arrested on Oct. 6 and then subjected to a media smear campaign by the San Francisco Police Department.

Come pack the courtroom on Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. to support the ACAC 19! Solidarity is our weapon against the state! Our love for our comrades is stronger than their cages and their courts!

Members of the Anti-Capitalist Anti-Colonial 19 will be appearing in San Francisco Superior Court at 850 Bryant St., Department 16, for a pretrial motions hearing. We call on you, supporters, friends and comrades, to pack the courtroom. Support comes in many forms: banners and signs on the court steps, people in the courtroom and spreading the word about the trial. Let us show the district attorney that our comrades are not alone in their relentless struggle against colonialism, capitalism and the state.

The ACAC 19 is a group of anti-colonial, anti-capitalists who were beaten, arrested and then subjected to a media smear campaign by the San Francisco Police Department on Oct. 6, 2012. The arrests occurred during a series of demonstrations on Columbus Day weekend against colonization and empire, as well as the racist celebrations of genocide and conquest. The actions were organized in solidarity with Indigenous struggles in the Bay Area and beyond.

After being released from jail, two defendants found threatening leaflets in their neighborhood with their home addresses and photos printed on them. At least one member of the ACAC 19 has also experienced continued police harassment at his workplace. In early December, two defendants received word that their Twitter accounts had been subpoenaed — evidence that the SFPD is using the case to map and surveil radical political networks in the Bay Area.  In the wake of a year of rebellious and militant political activity across the country, we see this as one of many attempts to harass, intimidate and control radical movements.

On Jan. 5, the San Francisco district attorney withdrew the Twitter subpoenas due to a successful call-in campaign and mounting public pressure from organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. While we recognize this as a limited victory, the withdrawal of the Twitter subpoenas shows the strength of community support and solidarity.  It is imperative that we show the district attorney and the SFPD that repression will not stop us!

The ACAC 19 are currently facing multiple misdemeanor charges ranging from unlawful assembly to battery on a uniformed officer. We stand in solidarity with all those working to resist state repression and those who have been directly targeted by it. Come support your comrades on Feb 8!

See supporttheacac19.wordpress.com/ for updates or other ways to support.