“When those who protest for the rights of the less advantaged are taken to court, while those who dominate and control the fate of so many are left to freely exercise their power, justice is not being done.” – Professor Jonathan H. Turner, University of California
Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feurer and a copy forwarded to Refuse Fascism. People supporting or responding to calls for protest from Refuse Fascism, some who are also with the Revolution Club, face criminal charges in Los Angeles for actions and organizing at UCLA, protests at Los Angeles freeways (above), and in Chicago. To learn more and get involved see Stop the Persecution and Drop the Charges Against Refuse Fascism Activists!
Dear Mr. Feuer:
I am dismayed by the prosecution of the RefuseFascism activists. This is clearly, to me, an over-reach. It reminds me of my days, many decades ago, when I and others rode buses to protest discrimination in the deep south. I was thrown into jail in both Jackson, MS and Montgomery, AL, with charges like those you are bringing again those who protest clear injustice at the border. Surely, L.A. is a bit more progressive than the deep south in the 1960s. It is one thing to restore “public order” but another to prosecute those who are exercising their constitutional rights.
I say this as the 38th University Professor of the entire University of California system. I have spent more than 60 years fighting against ethnic discrimination and prosecution of those exercising their rights as American citizens. For a progressive city like Los Angeles to be intent on prosecuting those who have ideals is, to say the least, troubling.
When those who protest for the rights of the less advantaged are taken to court, while those who dominate and control the fate of so many are left to freely exercise their power, justice is not being done.
My impression of you over the years has been that you seek justice, and justice is not done by prosecuting those who exercise their rights to assembly and protest. Thus, I urge you to drop these charges, and devote more time to prosecuting those who are doing the real harm in American society. I say this not as a radical but as a moderate liberal, now old man, who remembers how bad a society can be from my experiences in seeking justice and fairness for African Americans in the deep south all those years ago.
Respectfully,
Jonathan H. Turner
38th University Professor
University of California system
Distinguished Professor of the Graduate Division, U.C. Riverside
Research Professor, U.C. Santa Barbara