Volunteer lawyers announced late Monday they will file a civil rights lawsuit against the City of Sacramento in federal court Tuesday on behalf of those arrested at Occupy Sacramento – and will ask for a temporary restraining to stop arrests at the Cesar Chavez Park demonstration.
"Similar federal lawsuits in other U.S. cities have resulted in an end to arrests," according to Cres Vellucci, Occupy Sacramento spokesman.
79 people have been arrested for asserting their First Amendment rights at Cesar Chavez Park since Oct. 6 when Occupy Sacramento began. So far about half of those have gone to court on misdemeanor charges (6 months in jail, $1,000 fine).
"When the District Attorney refused to file charges last week claiming no laws were broken, the City of Sacramento took over the prosecution," said Vellucci.
All were either defended by more than a dozen volunteer lawyers or the Public Defender office.
Details of the litigation will be released at a major press conference TUESDAY, 2 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse (5th & I Streets). Lawyers and plaintiffs will be available for comment.
