Cheri Honkala on Trial

Tuesday, January 20th at 9am Cheri Honkala, the national organizer for the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC), will be held on trial by jury for her arrest on Harriet Island preceding the Republican National Convention. In the days prior to the RNC, as PPEHRC member organizations from around the country began arriving in the Twin Cities for the March For Our Lives, PPEHRC organizers established "Bushville." Bushville was erected on Harriet Island so that it would be visible to members of the media and delegates from around the country. However, this political demonstration - which also served the purpose of housing poor families and individuals who came to demonstrate against poverty but could not afford a hotel - was dis-assembled by the police its very first night. The 23 adults and five children who were sleeping there were surrounded in the dark by roughly 50 police officers on bicycles and flanked by a squad of roughly 30 police in riot gear before being given the option of leaving the park or being arrested. The park lights that were directly above Bushville were turned off as bystanders, legal observers and activists who arrived to show solidarity were told to leave or were detained. Large spotlights were then turned onto the previously sleeping demonstrators. This was an incredibly intimidating process and an unnecessary show of force. The demonstrators were given the opportunity to take their belongings before Bushville was deconstructed and taken away by the police department. As they were leaving the park, demonstrators noticed that on the bridge above the exit to the park was stationed an officer with a large rifle. Cheri Honkala was one of 2 demonstrators who was arrested for not leaving Bushville. On September 2nd, the group led the March For Our Lives.

Visit www.economichumanrights.org for the national campaign and www.ppehrc.org for the Minnesota Chapter.

Where:

Court room 130, 15 West Kellog Boulevard, St. Paul, MN, 55101.
In front of Judge Wilson

When:

January 20th 9:00 am

Contacts:
Manuel Levins Holden/Deeq Abdi
612-821-2364
Peter Cooper
512-924-7561
Cheri Honkala
267-439-8419