Statement from Rainforest Action Network in response to Elevated Felony Charges for Peaceful Protesters in San Diego
CONTACT: Christopher Herrera, christopher@ran.org
Yesterday in San Diego, thousands gathered under the Free Our Future banner to peacefully protest the prosecution, separation and criminalization of immigrants at the U.S.- Mexico border. Dozens of faith leaders and activists were arrested for blocking the entrance to the San Diego Federal Courthouse and for deploying a banner which read “Free Our Families Now.” These peaceful protesters have been charged with elevated felony conspiracy and burglary charges and bail has been set at $25,000 per person.
Rainforest Action Network condemns these trumped up felony charges of burglary and conspiracy which are intended to silence people who are willing to speak out against injustice.
RAN has a long history of supporting peaceful protest and free speech and we stand with those who use civil disobedience to defend human rights and basic human decency.
The words of Martin Luther King Jr. remain particularly relevant at times like these:
“The saving of our world from pending doom will come not from the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.”
Each one of us has an opportunity to work in solidarity to combat human rights violations, anti-immigrant racism, xenophobia, and all forms of systemic injustice to support those at the frontlines of these fights. We urge you to exercise your First Amendment rights while we still can and join one of the thousands of local, regional, national actions and rallies being organized all over the country in defense of human rights, justice and fairness.