The post on redwoodcurtaincopwatch.net says, “TWELVE PEOPLE, ARRESTED AT A LOCKDOWN PROTEST AT CALTRANS, HAVE COURT ON:MONDAY, MARCH 21ST COURTHOUSE IN EUREKA (5th and K). Please come rally with signs protesting the road widening through Richardson Grove, then show support for demonstrators in court.

RALLY ON FRONT STEPS 7:45 am COURT FOR 12 ARRESTED 8:00 am”

Yet, no one has been charged and no one has a court date.

The original incident which resulted in several arrests, occurred on February 7 at a CalTrans facility in Eureka.  Six protesters, including Jeff Musgrave locked themselves down in the lobby to call attention to their opposition to a CalTrans project slated for Richardson Grove. Several people were cited and released as a result. No one however, as of Friday afternoon has been charged and no one has a court date—much less one on Monday morning

I generally like to assume the best of people and maybe there is some explanation.  But my efforts to get one have failed.

Because I’ve met Jeff Musgrave (and like him though we aren’t in agreement over the Richardson Grove issue) I approached him through Facebook.  I asked him about the situation.  He said, “I was cited and released for 1. Trespassing and 2. Obstruction of justice. I’m not sure as to why we have yet to be charged but I would assume it is one of two things. Either the DA is looking for more evidence or trumped up charges. Or they may let this one go, because it will bring more attention to the cause from the media created from a court case involving 12 people from the same Caltrans action. I expect to be charged but I also intend to push for a jury trial. I believe that the Copwatch post is intended to promote the rally despite the fact that will… not be in court but you may want to verify that with them.”

So, I emailed Copwatch.  They sent me a short note directing me to the Richardson Grove Action Now folk—who never responded.

The way it looks to me is that Copwatch deliberately lied.  And not just lied to anyone but lied to their supporters…People that are trusting them about a lot of issues.

Anyone showing up for the protest might want to ask them about that.

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Photo of protestors taken February 7th.