Vigil at UCSF -Thursday, 4:30 PM....UCSF Police....PS on SF Zoo

[Guest guest]

Dear Advocates for Animals: Vigil/Leafleting: There will be a vigil/leafleting (w/ the latest newsletter of "First, Do No Harm") at UCSF's Parnassus Campus (513 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco) this Thursday, January 17, 4:30 PM, as we continue to expose and protest the horrible atrocities committed against our fellow animals confined within university laboratories. (Please see information on public transportation to UCSF's Parnassus Campus below.) Public Transportation to UCSF's Parnassus Campus: If you would like to take public transportation to UCSF, the San Francisco Muni buses #6 and #43 both go right by the vigil's venue on Parnassus Avenue; also you can take the N-Judah streetcar, get off at Carl & Arguello streets, and take the elevator (going up) within the

UCSF facility to get to Parnassus Avenue. If you are coming from the East Bay, you can take BART, get off at any stop between Embarcadero and Civic Center in San Francisco, and then take an N-Judah streetcar going outbound (and follow directions above regarding N-Judah streetcar). By the way, the latest issue of "First, Do No Harm" will be available electronically later this month, and it has some great information on the numbers of animals held and abused within UCSF's walls in recent years, also an article with some great pic's of the monkeys released from UCSF to a sanctuary in Oklahoma, as well as a provocative interview with Ronald Lippert, advocate for animals and life. If you would

like a copy, please let me know, and I will be happy to send you it via the Internet. ---- FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, UCSF POLICE As some of you may know, the last couple of vigils this past year were met by an upsetting UCSF police presence. Since then I have gathered some information from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) regarding our First Amendment rights and how to manage a potentially intimidating police presence at UCSF (and elsewhere for that matter). Following are some questions and answers that I found in some of NLG's literature, which, I feel, are helpful to know, whether demonstrating, leafleting or holding a vigil at UCSF or anywhere. ----- First Amendment

Rights Q. Can my free speech rights be restricted because of what I want to say - even if it's controversial? A. No. The First Amendment prohibits restrictions based on the content of speech. However, this does not mean that the Constitution completely protects all types of free speech activity in every circumstance. Police and government officials are allowed to place certain non-discriminatory and narrowly drawn "time, place and manner" restrictions on the exercise of First Amendment rights. Q. Where can I engage in free speech activity? A. Generally, all types of expression are constitutionally

protected in traditional "public forums" such as public sidewalks and parks. Public streets can be used for marches subject to reasonable permit conditions. In addition, speech activity may be permitted at other public locations such as the plazas in front of government buildings which the government has opened up to similar speech activities. Q. May I distribute leaflets and other literature on public sidewalks? A. Yes. Pedestrians on public sidewalks may be approached with leaflets, newspapers, petitions and solicitations for donations. Tables may also be set up on sidewalks for these purposes if sufficient room is left for pedestrians to pass. These types of free speech activity are legal as long as entrances to buildings are not blocked and passers-by are not physically or unreasonably detained. No permits should be

required. Q. Do I have a right to picket on public sidewalks? A. Yes. This is an activity for which a permit is not required. However, picketing must be done in an orderly, non-disruptive fashion so that pedestrians can pass by and entrances to buildings are not blocked. Contrary to the belief of some law enforcement officials, picketers are not required to keep moving, but may remain in one place as long as they leave room on the sidewalk for others to pass. Q. What other types of free speech activity are constitutionally protected? A. The First Amendment covers all forms of communication, including music, theater, film and dance. The Constitution

also protects actions that symbolically express a viewpoint. Examples of such symbolic forms of speech include wearing masks and costumes or holding a candlelight vigil. However, symbolic acts and civil disobedience that involve illegal conduct may be outside the realm of constitutional protections and can sometimes lead to arrest and conviction. Therefore, while the act of sitting in a road may be expressing a political opinion, the act of blocking traffic may lead to criminal punishment. Encounters with Police Q: What if the police stop me on the street? A: Ask if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, consider just walking away. If the police say you are not under arrest, but are not free to go, then you are being detained. The police

can pat down the outside of your clothing if they have reason to suspect you might be armed and dangerous. If they search any more than this, say clearly, "I do not consent to a search." They may keep searching anyway. You do not have to answer any questions. Q. Do I have to give my name? A. Legally, you do not have to give your name unless they suspect you of a crime, but refusing to give your name is likely to arouse suspicion. Giving a false name could be a crime. Q. What if I am treated badly by the police? A. Write down the officer's badge number, name, or other identifying information. You have a right to ask the officer for this information. Try to get witnesses and their names and phone numbers. If you are injured, seek medical

attention and take pictures of the injuries as soon as you can. Call the NLG...or a lawyer as soon as possible. -------------------------- If you would like additional information on your rights under the First Amendment or dealing with the police, you can go to the website of the National Lawyers Guild at www.nlg.org/sf - or www.nlgsf.org for the S.F. Bay Area Chapter. Their phone number is 415-281-1041, though I believe this number is mainly for leaving messages via voice mail. Hope to see you at the

next vigil - take care! Bob O'Brien PS: And only because of the publicity the SF Zoo has gotten recently, I am compelled to say this. First, I must say that UCSF labs versus the San Francisco Zoo is like comparing a concentration camp for nonhuman animals, where thousands suffer and perish on a yearly basis, to a low-security prison operating under the guise of protecting its nonhuman captive inhabitants, with the added dimension of allowing humans to visit, gawk and taunt the prisoners. It was only a few years ago when others (from the group Animal Rights Connection) and I would protest/leaflet monthly at SF Zoo (which doesn't deserve the name Saint Francis in front of it) - and not the Mayor, the supervisors, nor other elected officials or bureaucrats gave us much if

any attention. I guess we needed a captive tiger, named Tatiana by her human captors, to wake them up to smell the coffee (now mixed with her blood, as well as that of the human victims).

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