Orange County

Attorneys respond to the Orange Co. DA’s charge that the students’ protest was “organized thuggery,” and point out that the prosecution’s intimidation tactics in building their case undermined the constitution and violated the law in order to criminalize dissent.

More than 30 nationwide chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, along with interfaith activist communities, decry the convictions of the Irvine 11 while pledging to stand in firm solidarity with the students — and protesters everywhere who stand up against Israeli policies.

Guilty verdicts but no jailtime for the Irvine 11 defendants, as the presiding judge acknowledges that they were motivated by their beliefs. Attorneys say they will appeal — as high as the Supreme Court — to protect free speech and the right to dissent in the US.

Defense attorneys tell the jurors in the Irvine 11 case that they “stand between democracy and creeping fascism,” and should find the students not guilty of criminal charges for their nonviolent protest which was protected under the right to free speech.

The prosecution claims that the Irvine 11 students unlawfully conspired to “censor” Israeli ambassador Michael Oren, while the defense argues that the students were in their full constitutional rights to exercise free speech.

The defense rests following the conclusion of testimonies and evidence in the Irvine 11 free speech trial. The closing arguments — and a verdict — are anticipated for Monday.

Attorneys for the Irvine 11 attempt to bring evidence of an Israeli official’s plans to attend an LA Lakers game into the courtroom — blowing a hole in the prosecution’s claims that he had to cut short his speech due to protests — but the judge has refused to let the jury see the photograph.

Dennis Bernstein of Flashpoints interviews Nora Barrows-Friedman about the Irvine 11 trial, which began earlier this week in southern California.

Opening arguments in the Irvine 11 free speech trial include the defense attorney’s statements that no unlawful act was committed, and therefore the misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit an unlawful act are baseless.

Opening arguments in the “Irvine 11” free speech trial formally begin Wednesday in California. The Muslim students who protested an Israeli official’s visit continue to fight criminal charges that could lead to two-year jail sentences.