The 'Genies in Eugene

Jeffrey St. Clair sitka at home.com
Sat Dec 11 08:25:17 PST 1999


[the oregonian has a long interview with Zerzan this morning. but it's not online. this is the kind of ridiculous treatment being given to the kids down in the Seattle of the Willamette. lesson: don't smile at your victim when you testify before a hanging judge?--jsc]

Anarchists decry rock thrower's

sentence

A Lane County judge imposes a seven-year term on the man who hit an

officer during the march

Monday, October 18, 1999

By Cristine Gonzalez of The Associated Press

Anarchists are denouncing the seven-year sentence imposed on a Eugene

rioter who threw a rock at a police officer, calling the decision political

grandstanding at the expense of justice.

"What they're trying to do is intimidate people," John Zerzan, a Eugene

anarchist writer, said Thursday. "But I don't think it's going to stop us

from trying to get across our point of view."

Lane County Judge Mary Ann Bearden said her sentence Wednesday was

intended to send a message against violence, even in the name of a social

cause.

Robert Lee Thaxton, 39, was convicted of second-degree assault and

rioting for hurling a 4-pound rock at Sgt. Larry Blackwell during a June

18 anarchists march in downtown Eugene that erupted into violence.

The assault charge, a Measure 11 crime, carries a mandatory minimum of

five years and 10 months in prison. For the rioting charge, Thaxton

ordinarily would have gotten only probation, but the judge departed from

the guidelines to give him 18 months and make the terms run

consecutively.

"We were hoping that the judge would have some compassion and realize

that the actions that Robert took on that day weren't severe enough to get

88 months in prison," said Tim Lewis, a volunteer with Eugene Copwatch,

a watchdog group that videotapes police brutality. "But she didn't see it

that way."

The riot began as a peaceful march to culminate a two-day anarchists

conference at the University of Oregon to protest corporate greed,

environmental pollution and corruption.

But the situation quickly turned ugly.

In his trial, Thaxton said he was afraid Blackwell was going to hit him. He

admitted to carrying a rock in self-defense. He said he tried to throw it

over Blackwell's head as a diversion so he could escape.

The softball-sized rock hit Blackwell in the chest. He was badly bruised

but did not suffer any permanent injuries.

"The thing that bothered me the most was when he testified he had a smile

on his face," Blackwell said. "He said he was at the riot for four hours. He

described it as festive, and he was afraid to leave."

Still, anarchists said the punishment does not fit the crime.

Thaxton's former attorney, Charles Porter, said an appeal would be filed.

Thaxton's court-appointed attorney, Lisa Gallo, could not be reached for

comment.

A group of anarchists and other citizens will gather Friday for a National

Police Brutality rally at the University of Oregon and voice their

discontent with the Thaxton case.



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