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.