According to the indictment, Orellana and at least two others drove around downtown L.A. in a pickup truck distributing Uvex Bionic face shields and other items to a crowd engaged in a protest near the federal building on Los Angeles Street on June 9.
Prosecutors allege Orellana was helping protesters withstand less-lethal munitions being deployed by Los Angeles police officers and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies. [...]
Asked how handing out defensive equipment was a crime during a news conference last month, U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli [said] "He wasn't handing masks out at the beach. ... They're covering their faces. They're wearing backpacks. These weren't peaceful protesters." [...] Essayli described anyone who remained at a protest scene after an unlawful assembly was declared as a "rioter" and said peaceful protesters "don't need a face shield." [...]
"It's ridiculous charges. We're demanding they drop the charges now. They're insignificant, ridiculous," Montes said. "The most it amounts to is that he was passing out personal protective equipment, which includes boxes of water, hand sanitizer and snacks."
If you want a picture of the future, it's a rubber bullet screaming "STOP RESISTING". When people wear protective equipment, "the ability of that officer to gain compliance is restricted."
Remember, kids: all protests are peaceful until the cops declare that they are not!
Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.
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