Trial dates set for anti-KKK protesters

More than a year after demonstrators gathered at the Ku Klux Klan rally held at the Ann Arbor City Hall to protest the group's presence, the trials of several anti-KKK demonstrators, who face charges for rioting and property damage, have taken a new focus.

Based on a decision by Washtenaw County Circuit Court Judge Donald Shelton last Tuesday, the cases against nine defendants, who face felony rioting charges, will be consolidated into three trials.

Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Peters contends that the law clearly supports consolidation of cases using the same evidence and witnesses.

But Defense Attorney George Washington said such a motion should have been avoided because jurors may associate allegations against individual protesters with the others on trial.

Despite the judge's decision, Washington, who represents eight of the defendants, said he is optimistic the charges will be dismissed.

"We think these charges are wrong and vicious to begin with," Washington said. "We will defeat them in court, if we don't get them dismissed before that."

One of the nine defendants facing charges is Rackham student Jessica Curtin, who is a Michigan Student Assembly Representative. "I think it is unjust to consolidate the cases because it presumes an association among the defendants," Curtin said.

Curtin also expressed concern that the charges are an attempt to "put a chill on civil rights organization in Ann Arbor."

The trial for Curtin, charged with riot and malicious destruction of property under $100; Thomas Doxey, charged with riot and assault with a dangerous weapon; Jonathan Hughes, charged with riot; and Adam Lerman, charged with riot and malicious destruction of a building over $100; is scheduled for Sept. 27.

A trial for Michael Fuqua, Song Wook Kim, Zachary Thomas, and Philip Vandevoorde, who all face riot charges, is scheduled for Oct. 11.

A separate trial for Robin Alvarez, who is charged with inciting a riot, is scheduled for Oct. 25.

Also last Tuesday, 15th District Court Judge Ann Mattson ruled for an evidentiary hearing, scheduled for July 16. The hearing will examine alleged damages to a fence separating protesters from the KKK.

Defense attorney Miranda Massie argued that the hearing is necessary since prosecutors do not have the fence because it was returned to the rental company.

Massie said Mattson's decision to have the hearing is "truly a victory for the defense."

The defendants charged with malicious damage of property under $100 include David Blair, Renee Brunk, Shanta Driver, Melissa Greene, Luke Massie, Johnathan Payne, Melissa Resch, Jason Wade and Anya Wislocki. Wislocki also faces charges for misdemeanor assault.

Before the proceedings Tuesday afternoon, supporters for the defendants circled the entrance to the courthouse, hoisting signs, and chanting "Fighting racism's not a crime, anti-racists should do no time."

Tiffany Bloom, who graduated from the University earlier this month, said she was pleased to hear drivers honking their horns to offer encouragement to the protest.

Bloom said the action shows the community's involvement with the proceedings.

"A number of people are following the cases and what's been happening," Bloom said.

Supporters for the defendants collected over 6,000 signatures demanding Head Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie drop the charges.

Groups such as the Ann Arbor Antiracist Defense Campaign and the National Women's Rights Organizing delivered the petition to Mackie's office Tuesday.

05-24-99