On the Covers
It was in a follow-up interview with the Journal that Kirk unwittingly said on tape that he and his fellow supervisors had been holding closed meetings on replacing Conlon and inviting builders and developers into those personnel sessions for advice — a clear violation of the Brown Act.
The Journal filed a lawsuit against the county and endured two years in court. The Journal eventually won. It was a rare Brown Act conviction, and the county paid all legal fees. The story and numerous editorials won state and national awards and the Democracy in Action award from the League of Women Voters.
“The Image Seen ’Round the World — and Some That Weren’t,” by Judy Hodgson. December 1997.
On Oct. 30 Dan Rather looked sternly into the camera, lifted his eyebrows and said, “In California tonight, an alleged case of police abuse with an unusual twist. Environmentalists are charging that they were assaulted with pepper spray. Police say it was effective crowd control. Whatever it was, the confrontation itself is preserved on videotape. CBS’ John Blackstone has the tape and the story.”
It was the lead story in major newspapers across the nation the next morning. Before the week was out the heavily edited tape with audio was posted on the Internet and newspaper editorial writers from coast to coast began excoriating local law enforcement for using a chemical weapon again nonviolent protestors.
Condemnation was quick and universal outside of Humboldt County — even from law enforcement leaders. Reaction within the community was mixed — and very polarized — ranging from “The demonstrators got what they deserved” to “Oh my god, this is Selma in the ’60s,” referring to civil rights demonstrators in Alabama who were brutally beaten by police.
The Journal shot and printed still images of the video from a television screen to show the entire confrontation as it unfolded in the Eureka office of Rep. Frank Riggs. The stills show the eyelids of the protesters being pulled open and pepper spray applied with Q-tips by officers.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent on the cover
May 17
Ring of Fire
Sun and moon will perform a rare pas de deux in Humboldt skies on Sunday
May 10
District Soup
Racing for the top county seat in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts
May 3
A Place in the Woods
As park closure deadline nears, a scramble to save what we can
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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