The Unconstitutional Experience of The Activist Group Termed, ‘The Justice 8’
Storyboard art by Fernando Servin Instagram @9.wind
Trigger warning for external links specified. Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities share the same oppression, albeit in variance. Stereotypes and discrimination exist across cultures. We are stronger together. We shall not be divided.
The Protest of a Deputy body-slamming a High School Girl
On Friday, September 22, 2023, a fight broke out at Victor Valley High School during a football game. When officers arrived at the scene, video footage (trigger warning!) captured a deputy body-slamming a 16-year-old female to the ground, later suffering spinal injuries, and had to be transported to a trauma hospital.
San Bernardino Police Department issued a press release identifying the deputy as the victim in the incident and said he” pulled the female away, causing her to land on the ground.”
Community outrage for police brutality against the teen girl was on display that same weekend as protestors stood outside Victorville's sheriff's station. Four protesters were arrested and charged with PC244, a felony using acid or other corrosive agent on a person.
The series of events on this day are currently part of an active investigation against those termed The Justice 8: David Chavez, Edwin Pena, Stephanie Amesquita, Fernando Lopez, Vanessa Carrasco, Gullit Acevedo, Wendy Lujan, and Alex Enamorado.
December 14th Raids and Arrests
Beginning in the early morning of December 14, each of their homes across Southern California was raided until all were in custody with 4-5 different felony counts.
On December 14th, San Bernardino Sheriff Shannon D. Dicus and District Attorney Jason Anderson hosted a press conference confirming the arrest of 8 activists through a cross-county investigation between the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Pomona P.D., Fontana P.D., Upland P.D., titled, Operation Accountability. Dicus highlighted the events occurring on September 24 without addressing whether there was an investigation into the deputy's brutality or the lack of charges against the driver attempting to drive through protesters. The sheriff instead focused on accusing the Justice 8 of pretending discernment towards a fake vulnerable community for views and clickbait and profiting off of edited videos.
“This group manipulates videos and photos on social media in an attempt to make it look like they are protectors of underrepresented people. However they use racism to threaten and intimidate their victims causing them to get on their knees to beg for forgiveness while still assaulting them.”
In addition to the Victorville incident, two other incidents are part of the investigation.
Pomona, CA Incident at El Super
On September 3, 2023, an Allied Security guard was seen harassing street vendors inside a strip mall parking lot. The interaction quickly escalated, and the guard was caught on video hitting a woman vendor and her son. When the police were called, the vendors opted against filing a report because the officers indicated they would also be cited if they had to speak to the guard.
A protest ensued, with Enamorado present and confronting the guard. People reported seeing the security guard attempt to run down people with his car, and both protesters and the guard used pepper spray. The guard is listed as John Doe #1 in the current case against the Justice 8.
Pomona, CA Incident Forced Apology
Earlier the same day, at a protest outside of the Pomona Police Department, a man threw a glass bottle filled with urine at the crowd. He was quickly identified and followed to his home, where onlookers recorded him pleading on his knees for forgiveness. The man is listed as John Doe #2.
Felony Charges
San Bernardino County Judge Shannon Faherty outright withheld bail for all eight defendants four days after their December 18, 2023 arrest. The eight activists stood before the court with a new total of 16 felony charges. Judge Faherty pushed back bail hearings to December 26th, 2023, forcing the group to remain in jail without bail through Christmas.
Christian Contreras, representing Wendy Lujan, told the crowd outside the courthouse on the 18th, “When I got there, the judge had already started the hearing without me there, which is a constitutional violation.”
“Not even people accused of murder have no bail holds.”
Below were the charges:
PC 182(A)(1)-F: Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
PC 422(A)-F: Criminal Threats which will Result in Death or Great Bodily Injury
PC 236-F: False Imprisonment
PC 207(A)-F: Kidnapping
PC 245(a)(4)-F: Assault by Means of Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury
PC 422(A)-F: Criminal Threats which will Result in Death or Great Bodily Injury
PC 22810(G)(1)-F: Unlawful Use Of Tear Gas
PC 245(a)(4)-F: Assault by Means of Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury
PC 22810(G)(1)-F: Unlawful Use Of Tear Gas
PC 594(B)(1)-F: Vandalism ($400 or More)
PC 236-F: False Imprisonment
PC 22810(G)(1)-F: Unlawful Use Of Tear Gas
PC 245(a)(4)-F: Assault by Means of Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury
PC 236-F: False Imprisonment
PC 22810(A)-M: Possession Of Tear Gas By a Convicted Felon
PC 29800(A)(1)-F: Felon/Addict/Etc. Possess a Firearm
Preliminary hearings ended Wednesday, January 10, 2024, with only one person receiving bail. Below is a video of a Pomona officer working to protect its citizens.
“In San Bernardino County, myself and local police chiefs to include the Pomona Police Chief and the deputies in officers that work for our departments will always continue to uphold the law and protect its citizens from this type of unlawful behavior.”
