1/ My #LATEST is an update on a prosecution in San Diego that could have huge repercussions for how #Antifa is perceived by the legal system:
As crucial legal test for Antifa ideology heads to trial, right-wing media also scrutinized
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
As crucial legal test for Antifa ideology heads to trial, right-wing media also scrutinized
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
2/ On Jan. 9 2021, a mob of white supremacists, Proud Boys & Trump supporters stormed around Pacific Beach trying to start fights.
They were met by an Antifa mob. Scraps ensued. It was all caught on video.
Months later, SD DA Summer Stephan charged 11 people — all Antifa.
They were met by an Antifa mob. Scraps ensued. It was all caught on video.
Months later, SD DA Summer Stephan charged 11 people — all Antifa.
3/ I examined the decision to only charge one side, and Stephan’s history of promoting far-right conspiracy theories about Antifa, in this deep-dive investigation last year:
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
usatoday.com/story/news/nat…
4/ in the six months since that story, six of the “San Diego 11” have made plea deals.
Two pioneering defense attorneys have taken up the cases of two of the remaining defendants & have vowed to take the case to trial.
It’s too important to give up, they say.
Two pioneering defense attorneys have taken up the cases of two of the remaining defendants & have vowed to take the case to trial.
It’s too important to give up, they say.
5/ “This is the criminalization of an ideology,” Curtis Briggs, defense attorney for Jeremy White, one of the remaining Antifa defendants told me. “Really it's McCarthyism, and the United States went through this already.”
6/ if successful, the prosecution could form a blueprint for conservative prosecutors around the country to take aim at leftist protestors, labeling them “Antifa” and arguing that means they’re part of a de facto criminal enterprise or gang.
7/ In a bizarre twist in the case, last month a defense attorney filed a motion accusing a local journalist of committing felonies.
“Eva Knott” (@EvaKnott) who writes for the San Diego Reader, is not actually called Eva Knott.
But she filled out court paperwork in that name.
“Eva Knott” (@EvaKnott) who writes for the San Diego Reader, is not actually called Eva Knott.
But she filled out court paperwork in that name.
8/ “Knott’s” real name is Catherine Cranston.
She’s written stories about the San Diego case with far-right provocateur @MrAndyNgo.
The defense attorneys say she misrepresented herself to the court to get access & take photos.
She’s written stories about the San Diego case with far-right provocateur @MrAndyNgo.
The defense attorneys say she misrepresented herself to the court to get access & take photos.
9/ I confronted “Eva Knott” outside a courtroom in San Diego. She told me her name was Eva Knott.
It isn’t.
Now the court will decide if it’s ok for a journalist to use a pseudonym on court papers.
It isn’t.
Now the court will decide if it’s ok for a journalist to use a pseudonym on court papers.
10/ so this case now isn’t just a test for Antifa, but also for the limits of journalists using pseudonyms.
“Eva Knott’s” press pass was already revoked by the San Diego Police Department.
We’ll see if the court/DA take action against her.
“Eva Knott’s” press pass was already revoked by the San Diego Police Department.
We’ll see if the court/DA take action against her.
11/ I’ll be covering the case until it goes to trial.
Stay tuned. This is important.
- fin -
Stay tuned. This is important.
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