a fellow meditator is still in jail - please call to get him released!

[Dawn Haney]

URGENT: Pancho Ramos Stierle, the man on the right in this picture, is being held for deportation by the Oakland PD. Rally Tues (today!) @ 7th & Clay at Noon, in support of Pancho and a peaceful effort to get him released. He is being held on a deportation hold at the request of ICE by the Oakland PD.

Call the Oakland Police Department to ask for his release: (510) 268-7777. The Hold is Voluntary. ICE tells Oakland Police Department to Hold Pancho but they are not actually LEGALLY obligated to hold him so if we can convince the Oakland Police Department to release Pancho and not give him up to ICE that is legally within their discretion.



Also today, if anyone is interested in sitting at UC Berkeley's General Strike (TODAY, November 15th), we've had a request. Abby Olmstead, a student there who has sat with us before, has asked if anyone would be able to go sit on campus today, with the banner would be awesome, but any kind of sitting would be great! Her number is 707.496.9639 if you want to connect with her for sitting!

Much love,
Dawn

[Randy Lind]

Thank you Dawn. 

______________________

Oakland Manual Therapy

Randy Lind, CMT

Clinic Director, Co-Owner

510.763.8133

www.oaklandmanualtherapy.com

[Randy Lind]

Dawn,

Do you know what the full story is about this man? I'm not very educated about non US citizens rights and these types of issues. Any help or web site that you can me to? Thanks

Randy

______________________

Oakland Manual Therapy

Randy Lind, CMT

Clinic Director, Co-Owner

510.763.8133

www.oaklandmanualtherapy.com

On Nov 15, 2011, at 9:11 AM, Dawn Haney <dawn.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Judith Katz]

I can tell you from personal knowledge of Pancho over the last several
years that he is one of the most deeply committed pacifistic people I
have ever come across. Here are some of his blog entries.
http://www.charityfocus.org/blog/view.php?op=auth&mid=45066

On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Randy Lind <randyl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dawn,
> Do you know what the full story is about this man? I'm not very educated
> about non US citizens rights and these types of issues. Any help or web site
> that you can me to? Thanks
> Randy
> ______________________
> Oakland Manual Therapy
> Randy Lind, CMT
> Clinic Director, Co-Owner
> 510.763.8133
> www.oaklandmanualtherapy.com
> On Nov 15, 2011, at 9:11 AM, Dawn Haney <dawn.m...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> URGENT: Pancho Ramos Stierle, the man on the right in this picture, is being
> held for deportation by the Oakland PD. Rally Tues (today!) @ 7th & Clay at
> Noon, in support of Pancho and a peaceful effort to get him released. He is
> being held on a deportation hold at the request of ICE by the Oakland PD.
>
> Call the Oakland Police Department to ask for his release: (510) 268-7777.
> The Hold is Voluntary. ICE tells Oakland Police Department to Hold Pancho
> but they are not actually LEGALLY obligated to hold him so if we can
> convince the Oakland Police Department to release Pancho and not give him up
> to ICE that is legally within their discretion.
>
>
>

[Dawn Haney]

Thanks for asking Randy, here's a little bit about what I know. And thanks Judith for sharing that personal connection to Pancho!

I'm not finding a website about his case, but here is my understanding of immigration law as it would apply to this case (from an advocate's perspective ... I am not an attorney!)

I assume Pancho is charged with a misdemeanor at most, which would include disturbing the peace or other typical charges for peaceful civil disobedience. Even if he has proper documentation to be in the US, because he is not a US citizen, Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) can request that a local police department hold him for 72 hours. If he is held, ICE will pick him up and transfer him to a detention center where he will be jailed indefinitely while they determine whether he will be allowed to stay in the US or be deported.

This is a request from ICE to hold Pancho. Oakland Police Department has the option to hold him as a courtesy to ICE or they can choose to release him. San Francisco's Sheriff has a clear policy that they will not honor a request from ICE to hold people charged with misdemeanors, which for many cities comes out of a desire to not spend precious city resources on federal issues.

Oakland Police Department clearly has a choice here, pressure could help them choose to release him! Here's some language you might use if a script is helpful: "I am calling to demand the release of Pancho Ramos Stierle who was arrested early Monday morning while peacefully meditating at Occupy Oakland. Oakland Police Department does not have to honor the ICE hold. If he had been arrested for peaceful civil disobedience in San Francisco, he would have already been released! Do the right thing, and release Pancho Ramos Stierle immediately."

Links:
San Francisco's policy on refusing to honor ICE holds: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/05/san-francisco-county-jail-won-t-hold-inmates-ice
Overview of what happens to non-citizens facing criminal charges (including charges as simple as jaywalking): http://criminal-law.freeadvice.com/criminal-law/criminal-law/immigration-crimes.htm

If anyone has any clarifying information or knowledge about the legal issues here, I'd love any additions/edits of this summary!

Thanks everyone -
Dawn

On Tue, Nov 15, 2011 at 10:22 AM, Randy Lind <randyl...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Gretchen Till]

From other photos on facebook (the one you sent in the email didn't come through to me),  it looks like he was arrested at Sproul Plaza (in Berkeley on State property technically the domain of the UC Cops)  not that he should be held at all, but what is OPD doing holding him?   Perhaps it is the Alameda County Sheriff's Office?

Gretchen

--
Gretchen Till      grt....@gmail.com     336 40th Street, #4     Oakland, CA 94609     510.682.4102

[Dawn Haney]

Here's a link to the picture: https://picasaweb.google.com/115743867763035390097/OccupyThePresentMoment#5675321558108791410

Location is at Occupy Oakland at the auditorium close to City Hall.

I also just saw this info about phone calls:
it sounds now like the most effective thing is to contact the sheriff's dept. and ask for his release. Sherriff Administration is (510) 272-6878, Santa Rita is (925) 551-6500. http://alamedacountysheriff.org/contact_us.htm#email

Dawn

[Randy Lind]

That's perfect Dawn. I'll call over there this afternoon. 

Randy

______________________

Oakland Manual Therapy

Randy Lind, CMT

Clinic Director, Co-Owner

510.763.8133

www.oaklandmanualtherapy.com

[f h]

Hi all, i just called The 510 number. They told me that he's at another facility. The number there is 925-651-5500. I just tried calling and the line is busy. I dont want to assume that this is The right number, so if anyone can verify, please let us know.

Sorry about The typos....vía phone.

Funie

[Gretchen Till]

I got this off of the Seminary in the Streets facebook post.

Call the Alameda County Sheriff's Dept to ask for his release. The Hold is Voluntary. ICE tells the sheriff to Hold Pancho but they are not actually LEGALLY obligated to hold him so if we can convince the Sherrif's Administration to release Pancho and not give him up to ICE that is legally within their discretion. Sherrif Administration is (510) 272-6878, Santa Rita is (925) 551-6500. http://alamedacountysheriff.org/contact_us.htm#email

[Claudia Castro]

Hi everybody,

I did call the sheriff's office.  Take care,  a kindly women asked me for my name and phone number.  Not sure why she asked, kinda wish I hadn't shared my info.

[msu...@comcast.net]

Hello Dawn,

 

Does BPF have anything organized for participating in today"s Occupy Oakland Day of Action and march?

 

Best,

 

Michael

[david nelson]

Hello Friend,

 

We sat with solidity and ease during an energetic rally, holding a space of peace until they marched off.

A few images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rezdog

 

May you be well,

david

[Dawn Haney]

The noon sits continue to happen daily at noon! The next bigger Occupy mindfulness event BPF has planned is for Saturday December 3rd. Details still coming together ...

If folks want to organize other plans - like marching together or planning an action like the Practicing Generosity actions - let's discuss together over email or at one of the noon sits. I've been incredibly inspired to see how meditation & Buddhist practice have been part of Occupy Oakland in steady & significant ways, between our sits and the photos of meditators being arrested last week. I'm loving it! 

Dawn

Practicing Generosity actions:
http://www.turningwheelmedia.org/practicing-generosity-at-the-oakland-general-strike/
http://www.turningwheelmedia.org/generosity-keeps-on-giving/

Meditator Released!
http://bpf.org/meditator-released