Rochester Activist on Trial This Thursday!!!

At 6pm, Thursday, Dec. 15th, activist Josh Karpoff will be going before a Judge in Ogden Town Court on trumped up charges of harassment. Josh was supporting the striking workers at Caldwell Mfg, out in Ogden, when a security guard lost his balance while escorting on of the scab vehicles through the picket line, and blamed said loss of balance on Josh. Josh was arrested by Ogden Town Police and charged with Harassment in the Second Degree, which is a violation. <!--break--> 6pm Dec. 15th in Ogden Town Court Show your solidarity with other activists and striking workers!!! This incident is not the first involving this particular security guard. He has been involved in several incidents on the picket line in which strikers were arrested. This case is particularly important as it will set the precedent in whether the intimidation by the owner's thugs will be allowed to expand beyond the strikers themselves to their supporters as well. Thanks to the strikers, Josh has video evidence proving his innocence, but without strong visible support in the courtroom, the Judge may try to push through the trumped up charge. The plan is to meet at the Caldwell Picket Line at 3:30pm to oppose the scabs as they leave for the day, then go to Ogden Town Court, which is just outside of Spencerport, around 5:00pm. For directions to Caldwell Mfg, check out the solidarity website, www.caldwellstrikesupport.org . The town court is the next exit west on Rt. 531, Head south on S. Union Street, Make a left at the Church, and a right into the Town Hall parking lot. The court is around back. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Josh's work here is some background. The son of two union members, coming from a long line of union activists he was raised in an atmosphere of class struggle. He has been attending RIT for over 4 years now, majoring in Electrical Engineering, where he has helped to lead the CIA Off RIT campaign, RIT Anti War and the Rochester branch of the International Socialist Organization. Josh was a lead organizer for the first Rochester Antiwar Conference and helped to found Rochester Against War. He helped lead RIT students in challenging racist right wing ideologue Daniel Pipes when he vistied RIT, as well as organizing students to chase military recruiters off campus. He has been a leading member of the student antiwar movement nationally, serving as the Northeast Regional Representative on the national coordinating committee of the Campus Antiwar Network. In 2005, he recieved the Metro Justice Young Activist Award for his efforts.

<p>At 6pm, Thursday, Dec. 15th, activist Josh Karpoff will be going before a<br /> Judge in Ogden Town Court on trumped up charges of harassment. Josh was<br /> supporting the striking workers at Caldwell Mfg, out in Ogden, when a<br /> security guard lost his balance while escorting on of the scab vehicles<br /> through the picket line, and blamed said loss of balance on Josh. Josh was<br /> arrested by Ogden Town Police and charged with Harassment in the Second<br /> Degree, which is a violation.</p> <!--break--><p>6pm Dec. 15th in Ogden Town Court<br /> Show your solidarity with other activists and striking workers!!!</p> <p>This incident is not the first involving this particular security guard. He<br /> has been involved in several incidents on the picket line in which strikers<br /> were arrested. This case is particularly important as it will set the<br /> precedent in whether the intimidation by the owner's thugs will be allowed<br /> to expand beyond the strikers themselves to their supporters as well. Thanks<br /> to the strikers, Josh has video evidence proving his innocence, but without<br /> strong visible support in the courtroom, the Judge may try to push through<br /> the trumped up charge.</p> <p>The plan is to meet at the Caldwell Picket Line at 3:30pm to oppose the<br /> scabs as they leave for the day, then go to Ogden Town Court, which is just<br /> outside of Spencerport, around 5:00pm. For directions to Caldwell Mfg, check<br /> out the solidarity website, <a href="http://www.caldwellstrikesupport.org">www.caldwellstrikesupport.org</a> . The town court<br /> is the next exit west on Rt. 531, Head south on S. Union Street, Make a left<br /> at the Church, and a right into the Town Hall parking lot. The court is<br /> around back.</p> <p>For those of you who are unfamiliar with Josh's work here is some<br /> background. The son of two union members, coming from a long line of union<br /> activists he was raised in an atmosphere of class struggle. He has been<br /> attending RIT for over 4 years now, majoring in Electrical Engineering,<br /> where he has helped to lead the CIA Off RIT campaign, RIT Anti War and the<br /> Rochester branch of the International Socialist Organization. Josh was a<br /> lead organizer for the first Rochester Antiwar Conference and helped to<br /> found Rochester Against War. He helped lead RIT students in challenging<br /> racist right wing ideologue Daniel Pipes when he vistied RIT, as well as<br /> organizing students to chase military recruiters off campus. He has been a<br /> leading member of the student antiwar movement nationally, serving as the<br /> Northeast Regional Representative on the national coordinating committee of<br /> the Campus Antiwar Network. In 2005, he recieved the Metro Justice Young<br /> Activist Award for his efforts.</p>