Immigrant Rights Activist’s Trial Set

Thanks to Ana Maria Patino for this:

Remember Benito Acosta? He was the young man who was arrested at a Costa Mesa City Council meeting because he wanted to be heard at the meeting at the where Costa Mesa Mayor Mansoor was discussing using the police department for immigration violations. Benito is going to trial in Harbor Court on August 15, 2007 for a violation of a city ordinance Costa Mesa city ordinance 2-61(b) and 2-64, which address unlawful conduct by audience members during city council meetings.

This is a criminal trial where Benito could face a fine of $1,000 and 6 months in jail on each count.

The charges of “disrupting” a city council proceeding stem from a free-for-all that broke out during a public comments session of the Jan. 3, 2006, Costa Mesa city council meeting after police, acting on Mayor Allan Mansoor’s orders to take an early recess, pulled Acosta away from the speaker’s podium and pushed him outside the council chambers before his
three minute speaking limit had expired.

If Benito gets a not guilty, the result could cost the City of Costa Mesa lots of $$$ because he has a pending civil rights action that has already been filed I believe. 

Trial to start on August 15, 2007 in Harbor Court in Newport Beach.

This story is reported at OC Voice here: http://www.ocvoice.com/OC_VOICE/Home/OCV%20-%20August%202007.pdf

Be there if you can to show Benito your support!

bh