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Occupy Protesters Arraigned, Ordered to Stay Away from Berkeley Campus

By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)
Monday March 19, 2012 - 10:18:00 PM

Four Occupy Cal protesters were arraigned today on misdemeanor charges for their involvement in a demonstration at Sproul Plaza at the University of California at Berkeley campus on Nov. 9. 

At the request of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Superior Court Judge Paul Seeman issued orders which require that the protesters stay away 100 yards from all UC property, except for when they go to and from class and work. 

Attorney Ronald Cruz, who represents three Occupy Cal protesters but not the four people who were arraigned today, attended today's hearing and said Seeman made it clear that the stay-away orders apply to all of the dozen people who have been charged in connection with the Nov. 9 protest. 

One protester was arraigned last Friday and the other protesters will be arraigned on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Cruz said he and other defense lawyers for the protesters strongly oppose the stay-away orders because they think the orders suppress speech and are targeted against Occupy Cal leaders. 

He said defense lawyers haven't been allowed to oppose the orders at the arraignments but plan to oppose them at hearings in the near future.