A group of more than 30 people chanted “Free the Justice Eight!” as they demonstrated outside of Victorville Superior Court early Monday morning, demanding the release of eight street vending activists who were arrested last Thursday.
“What is going on in our community and around us is not okay," said Frankie, a supporter who showed up early in the morning. "All these false accusations and false charges are not okay so we’re out here to support the Justice Eight."
The eight activists, a group that includes street vending advocate Edin Alex Enamorado, were arrested last week as part of an operation called “Operation Accountability,” which was brought on by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Pomona P.D., Fontana P.D., Upland P.D., and Victorville P.D. following an incident that happened at a protest on September 24th in Victorville.
The September incident involved a car that was used to antagonize protestors who were demonstrating against a deputy who had body-slammed an underage girl, according to Enamorado's attorney Christian Contreras. The driver of the car is said to have attempted to drive straight into the crowd in a threatening manner before the crowd turned on them to defend themselves.