Maya’s next court hearing is Thursday, July 19 at 9:30am at 26th and California in courtroom 207. We are holding off on plans for a press conference. or wearing fist shirts until a later court date. But it would be great if any of you could be there to show support. Your support so far has been wonderful.
If you do come remember not to bring in phones unless you are ready for the security to hold them for you while in court.
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On March 1, University of Chicago police brutally attacked and arrested Maya (Diya Cruz), a member of the Revolution Club Chicago, for participating in a SILENT protest in support of undocumented immigrants. On top of this outrageous attack, they are now charging HER with felony aggravated battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. She has been banned from the University of Chicago campus by the University and by the judge who made it a condition of her bond.
Maya took part in 11 minutes of silence for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are now being terrorized in an escalating ethnic cleansing by the Trump/Pence regime (http://revcom.us/a/533/trump-regime-ramps-up-ethnic-cleansing-en.html
She, together with three other members of the Revolution Club, walked into the University of Chicago student center dining hall (Hutchinson Commons inside Reynold’s Club), held up sheets of paper announcing 11 minutes of silence for 11 million undocumented immigrants and stood silently for 11 minutes. Almost the entire dining hall fell silent for the 11 minutes. At the end the Revolution Club thanked all who participated, gave them ways to learn more and get further involved, and headed towards the exit.
As the demonstrators were peacefully leaving, University of Chicago police stopped them and then roughly grabbed Maya, arresting her and dragging her down the stairs out of the building. Maya was charged with felony aggravated battery on a police officer and resisting arrest, when SHE was the one who was injured and had to go to the hospital for her injuries.
This is the same University of Chicago that, in the name of free speech, has given a platform to Steve Bannon to propagate his toxic and racist message attacking immigrants and all people of color. Then they bring down the police against people silently protesting against the demonization and persecution of those same immigrants Bannon is attacking.
On top of this, Maya, who has been volunteering with the Revolution Club Chicago project since last Spring, was further targeted by the state at what should have been a routine bail hearing. The Assistant State’s Attorney arrived with a lengthy, distorted and utterly irrelevant political dossier on Maya, implying that Maya should not be released – on the basis of her alleged political views and associations, and the fact that the police have previously attempted to suppress her while doing lawful speech.
We demand: End this travesty of justice!
1) Throw out all charges against Diya Cruz from the March 1st University of Chicago silent protest
2) Rescind the orders banning her from University of Chicago campus
3) Stop the police and prosecutorial harassment of Diya Cruz
On March 26 a grand jury returned an indictment on Maya. We packed the court to demand:
Drop the charges & ban- HANDS OFF MAYA!
Sign petition here: https://tinyurl.com/ybvaodvv