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Occupy Protest Investigation Continues

Tents at camp
Tents at camp

By Bill Zeeble, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-992844.mp3

Dallas, TX – One Occupy Dallas protester remains jailed after Saturday's arrest. No court hearing is scheduled yet, as seven others are now free. Meanwhile, several investigations continue to find out what really happened Saturday. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.

There seems to be this conundrum with Occupy Dallas members. They maintain a non-violent stance but Saturday's protest led to violence and arrests. YouTube videos show Saturday's protest march in front of Dallas' Bank of America office. A man with a flag is pushed or falls off a planter, leading to a scuffle. That man, United Steel Worker's Union member Stephen Benavides, is charged with Assaulting a Public Servant and Resisting Arrest. He's still jailed, and denies the charges. Seven others, including Joshua Capetillo, bonded out and are charged with misuse of a sidewalk, a city ordinance violation.

Capetillo: We are completely peaceful protesters. The police tried to ensue a riot. We were just on the street protesting. Nobody was planning to be arrested that day. At Chase Bank we actually planned to be arrested.

As wind blows his long hair in his eyes, Capetillo explains he's here because he has lost three different jobs in this economy and is fed up with this unfair system.

Capetillo: I want the general public to understand we're not violent. We are here for them and we are peaceful. We have a right to peacefully assemble and that's what we are doing.

Capetillo and the rest maintain their innocence. The City of Dallas says it's investigating Saturday's melee. So is the United Steel Workers Union Local 9479. That's because Benavides is a member and was carrying a Steel Worker's flag at the march. Union member Lico Reyes is conducting the investigation. He talks to someten Occupy Dallas members as he stands in front of the food and communications tents.

Reyes: We are in touch with the police department. We have a meeting with them on Wednesday. I need videos, pictures, affidavits, anything that you all saw or heard than can shed light on the case.

Reyes says he has years of training and experience in civil rights investigations and just wants the truth. Maybe some Occupy Dallas members broke their own non-violence rules, he says. But maybe the police are to blame. Many are good, he adds, but bad cops need busting. Reyes also tells Occupy members he's sympathetic to their cause.

Reyes: This is your world. I'm a Christian. I believe that God made this world for everybody, not for one percent. We're bringing a message of hope, dignity and justice, "not just us," the one percent. But justice the nintey-nine percent.

Reyes is in touch with attorney Cameron Grey, who represents Benavides and the other seven arrested Saturday. Grey says Benavides remains in jail because bail is $50,000.

Grey: They're adamant about their innocence. They've demanded all cases be tried before a jury and I've agreed to do it for them.

Dallas Police say if Benavides is found guilty, he faces up to 10 years behind bars and a maximum $10,000 fine. The others face a Class C misdemeanor. Capetillo says no matter - Occupy Dallas will keep pushing.

Capetillo: We're not backing down, we're not scared of the police, we're not scared of the justice system.

The group has scheduled yet another protest in front of Chase Bank today, at AT&T's headquarters Thursday, and will march again Saturday in front of Bank of America. One protester also suffered a seizure during yesterday's march, according to Occupy Dallas.

Email Bill Zeeble