Should SLO County DA prosecute protest leader Tianna Arata? Here’s what Trib readers say
Heartbreaking news
Reading the news about the case against Tianna Arata breaks my heart. Let us think about why these events occurred.
People in our community chose to act on their beliefs that our society has unjustly treated Black people. These people participated in peaceful protests. Consequently they were targeted by people who chose to drive toward them yelling and shaking their fists. Protesters have also been bumped into by cars — potentially lethal weapons.
Why do we, white people, expect these young people, many of whom are people of color, to be superhuman and not get angry or agitated? Why do we judge the protesters for exercising the little power they have by marching onto Highway 101? Why are Black people supposed to be the only ones who “turn the other cheek”? I have been at protests and been yelled at by people expressing hatred. I am irked but I know that I choose my beliefs and my actions. No one can choose their skin color and it hurts to be yelled at for that reason. Anger is a normal reaction. The protesters, including Ms. Arata, have controlled their anger admirably. I ask the DA to drop the charges against her.
Claire C. Grether, Shell Beach
Different dangers
Marching in the street and especially onto Highway 101 is dangerous to other people. So are not wearing masks and having meetings inside, including in churches. The prosecuting attorney must decide whether to prosecute Tianna Arata and Elias Bautista in connection with the former, while he has already decided not to take action against those who endanger others with spread of COVID-19.
I strongly support the goals of Black Lives Matter, even though I oppose marching onto Highway 101. Of one thing I am certain: I would despair if Tianna and Elias go to prison. We need strong young leaders even if they have made youthful mistakes as did George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.
Andy Greensfelder, San Luis Obispo
Dow deserves better
Although we both worked for the private sector, my husband and I spent the majority of our careers in public service management positions in another California county. We know, first hand, the tremendous workload, pressures and judgment decisions a district attorney must make.
To have an individual of the integrity of Dan Dow serving all constituents within San Luis Obispo County is a character quality not always found in an elected official.
I have been privileged, on occasion, to administer the oath of office to a newly elected official. For the benefit of the electorate, it states in part that “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” and will bear “truth faith and allegiance” to both. Dan Dow has done this throughout his career. He protects law-abiding citizens from those who would cause harm. To ignore the danger of blocking a public freeway would mean he is not upholding his oath.
Both my husband and I are grateful to have a district attorney who is professional and fair and uses wisdom and common sense in carrying out his duties on behalf of this county. He deserves to be commended, not criticized unfairly, for doing exactly what we elected him to do.
Mischelle Townsend, Pismo Beach
Is this SLO or Portland?
After years of mentoring by the BLM in Portland, then moving to SLO, Ms. Tianna Arata was arrested as a leader of the protest that blocked 101 and damaged a car with a child on board. The Tribune, SLO mayor, and “woke” locals are rushing to defend her and/or fund “the movement.” Question: Will SLO remain “the happiest place on earth” with the police and DA maintaining order; or will weak enforcement encourage anarchists to come to SLO and fuel mob action?
Razing statues, burning businesses, terrorizing homeowners and injuring or blinding police does seem to be the goal of some activist mobs. My hope is that the local leadership does not allow the anarchists to hijack the legitimate BLM/MLK goals of true freedom and equality via lawful means and mutual respect.
Rod MacLeod, Pismo Beach
Drop the charges!
Tianna Arata like Charles Manson?!! (“DA should drop charges against SLO activist Tiana Arata,” Aug. 9.) If anything, Arata (20) should be compared with John Lewis, who was being lionized in a bipartisan eulogy by three presidents only nine days after her arrest.
Lewis was arrested at the age of 21 on similar charges to those pending for Arata when he joined the Freedom Riders in 1961. In March of 1965, Lewis was involved in a protest that blocked a road and was beaten within an inch of his life. The road was from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, over the Edmund Pettus bridge and the cause was the right of Blacks to vote.
Fifty-five years later, Arata is being charged on eight counts stemming from her leadership of a demonstration that also blocked a road, Highway 101. The cause was reform that would end Blacks being indiscriminately murdered by police on the streets of the United States.
San Luis Obispo in 2020 should be better than Alabama in 1965. The Tribune is right! The “DA should drop charges against Arata.”
Max Riedlsperger, San Luis Obispo
Tianna Arata is the leader we need
Seems to me Tianna Arata is exactly the kind of young leader this country needs. She’s involved in necessary and overdue social evolution toward fairness, inclusion and justice.
Stephen Jay Gould, the late, great evolutionary biologist and columnist for Natural History magazine, describes evolution as progressing slowly, imperceptibly over long periods with short periods of “punctuated equilibrium.” Rapid, sometimes disruptive, even violent changes that reorient the body and mind to adapt to its environment.
Our current environment with its worldwide access to real- time events reveals to the masses the injustices that remain since our last period of punctuated equilibrium; the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s.
There are many reasons protests can turn violent. Anyone who has seen the newsreels from the ‘60s of authorities wielding tear gas, water cannons, nightsticks and vicious dogs against peaceful protesters has witnessed that violence. That is not to excuse protesters becoming violent themselves but it certainly can inspire natural self preservation instincts!
We’re all learning. We’re all evolving. Our thoughts and perceptions change sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly.
I see Ms. Arata as I see MLK and Malcolm X and John Lewis, as “evolutionary agents.” And before anyone dismisses the comparisons, remember we all start somewhere.
Michael S. Miller, Arroyo Grande
Hold SLO police accountable
The same SLO Police Department that fired tear gas and rubber bullets at its own defenseless people (oh yes, we remember June 1) decided to make an example out of a young Black woman who has emerged as a powerful voice in the community.
Police crafted a press release intended to establish a false narrative that would legitimize their actions. The release labels the protest a riot and highlights smashing a car window without explaining that the driver had first rammed protesters. In a rush to dominate the day’s narrative, police made inaccurate claims that bring into serious question their credibility and reveal their motivation to justify their own reckless actions.
Such unethical practices are intolerable and the police and DA’s Office should be held accountable. We call on SLO City Manager Derek Johnson, the SLO City Council and the Board of Supervisors to publicly stand against these suppressive tactics, to urge District Attorney Dan Dow to drop all charges, and to reassess the manner in which SLO County law enforcement performs their duties. We the people refuse to live in fear of our own police. We must listen to people of color and their experiences of how racism within our community has affected them and we must commit to continuing to include these voices as we work to make our community the welcoming, diverse place we all wish it to be.
Ben Bellizzi, San Luis Obispo
Stay out of it, Trib
I disagree with your opinion about Tianna Arata.
Yes! Arata should be given eight charges by the DA’s Office.
She did mislead our police chief prior to the demonstration by saying it would be peaceful and lawful. Arata did lead her group onto the 101 freeway. Police and Highway Patrol believed her peaceful intentions and were unprepared as a result.
Dismiss the charges because doing something illegal and dangerous should be dismissed if you think it’s vindictive?
She is innocent until proven guilty. You are guilty of conspiring to influence lawful due process.
This is an active case, stay out of it.
Mary Lou Johnson, San Luis Obispo
Choices have consequences
I’m going to bet that if protesters were on the freeway after the cops told them not to and a truck came around the corner and ran into them, it would be the cop’s fault. Just remember, everything we do is a choice and all choices result in consequences.
Good choices result in good consequences, and bad ones end up bad. You should make the choices that work for you but you should also accept the results. So protest away, just don’t blame someone else if things go wrong.
Bill Bright, Atascadero
This story was originally published August 11, 2020 at 5:05 AM.