(eng) Kieran Acquitted

A jury found Kieran Frazier Knutson not guilty of 2nd and 3rd degree

assault yesterday (Sunday January 28). After a two-year struggle and a

two-week trial, this is a clear victory for anti-racist forces in the

Twin Cities.



As the not guilty verdicts were read, the packed courtroom filled with

cheers and tears. Several media sources covered the event, and Kieran

(finally able to comment on his own case after two years) told them,

"The state put me on trial for fighting racism and nazism, and a jury

decided that it's not a crime." Later, at the victory party that night,

Kieran told a crowd of comrades, "October 22, 1993 was a good night.

Tonight is a good night, too. We won both times."



Kieran was charged with assault at an October 22, 1993 anti-racist rally

at the University of Minnesota. Prosecutors maintained that Kieran

attacked Daniel Simmer (a neo-nazi skinhead) unprovoked, hitting him 2-3

times in the head with a maglite flashlight. Kieran never denied

hitting Simmer, but he argued it was in self-defense, as Simmer pulled

out something shiny from his pockets and made a move at Kieran. Kieran

thought it was a knife, so he hit Simmer; the shiny object turned out to

be a pair of brass knuckles. Kieran also argued that he only hit Simmer

once.



In her closing arguments, prosecutor Gemma Graham argued that there were

really two trials being argued in court, one against Kieran Knutson and

the other against nazis. Her whole case was based on two things: 1)

the (weak) testimony of a student newspaper reporter, and 2)

relentlessly bashing defense witnesses and Kieran. Graham argued

throughout the trial that all the witnesses, Kieran, the Anti-Fascist

Defense Committee, and the legal investigator for Kieran were all

involved in an elaborate conspiracy to protect Kieran and to "advance an

agenda." She claimed that witnesses invented their testimony (she

called several witnesses "flat-out liars" in her closing statements) and

that they were coached by defense investigators and the AFDC. She

repeatedly tried to discredit the defense witnesses for their political

affiliations and political beliefs. At one point she sneered, "These

people believe in FIGHTING racism and FIGHTING nazis!" as if that's

something to be ashamed of.



Keith Ellison, Kieran's lawyer, argued that there were indeed two trials

going on, but they were 1) the trial against Kieran and 2) a conspiracy

trial against activists from the Progressive Student Organization,

Anti-Racist Action, and others. He demonstrated that the prosecution's

whole case was based on discrediting witnesses and Kieran for their

political beliefs, and that such an accusation is ridiculous. He also

hammered home again and again the fact that three witnesses saw the nazi

pull out brass knuckles on Kieran before Kieran whopped him, and that

the witnesses's anti-racist politics can't change that fact.



Ultimately, the jury believed us, and Kieran was acquitted. However, as

with everything about this case, even getting an acquittal wasn't easy.

The jury reported to the judge that they were hopelessly hung on

Saturday afternoon (by a vote of 9-3 in favor of acquittal, we later

found out), but the judge sent them back to deliberate more. After

another day of deliberation, two people switched their votes, and then

finally the last person did. In all, the jury was sequestered for 50+

hours and deliberated for more than 20.



Kieran and the Anti-Fascist Defense Committee (the organization that

supported Kieran politically for the past two years) would like to send

our deep and sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us and helped

us throughout all eleven false trial dates and the actual trial itself.

All your phone calls, faxes, and letters to the prosecution really

helped keep the pressure on. Also, your letters of support to Kieran

kept our morale up, especially in the last year or so when it looked

like the trial would never happen. Also, the financial support was

outstanding; we were able to afford everything we needed. Minneapolis

supporters did all these things and more: they attended the numerous

demonstrations and flierings and forums we held, and they packed the

courtroom for every day of the two-week trial (plus a week of jury

selection!). Being with these people in court every day is one of my

proudest political moments.



The next message we'll send will hopefully be from Kieran himself. We

will also be writing a political analysis of the trial soon; let us know

if you'd like a copy. Again, thanks to all and solidarity to those who

are going through similar struggles. Kieran's case proves it: we can

win.



Even the state has to acknowledge it, now: Fighting racism is not a

crime!



Thanks,



joel/Anti-Fascist Defense Committee

PO Box 7075

Minneapolis, MN 55407

jolson@polisci.umn.edu

