News
Kern County activist charged with 18 felony counts for alleged threats
A Kern County activist is facing a serious legal battle after being charged with 18 felony counts for allegedly making terrorist threats against the Bakersfield City Council. Riddhi Patel, a 28-year-old activist and economic development coordinator, was arrested following public statements she made regarding a cease-fire in Gaza and security measures at City Hall.
Patel’s comments during a council meeting included statements like calling the council members “horrible human beings” and expressing a desire for violence by saying, “We’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.” The incident led to her arrest and subsequent court appearance where she pleaded not guilty.
The viral video of the confrontation in the council chambers caught the attention of national and international media outlets, including Fox News and newspapers in India. The Mayor and Vice Mayor of Bakersfield expressed deep concern over the incident, with the Vice Mayor stating that such disruptions hinder the city’s ability to function during public meetings.
Activists like Patel have been advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza and raising concerns about increased security measures at council meetings. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has prompted passionate responses from individuals like Patel, who feel strongly about issues of oppression and injustice.
Despite the seriousness of the charges against her, Patel remains firm in her plea of not guilty. The district attorney’s office has filed multiple counts of threatening public officials with the intent to terrorize, specifically targeting several members of the City Council and other city officials.
Patel’s case highlights the intersection of passionate activism, free speech rights, and the legal consequences of making threats against public officials. As the legal proceedings unfold, the community in Kern County continues to grapple with the aftermath of this highly publicized incident.
News
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment
Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.
University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.
Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.
Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.
In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”
The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.