The non-profit legal advocacy group Spartacus Legal comes to the defense of many people who were arrested during the Rainbow Family of Light Gathering in Lumpkin County.
Founding attorney Catherine Bernard said Sunday the group is only aiding those people who were arrested for minor offenses.
"We are not helping any who is charged with a violent or property crime," Bernard said. "None of this is anything that is an actual threat to public safety."
Bernard says more that 25 people are still behind bars and some for very minor offenses.
"Public indecency is one of them," Bernard said. "We've had a couple of folks who were bathing in streams. One of them was a holy man. He is a 70-year-old man, a monk from Pennsylvania."
Bernard feels the people of Rainbow Gathering were targeted by law enforcement. The U.S. Forest Service reported after the gathering that 30 people had been arrested and more than 900 citations had been issued.
"It's notable that the Rainbow Gathering actually wrapped up on July 4, as a celebration of fellowship of American values and dignity ," Bernard said. "Because what happened out there does not reflect those values."
Bernard said she feels many of the charges are an overreach. If you would like to contribute to the fund, visit http://www.spartacuslegal.org.
Thursday
April 25th, 2024
11:22AM
