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Protest Arrest: Panasonicyouth's Story
Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist
This morning we showed you photos captured during yesterday's massive Prop 8 protest outside the Mormon Temple on LA's West side that included the arrest of a man known online as Panasonicyouth and his friend. Of course, while images often speak a thousand words, in this case most people are wondering: "What happened?"
Over on Buzznet, Panasonicyouth has followed up with his flurry of Tweets from the debacle yesterday with a narrative of his experience, although with the caveat that because of legalities he would focus only on the post-arrest.
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The tale is best told by him, but ends with this reflection: "The whole experience? Terrifying. Dehumanizing. Humiliating. Depressing. But I'm glad to know that there are thousands of you out there who supported [my friend] Richard and I, who came to our aid to find us and help us get out of jail." It also ends with the somber note that the incident left the two men $4000 in debt and in need of help with legal assistance for their December 3 court date. For information on donations, check out Panasonicyouth's Buzznet blog.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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