Lawyers Say 2 Students in Protest Used as Scapegoats

Defense lawyers for two students on trial for allegedly throwing concrete rocks during a rowdy affirmative action demonstration at Cal State Northridge last year claimed Friday their clients were being used as scapegoats for overzealous policing.

Sergio Gutierrez, 23, and Edward Vasquez, 21, face up to a year in County Jail if they are convicted on charges they committed assault with a deadly weapon and an assault on a police horse.

Defense lawyer Meir J. Westreich argued in court Friday “that before the police violence there was no violence of any kind by the demonstrators. Any violence that occurred after that occurred as legitimate acts of self-defense in or defense of others.”

On Friday, defense attorneys called the first of about two dozen witnesses to bolster their contention Gutierrez and Vasquez were peacefully protesting the CSUN debate on Sept. 25, 1996.

“Our evidence is going to show this was a spirited but nonviolent demonstration,” said defense co-counsel Miranda Massie, adding, “We’re going to show the police opened fire, literally and figuratively.”

The incident occurred during a protest at a debate last year between ex-Klansman David Duke and civil rights leader Joe Hicks.

Deputy City Atty. Robert J. Fratianne said one of the defendants is accused of hurling a large chunk of concrete at officers while another allegedly grabbed the reins from a mounted police officer trying to disperse the crowd.

The trial, which began Oct. 6, is expected to finish next week.