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OAKLAND – Some 50 people showed up Monday morning to support Kahlil Jacobs-Fantauzzi, on trial for obstructing a police officer during the height of the summertime conflict between KPFA and the Pacifica Foundation, which holds the license to the community radio station. 

In a rally/press-conference outside Superior Court, Davey D., a disc jockey on KPFA’s Hard Rock Radio show and KMEL, called for support for the 23-year-old middle-school teacher of Puerto Rican ancestry. 

The continued prosecution of Jacobs-Fantauzzi “sends a message to others. Why should we take a stand when we’ll have to go through this process?” he said. 

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson also spoke. 

“It’s a very somber day for free speech,” Carson said, noting that he had written District Attorney Tom Orloff three weeks earlier, asking him to drop charges against Jacobs-Fantauzzi. Carson said he received no response. 

The Berkeley City Council and the Pacifica Foundation Board have also asked that charges be dismissed. 

Supporters say that Jacobs-Fantauzzi, the only person to go to trial for civil disobedience during last summer’s conflicts, has been signaled out for his youth and because he is a person of color. 

Police say he is guilty of obstructing officers when they were trying to arrest protesters in front of KPFA July 21. 

Some 100 other protesters were arrested during the conflicts. Most cases were dismissed. A few protesters were cited for jaywalking and given time served. 

Friday, a judge offered to let Jacobs-Fantauzzi plead guilty to disorderly conduct, a lesser crime than obstructing an officer. 

But he turned it down. 

“I’m not guilty of any crime,” Jacobs-Fantauzzi said. 

In court Monday, Jacobs-Fantauzzi’s attorney, Richard Krech, argued that he should be allowed to introduce videotapes of the arrest as evidence. The court approved that motion. Both Krech and the prosecution have asked the Oakland Tribune to turn over photographs a photographer took of Jacobs-Fantauzzi’s arrest. The newspaper, however, has so far declined to do so. 

The trial moves into the jury selection phase today at 2 p.m., 661 Washington St., Oakland.