SET UP IN HOUSTON

(300 Words)

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Edwin Johnston, of the Pacifica Listeners' Union spent the night in a Houston jail in March, after Garland Ganter, Station Manager of Houston Pacifica station KPFT had him arrested on charges of assault.

Johnston and three other members of the Houston Committee for People's Radio and the Pacifica Listeners' Union, were handing out Pacifica Campaign flyers in front of KPFT while a party was in progress in the station's back yard. (The party was in honor of large donors to the station.) Molly O'Brian, Development Director of KPFT and Garland Ganter's wife, approached them and reportedly grabbed a stack of fliers from leafletting Sheila Harris, evidently knocking Ms. Harris off balance in the process. Johnston followed Ms. O'Brian, demanding the fliers back, while reaching for them. O'Brian suddenly and loudly shouted "Rape!" shocking everyone within earshot. Her husband, Garland Ganter ran to the scene and was joined by another unidentified male who together pushed Johnston several times. Mr. Ganter then called the police from a cell phone, and Johnston was arrested for assault.

There are now two charges pending against Mr. Johnston: 1) Garland Ganter's charge of simple assault (Municipal Court) and 2) Molly O'Brian's charge of assault/bodily injury (County Court). Witnesses for the prosecution include KPFT staffers, Garland Ganter, Molly (O'Brien) Ganter, Mary Ramirez and Kathy White. Witnesses for the defense include protesters, Edwin Johnston, Sheila Harris, Shannon Smith, Wendy Breunig and three KPFT fundraiser attendees who were present the evening of the incident. Johnston is being represented by attorney Robert Luke, of the highly esteemed DeGuerin and Dickson law firm.

The current trial date is set for July 16, 2001 - 9 am, in Municipal Court #2, under judge Fad Wilson following a plea hearing in County Court set for July 11.

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