BLM radical activist may face 15 years in prison for role in San Luis Obispo protests

Police Chief Deanna Cantrell said that activsts blocked traffic when they led more than 300 protestors out onto the Highway 101, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Arata was arrested on Jul. 21 by the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLOPD). SLOPD reported that the demonstration, involving approximately 300 people, got out of hand when protestors marched onto Highway 101 and assaulted a passenger vehicle with a 4-year-old inside, damaging the hood and smashing the rear window. The glass then shattered on the child who was sitting in the back seat.

Two other vehicles were targeted upon their exiting the highway, police cited, with rioters in pursuit hurling objects.

In the ensuing days, nearly 300,000 activists have signed a petition urging officials to not pursue felony charges against a Black Lives Matter activist amid a social media conspiracy claiming that she faces 15 years in prison.

The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported that police have asked District Attorney Dan Dow to file eight charges against Arata, including four felony counts of false imprisonment, one count of felony conspiracy, and three misdemeanors. A tentative arraignment date is set for September.

The Department stated that Chief Deanna Cantrell had spoken with Arata ahead of the rally, who assured her that the protest at Mitchell Park would be peaceful, but "resulted in significant public safety risks for protesters and community members."

"The City of San Luis Obispo supports peaceful protests," Cantrell wrote in a press release, "but we will not support violent acts and will continue to take action to protect our community."

Cantrell referred to Arata as the "leader and aggressor" who allegedly struck a car with a flag pole. She was then reportedly arrested on charges of Participation in a Riot, Unlawful Assembly, Conspiracy, Unlawful Imprisonment, and Resisting Arrest. Another rioter was also taken into custody for assaulting an officer, who suffered minor injuries, during Arata's arrest.

Arata's best friend shared a video of her arrest, claiming police officers "kidnapped" Arata off the street and failed to read her Miranda rights out loud. She added the hashtag, #freetianna.

Protestors can be heard shouting, "She is not resisting! Let her go!" as the crowd surrounds the arresting officers and the police vehicle.

"There was no riot it was a beautiful peaceful protest filled with Black and Brown joy," Elizalde told Newsweek.

"They used excessive force Tianna could barely keep up with the 6 grown men forcing her to the car," she wrote, calling the incident—that also took place in front of Arata's mother—"traumatizing." Now even loud noises trigger her, Elizalde continued.

"Her life and future is on the line," she stated of Arata. "She dreams big and has plans for her future. Do not let this small town take that away from her. Tianna is the sweetest, most passionate, and loving person I [know]."

Protesters have questioned why the BLM organizer was targeted by authorities and held responsible for the actions of all rioters present that day.

Activists rallied outside the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse on Friday, holding "Do The Right Thing" signs, KSBY reported.

To date, almost 300,000 supporters have signed a Change.org petition calling Arata's arrest and charges "unjust" and demanding for the case to be dropped.

"It's clear that the SLO County District Attorney and SLO PD are using the arrest of Tianna as a political statement to try and suppress their [F]irst [A]mendment right to protest," the petition states.

On Tuesday, Arata's lawyer Patrick Fisher said he’s hopeful prosecutors won’t pursue the case.

"The public attention this situation has attracted is understandable when one considers that what happened to Tianna hurts all of us. The arrest of peaceful protesters offends our country’s core values," Fisher told KSBY.

Recently, California officials have debunked a "misinformation" campaign claiming that Arata could face up to 15 years in prison if charges against her are pursued, the New York Post reported.

Social media posts and other media outlets propagating this "reckless statement" are "patently incorrect," the district attorney wrote in a statement on Monday, noting that prosecutors are still weighing whether to file criminal charges while an additional investigation is likely before reaching the decision.