Jonathan Zook, left, and his attorney Kyle Dukelow. Photo by Kendall.
By K. Kendall
Father and middle school teacher Jonathan Zook is not guilty of resisting arrest; not guilty of disorderly conduct; not guilty of assault, according to a jury of six. However the jury concluded on April 19, 2012, after two days and a morning of testimony, that Zook is guilty of “interfering with a peace officer,” as defined by Oregon Revised Statutes 162.247.
Judge Karin Immergut, who could have chosen a suspended sentence or community service, instead sentenced Zook to two days in jail, a fine of $400, 80 hours of community service to be performed within the next four months, and a full year of bench probation. The sentence, which implemented most of what the prosecution requested, incensed the Occupy Portland community, which plans a “Justice for Jonathan Zook” protest Friday, April 20, from 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Justice Center, 1130 SW 3rd Ave., in Portland.
“This feels like a paradigm shift,” said Zook, contemplating the seriousness of the charges laid against him. “It’s chilling. We’ve always gone out and protested about whatever we felt was wrong. But now if you’re part of a protest, you can’t even cross the street in a crosswalk without running afoul of the police.”
Leanne Serbulo, Zook’s partner of the past nineteen years, had a similarly sobering takeaway. “They’re using the whole State mechanism to come down on people who speak up about injustice. We want to encourage people to keep coming out for the marches and protests, and to bring their kids and grandparents. We can’t let them stop us from standing up, speaking our minds, and putting our bodies out there.”
“The more numbers we have, the more people who are willing to stand up and be counted, the more power we have to overcome these attempts at intimidation,” Zook said. “That’s my main message right now: don’t be intimidated by what they’re doing to me.”
This makes me more hopeful, determined and inspired. Your right, we cannot allow them the power to use flaky laws as a way of suppressing us. If anything, this should make us all stronger and more determined. Thank you Jonathan and Leanne for you encouragement and sheer patriotism. I would appear that you two have been great parents and role models to the youth of America. Again… thank you!
Seems pretty appropriate for a “judge” who worked for Ken Starr.
Where is the countersuit against his civil rights? Duh.
I am grateful to the Portland Occupier for telling this story in such detail!
This is masterful reporting by Adam Rothstein and K. Kendall. Photos by Paul and K as well bring one into the courtroom drama. Police lie. Police overcharge so something will stick. The police, prosecutor and judge draw their paychecks from the same source.
People that put themselves on the line as did Mr. Zook have extraordinary courage. This means we have to redouble our efforts to cleanse the police system here and everywhere. Congratulations to Mr. Zook, Mr. Rothstein and Ms. Kendall. Excellent reporting. Mr. Zook deserves global support.
Odd that he was convicted of interfering with a peace officer when the statute specifically excludes those involved in peaceful resistance activities.
Thanks for telling this story. It’s chilling but Zook and Serbulo are inspiring in their refusal to be intimidated.