Trial date has been set for May 3 for five demonstrators who staged a demonstration last month inside the Shrine Auditorium at a performance of the Osipov Balalaika Orchestra of the Soviet Union. Among the defendants are Zev Yaroslavsky, chairman of the California Students for Soviet Jews, and Si Frumkin of the Southern California Council for Soviet Jews. The two were arraigned last month on charges of disturbing the peace.
Yaroslavsky and Frumkin, and three other defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge. The demonstrators are accused of hanging banners over the balcony of the Shrine reading “Let My People Go,” and “Save Soviet Jews.” Balloons were allegedly thrown over the balcony at the same time. “We are pleading not guilty,” said Yaroslavsky, “because we honestly don’t believe that we have committed a violation of the law. We waited until the first act was over, and it was only after intermission had begun that our activity began as well.” This was the first arrest for either Yaroslavsky and Frumkin.
Rob Titcher, one of the defendants, stood trial last week and was found guilty of the charge of disturbing the peace. Sentencing date was not set. Titcher has said that he will ask for a retrial on the basis that one officer’s testimony was not credible.
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