Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - March 23, 2001
Cynthia Laird
Sentencing for ACT UP/SF members David Pasquarelli, Todd Swindell, and Michael Bellefountaine will take place Tuesday, April 3.
Pasquarelli and Swindell were found guilty of unlawful public assembly, rioting, and disturbing the peace. They face up to one year in jail. Both men were acquitted of the more serious charge of battery.
Bellefountaine was found guilty of unlawful public assembly. He was acquitted of disturbing the peace and rioting. He faces up to six months in jail.
Pasquarelli and Swindell said they plan to appeal their convictions.
"According to the district attorney, the only reason they pursued this case in court was because of the violent battery charges, which ultimately didn't hold up," Bellefountaine said in a statement.
Joseph Garrett, Project Inform's board president, said the verdicts "represent a victory for all people living with HIV/AIDS who seek to educate themselves and make their own decisions about potentially lifesaving treatments for HIV diseases."
Last year, following the incident, a San Francisco judge issued a preliminary injunction barring Pasquarelli, Bellefountaine, Swindell, and three other ACT UP/SF members from coming within 100 feet of Project Inform's office and employees.
ACT UP/SF members believe that AIDS is over.
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