Is Edin Alex Enamorado a guardian angel? Or is he simply a publicity-seeking bully?
Some say he is a champion of the voiceless, a calm community activist who in protected speech stands up to power, while others believe he tries to silence people through intimidation and assault.
Supporters offer that he is a political prisoner — but a judge said he and co-defendants are such a threat to others that they must remain jailed without bail.
Enamorado, 36, is the leader of the so-called Justice 8, its members facing prosecution in San Bernardino County for such charges as assault, kidnapping, conspiracy and, in Enamorado’s case, also being a felon in possession of a firearm — allegations for what prosecutors say are strong-arm tactics in their defense of the marginalized and the aggrieved.
The defendants — Enamorado and seven others, including his life partner, Wendy Lujan — have pleaded not guilty. Only one, a 30-year-old San Bernardino man facing a count of misdemeanor assault likely to cause great bodily injury, was granted bail.
The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 8, in Superior Court in Victorville.
At a previous hearing, Luz Aguilar, 28, of Long Beach set up her tamale cart on the sidewalk outside. Enamorado is known mostly for his defense of street vendors, some who have suffered robberies, racist rants and, in Enamorado’s view, overly restrictive municipal regulations that come with excessive punishments.
“I think people do things their own way, and as long he follows the rules, I think it’s OK,” Aguilar said. “I’ve never seen him do something that goes against the rules. The police are upset because they are being called out.”
Crowds of 40 supporters routinely make long trips to squeeze into his hearings, wearing T-shirts or waving signs saying, “Free the Justice 8” or similar sentiments. Enamorado has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Sennett Devermont, 36, of Los Angeles has showed up at the…
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