Slapp-Suit Information Page

In 1992, after six months of concerted effort to transform People's Park from free space to a UC and city controlled sports facility, the University of California tried a new tactic; a SLAPP-suit. SLAPP is an acronym for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

Carol Denney was sued for more than a quarter of a million dollars as a "key leader" of the resistance along with David Nadel, Bob Sparks, Mike Lee, and 50 "Does", or unknown people in danger of being included in the suit through the process of legal discovery.

The University was forced to drop its damage claims but was awarded an injunction against the defendants which still stands today and threatens anyone who speaks against the University of California. All of Denney's named co-defendants are now either deceased or out of state and can hardly pose a threat to the University of California, the sixth largest nuclear weapons contractor in the world, which has spent half a million dollars suing Denney.

Denney was accused, among other things, of creating dozens of cardboard saws inscribed with the legend, "I came, I saw...", a stage prop used during a concert and demonstration in the summer of 1991.

Denney continues in her effort to vacate the injunction stifling free speech in People's Park. Any donations to the SLAPP-suit defense are greatly appreciated.

"What's going down now in People's Park: donate clothing, get a ticket - how Berkeley can you be?"