Hearn tells of protest arrest

In her inquiry of legislative candidates from Districts 1-4 re: possible misdemeanors, felonies and bankruptcies, Betsy Russell/SR received this interesting response from Democrat Tom Hearn of Coeur d’Alene:

Tom Hearn, who is running for an open House seat in District 4, revealed that he was arrested during a student demonstration at California State University-Chico in 1970, where students were holding a peaceful sit-in to demand closure of a street through the center of campus due to safety concerns. More than a dozen students and professors were arrested, but the case was thrown out of court and the prosecutor admonished for abuse of prosecutorial power for filing excessive charges. “I was exercising my First Amendment rights and I stood up for what I believed in 46 years ago,” Hearn said. “I would think that voters would want somebody who has been standing up for what he believes in all his adult life.” More here.

Factoid: Tom Hearn and I attended Chico State at the same time. He ran unsuccessfully for student body vice president. I was the sports editor of the Chico State Wildcat. We never met. But I did know his running mate who became student body president. Interesting times back then.