Stephanie Jennings
Template:TOCnestleft Stephanie Jennings is a Golden Hill resident who serves on the board of the SoNo Neighborhood Alliance, a group informing and engaging residents about quality-of-life issues.
Moving Forward production team
In June/July 1994 Silvia Cida, Hugh Page, Patricia Cofre, Martin Eder , Stephanie Jennings, Noreen Sullivan, served on the production committee of Moving Forward, the newsletter of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization/Socialist Organizing Network.
Anti CCRI campaign/DSA member
In 1996 Democratic Socialists of America activists in California were deeply involved in the unsuccessful struggle to defeat Proposition 209, the California Civil Rights initiative, which sought to ban "affirmative action". At DSA's 1995 National Convention, the organization made opposition to CCRI a "major focus for our Activist Agenda".
San Diego DSA member Stephanie Jennings worked on the campaign.[1]
San Diego Hearing on Economic Insecurity
On Saturday, August 10 1996, over 300 people attended the San Diego Hearing on Economic Insecurity, "a forum intended to hammer home to a message to our elected officials that working America is hurting and to demand that government take corrective action."
- For two hours, a panel that included Congressman Bob Filner (D), California Assemblywoman Denise Ducheny, and five candidates who may soon hold seats in Congress and the California Assembly listened while a steady stream of local people told their stories. Testimony came from workers, seniors, welfare mothers, men and women seeking work and students soon to join … "
The Hearing, involved groups such as the Gray Panthers, the ultra radical National Lawyers Guild, Welfare Warriors and labor unions, but was initiated as a project of San Diego Democratic Socialists of America.
- However the main work in organizing and publicizing the hearing was carried out by DSA members...San Diego DSA realized that an effort of this magnitude needed a full time paid organizer. We were fortunate to be able to hire Stephanie Jennings, a veteran supporter and organizer of progressive action.... Stephanie kept in close touch with Boston DSA, with Alan Charney and Michele Rossi and DSA national office, with Chris Riddiough in our Washington DC office and with Tim Parks, Eric Vega and Duane Campbell in other California chapters.
Occupy San Diego
January 2012 Stephanie Jennings, a 51-year-old mother and peace activist, has sparked outrage among some witnesses and supporters, though police deny any wrongdoing.
A founder of the Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (YANO)in San Diego, Jennings was at the Civic Center singing with the Women of Occupy San Diego group when she was arrested. Ironically, said Hugh Moore of El Cajon, “Stephanie helped to set up this group because the members wanted to help with Occupy but specifically did NOT want to risk arrest.”
Jennings is charged with assaulting a police officer. Moore, who believes the charge is unjustified.
“The police decided to set up a police line that protesters were not supposed to cross and ran the line through the middle of the singers and Stephanie bumped into the officer setting up the tape, apologized…and then was literally tossed to the ground and arrested,” he wrote. “She is completely committed to nonviolence…” He believes police were “acting to quell dissent rather than acting to protect the public.”
A kidney patient with a heart condition, Jennings held a press conference and claims to also have been injured in custody. She also claims she was denied anti-rejection medications and heart medications during her detention at Las Colinas Women’s Center.
As for the actual arrest, Lt. Brown said Jennings was “at the handicap ramp, blocking access to those attending the permitted event.” She said officers made “reasonable requests” for Jennings to clear the ramp area “She then poked an officer in the chest, committing a battery upon a police officer.” The area Commanding Officer and Lieutenant were present, she added.[2]