The case against a local activist has gained national attention and now threats from a prominent civil rights attorney. Attorney S.Lee Merritt, who is co-counsel for the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, two Black people killed by police, took to social media this week. He called on San Luis Obispo County D.A. Dan Dow to drop charges against Tianna Arata. According to the Tribune, Merritt posted on Instagram, “You have a very small window of time to drop these charges before your county, city and home are bombarded by activists from all over the country.” Adding, “Find out if this is an idle threat if you want to.” The San Luis Obispo Police Department has asked the D.A.’s Office to charge Arata with five felonies and three misdemeanors related to her July 21 arrest after marchers blocked traffic on Highway 101.
