- Charles R. Garry
Charles R. Garry was a prominent civil rights attorney who represented several high-profile political cases during the 1960s and 1970s. Born the son of Armenian immigrants who had escaped the
Armenian Genocide , Garry had been reared in a farm town in California' Central Valley.Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. "". Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 373.] An avowed Marxist lawyer, Garry had the reputation of fighting for underdogs. Garry insisted on a full truthful disclosure from those he represented, and had a sign on his desk that read "the only clients of mine who go to San Quentin are the ones who lie to me."Black Panthers and Oakland Seven
In 1968, he was retained by the
Black Panther Party as their chief counsel, and to defendHuey P. Newton in the 1967 slaying of Oakland Police Officer John Frey. Subsequently, he defended Black Panther ChairmanBobby Seale . In 1969, he defended the Oakland Seven - a group ofSan Francisco Bay Area anti-Vietnam War activists who were involved in the planning of the 1967 "Stop the Draft Week." After the turbulent era of the 1960s came to an end and with the demise of the anti-war and Black Power movements, Garry took on a new set of clients.Peoples Temple
In 1977, amidst media scrutiny and potential litigation, Garry began representing the controversial
Peoples Temple led byJim Jones . Garry's political philosophy meshed at least to some degree with that of the Temple, which claimed to be a communist organization, and many felt that Garry's representation added credibility to the Temple as a political organization. After listening to Temple members discuss the history of the case, Garry initially announced on September 8, 1977 that "We've come to the conclusion that there is a conspiracy by government agencies to destroy Peoples Temple as a viable community organization." After further experience with the Temple, including reviewing the results of severalFreedom of Information Act requests, Garry eventually changed his conclusion to the belief that there was little government interest, let alone a conspiracy.Throughout his representation, Garry clashed with members of the Temple.Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. '. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 374-5.] Garry represented the Temple in a number of suits by and against
Timothy Stoen .Moore, Rebecca. "A Sympathetic History of Jonestown". Lewiston: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-8894-6860-5. p. 259 & 268.] Garry had a tumultuous relationship with another Temple attorney,Mark Lane , because Garry felt that Lane repeatedly interfered in Garry's areas of representation and made too high profile the Temple's claims of a conspiracy against it.Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. '. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 460-1.]Garry and Lane accompanied Congressman
Leo Ryan and his delegation on their investigation ofJonestown in November of 1978.Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. '. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 489.] On November 18, 1978, Garry and Lane escaped the murder and mass suicide at Jonestown by talking their way past Temple security at a house to which they were sent that was located some distance from Jonestown's pavilion.Reiterman, Tim, and John Jacobs. '. Dutton, 1982. ISBN 0-525-24136-1. p. 541-2.]Later life
Garry died in October 1991 of a stroke at the age of 82. Garry's life is chronicled in the recent feature length documentary "The People's Advocate: The Life & Times of Charles R. Garry."
External links
* [http://www.peoplesadvocatethemovie.com Documentary Film Site] Includes interviewee biographies and film clips.
Notes
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