MondayÕs Arraignment Successful for Farmworkers Seeking Justice
August 18, 2003

The 15 men and women who were nearly killed in June while farmworking in a field in the Town of Kendall gathered at the Orleans County Court House with their families and dozens of supporters for the arraignment hearing of Randy Kimmel, the man accused of firing some 50 rounds at them with a semiautomatic assault rifle.

Kimmel pled not guilty to the four felony charges read against him.

Joe Cardone, the Orleans County DA, sought another $2,500 bail above the initial $2,500 already posted by Kimmel. After hearing of the severity of the crime and most likely recognizing the crowd gathered in support and concern for the safety of the farmworkers the judge raised bail to $10,000.

The judge then read the names of each of the 15 victims and issued a court order that Kimmel was to stay away from these individuals. The judge also issued an order that Kimmel was not to be near a firearm.

Initial court dates were set for early September.

“We are no longer going to stay quiet or be scared as we have been in the past,” expressed Juan Carlos Ortiz, one of the victims who gathered at the CITA office in Albion after the arraignment. “Together we have the strength to stand up for justice and our rights.”

The workers expressed their gratitude to all the supporters who accompanied them at the court house. Thanks to all with us in thought and prayer.

In Solidarity,
Bill Abom

Kendall Farmworkers Seeking Justice
 August 18th, 2003

The 15 men and women who were nearly killed in June while farmworking in a field in the Town of Kendall, Orleans Co. by a man firing shots at them with a semiautomic assalt rifle will be in court today Monday, August 18th at 1:30 PM at the Orleans County Court House for the arraignment of the accused.

Dozens of farmworkers and supporters from the community will gather at the court house as a major sign of concern and solidarity for these fifteen individuals and their families. “Violence against migrant workers will not be tolerated,” says Aspacio Alcantara, director of CITA -The Independent Farmworkers Center. “We will be sending a strong message to all those at the court that the lives of migrant farmworkers are as important as any other and justice in this case should reflect that.”

The shooting incident occurred on Kludt Farms Wednesday, June 18th in the Town of Kendall, Orleans Co. 15 people engaging in migrant and seasonal farmwork—including 12 men and 3 women of Mexican origin - were were fired upon in the field by two men, one using a high powered semiautomatic rifle. Luckily, no one was injured.

The case was investigated by the Orleans County Sheriffs Department and the DA. 18-year Randy Kimmel of 2091 Orchard Drive has been indicted on felony charges including reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a firearm, and two counts menacing. Brandon Bolton of 1559 Kendall Rd. was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, for his role in the incident. The migrant farmworkers who were sprayed with bullets came to the CITA office on the day of the incident.

They mentioned hearing the "zip" of bullets passing their legs, no more than inches from their bodies before they began to run. Once worker, a mother of three, was thinking of who would care for her children as she ran from the spray of bullets.