Move to los AngelesThe SLA believed that in order for its continued effectiveness, they needed new members. In fact, the future of the organization depended on it. Because of the murder of Marcus Foster, they realized that they would find very few, if any, members of the Bay Area community willing to join their cause.
DeFreeze suggested they move to his former neighborhood in Los Angeles, where he had some friends they could recruit. They moved in a very unorganized way, relying on commandeering housing and supplies in Los Angeles. In the process, they managed to alienate the people who were ensuring their secrecy and protection. At this point, imprisoned SLA member Russell Little says that he believed the SLA had lost sight of its goals and had instead entered into a confrontation with the police rather than a political dialogue with the public. |
Sporting Goods store shoplifting incidentOn May 16th, 1974, “Teko” and “Yolanda” (William an Emily Harris) took a drive with Patty Hearst to Mel’s Sporting Goods Store in a suburb of Los Angeles. While Emily purchased the supplies, William, on a whim, swiped a pair of socks. The security guard confronted the pair as they were attempting to leave. William pulled out a revolver, and the guard knocked it to the ground and put a handcuff on his wrist.
Hearst, who was armed and in the car outside, witnessed the altercation and began shooting at the store’s overhead sign. While everyone in the store ducked for cover, Emily and William ran out and drove off with Hearst. |
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