Vivian Hernandez, 62, who became the face of resistance for many during the Li'l Abner Mobile Home Park controversy, was found guilty on charges of disorderly conduct, trespass after warning, and resisting arrest without violence. The incident, caught on camera and casting a spotlight on the clash between redevelopment forces and community residents, led to Hernandez's arrest and subsequent trial.
During her trial, Hernandez attempted to persuade the jury of her right to stand against what she perceived as an unjust eviction from a community where she had lived for more than 15 years. According to NBC Miami, she claimed to have entered the mobile park's office after being invited to discuss the eviction proceedings and to pay her rent. Found guilty yesterday, Hernandez now faces six months of probation.
The jury was also presented with testimony from Sergeant Brian Arias, who described his encounter with Hernandez, stating that he repeatedly asked Hernandez to leave before ultimately taking her down to the ground. Hernandez, however, refuted this characterization, telling jurors about her exchange with police and office staff, "People tell us Cubans that when we talk, we are just screaming, but this is my tone of voice, this is my manner of speaking," NBC Miami reported. Her defense portrayed a different picture, one of a woman mistreated by those in power, her dignity snatched in a moment's escalation.
Earlier arguments from Hernandez's attorney, David Winker, highlighted the cell phone video of the arrest that rippled through the community, stirring a conversation on police conduct and residents' rights. "This is the case where there is no question of what happened," Winker said. "There's a video. It's clear what happened, and the jury gets to decide: Was it appropriate or not? And should Vivian Hernandez go to jail for that?" as noted during an interview with CBS News. Despite Winker's representation of over 200 families in a civil case against the park's owners and Hernandez's own testimony yet to come, the verdict fell against her.
Hernandez's case, extending beyond her personal battle, underlines ongoing tensions in communities facing redevelopment. As stated by her lawyer, and evident in the struggle to maintain a semblance of normalcy, "Vivian was severely hurt. She still walks with a walker. It's tough to watch what happened," detailing the aftermath of a confrontation that resulted in physical and emotional distress, found in a statement to CBS News.
