After 18 days in detention, the eight were led in chains into the courtroom of Immigration Judge Roy Daniel for a bond hearing. Outside, Irv Rubin, national leader of the militant Jewish Defense League, marched about with a placard: "Commie Dogs Beware."
The government came into court with generic treatises on the PFLP, pictures of Palestinian men dancing and promises of more-persuasive secret evidence that, under orders from the U.S. attorney general, could be produced only in chambers, away from the respondents, their lawyers and the public.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday July 01, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 64 words Type of Material: Correction
The L.A. 8 -- A time chart that accompanied an article in Wednesday's Section A about a long-running terrorism case known as that of the L.A. 8 made reference to a "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine fundraiser." Whether money raised at the 1986 event went to the Popular Front organization is a matter of dispute and the central issue in the case.
The judge wondered aloud what the various PFLP atrocities described in the government literature had to do with these particular Palestinians. Had they hijacked airplanes? Had they plotted bus bombings? He refused to hear the secret evidence.
The government lawyer described the fundraisers and demonstrations. She also offered to share in chambers Knight's classified FBI report on the PFLP.
"I'm going to ask you to do that in public," Daniel said.
The government lawyer responded that, because of "national security" interests, she could not. Maybe she could approach the bench and whisper her secrets in the judge's ear? He refused and ordered the eight released, some on their own recognizance, the rest after they posted nominal bail amounts.
They smiled, hugged one another, and were put back in chains for the drive to Terminal Island, where they would be freed. Outside the courthouse, their supporters danced the dabka.
Later, as he and the others were led out of the detention facility, Hamide glanced backward over his shoulder and spotted Knight, peering down from an overhead stairway.
Their eyes locked, he said, and in that moment Knight shot Hamide a look he has never forgotten. "It was like," he said, " 'You bastards.' Just a cold-blooded look of hatred."
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Looking back
Here are major points in the L.A. 8 case, along with key events related to U.S. policy:
1983: FBI Special Agent Frank H. Knight begins tracking L.A. Palestinians.
1984: FBI refuses Knight's official investigation request.
Summer Olympics come to Los Angeles, culminating months of scrutiny of potential terrorism suspects.
1986: Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine fundraiser takes place in Glendale.
1987: Khader Musa Hamide, his wife, Julie Mungai, and Michel Ibrahim Shehadeh and six others are arrested. Group later consists of eight people.
