Man facing 13 years for anti-bank chalk protest found NOT GUILTY by a jury of his peers.

[WilliamPitt]

Last edited Mon Jul 1, 2013, 05:41 PM - Edit history (2)

Local man found not guilty in chalk vandalism case
Jeffrey Olson not guilty of all 13 charges

SAN DIEGO - A 40-year-old man was acquitted Monday of 13 misdemeanor vandalism charges that stemmed from protest messages written in chalk in front of three Bank of America branches in San Diego.

Jeffrey David Olson's attorney argued during the trial -- which garnered national attention -- that his client was engaging in a legal protest and was not maliciously defacing of property.

Olson could have faced up to 13 years behind bars if convicted of all counts. Jurors began deliberating Friday.

The rest: http://www.10news.com/news/verdict-in-san-diego-chalk-vandalism-case-070113

I know an incredible amount of very terrible things have been happening...but I swear to God, if this guy had wound up in jail for chalking up a sidewalk, I might have started firebombing.

So shines a good deed in a weary world.

On Edit: P.S. "I might have started firebombing" was pretty straight-up hyperbole. Some of you people really need to get outside more often.

[datasuspect]

1. "I might have started firebombing."

you'd go out of your comfort zone far enough to become an incendiary like the anarcho-syndicalists of yore?

seriesly?

if you did, i would fight by your side.

now can we get another few million of us?

[WilliamPitt]

2. I think you should win an award

for Highest Number Of Buzz Words In One Sentence.

Seriesly.

[datasuspect]

3. please list teh buzzwords

you still didn't answer the question.

would you go out of your comfort zone far enough to throw bombs for a cause?

don't say shit like that unless you can back it up.

what's the longest time you've spent locked up?

they used to execute guys who threw bombs (cf. early uhhhmerican labor movement).

many men sacrificed all so we can sit in comfort. you besmirch their legacy by throwing revolutionary zeal around like so much glitter.

[uppityperson]

6. OMG!! A DUer is guilty of hyperbole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

[datasuspect]

9. "I might have started firebombing."

that isn't hyperbole.

in fact, it can be construed as a terroristic threat.

what if someone said: "I might have started shooting." or "I might have started leaving backpack bombs in public places." get the drift?

hyperbole?

huh?

[uppityperson]

18. "I might have jumped off a bridge". Now, you going to call suicide prevention line on me? Hyperbole.

OMG OMG OMG

ETA, "I might...." could be a threat but "I might have" hyperbole is a threat? OMG OM GOM GOMG OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111

[datasuspect]

20. no

i'd be one of the people yelling "JUMP! JUMP!"

[uppityperson]

21. Not sure if I should laugh or not. How sweet, to wish me to kill myself.

[MiddleFingerMom]

33. Don't bother to argue/discuss. Those kind of comments usually...

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... reflect (a) an air of superiority...
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... and or (b) more of a desire to spank than discuss.
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.

[uppityperson]

39. Spoken like a true master.

[obama2terms]

47. Woah

No just no...

[Jefferson23]

32. lol

[Lizzie Poppet]

22. Personally, I find it refreshing...

...to see someone here admit that there is a point past which they will not be pushed without at least considering taking direct physical action. If the PTB don't think that such a tipping point exists, then they have no reason to allow the democratic system to produce meaningful change before that point is reached. Voting drives, protests, and so forth only work because the PTB realize that if they don't let them work (sometimes...preferably on things that don't matter much), then they might well find themselves standing in front of a bullet-pocked wall with a blindfold on.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

36. The PTB have been educated to remember Peterloo while the general populace has not.

We should all remember the William Tell story in which William Tell answered a question about why he had taken two bolts for his crossbow and was then imprisoned for giving a truthful answer.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

70. Can he borrow your mask?

....and yer chainsaw?

[Mojorabbit]

37. LOL nt

[galileoreloaded]

10. meh, some people take action, some are low level bloggers. takes all kinds. Nt

[datasuspect]

13. i've spent time in prison

for taking action (long time ago), so it kinda irritates me when people talk shit but don't follow through.

[WilliamPitt]

14. Some people post on web forums.

[galileoreloaded]

17. no way. I'm much worse...im part of the problem ;) nt

[datasuspect]

19. some people are fake tough guys

[uppityperson]

27. Like you, yelling at me to commit suicide? nt

[datasuspect]

30. you posed

a hypothetical, so i responded in kind.

if you are indeed suicidal, you need to involve the nearest grown up available to help you dial this number:

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

[Spitfire of ATJ]

71. Did you actually look that up?

Or was it on speed dial?

[MiddleFingerMom]

41. Sorry, WP. This time you done wrong.You WERE overcome by a hyperbolic moment of "Internet Tough Guy"

[WilliamPitt]

90. Oh shut the fuck up.

Is that better, or worse?

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Inquiring minds
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don't really care.

[MiddleFingerMom]

99. MUCH better!!!

[WilliamPitt]

100. :-)

[WinkyDink]

28. Whoa. Nobody's disrespecting true revolutionaries.

[trumad]

58. You know---if I see one more douchebag post like this---

I'm gonna fucking Nuke the world!

[datasuspect]

59. clicks are a revenue driver

n00b

[Hulk]

74. They used to tar and feather and hang for sedition too...

..but guess that is "OK" now, as long as you have a talk radio show or a "fair and balanced" tv network.

Lots of things change with the times. Some don't.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. Wow! Great story.

The judge is up for re-election next year. Just a few days ago, he barred Olson from referring to freedom of speech both in the courtroom and outside.

[frylock]

53. can't wait to vote against this fool!

[dogknob]

77. Yeah. A full gag order... on a MISDEMEANOR case.

Frightened little boys watching in horror as the rest of us reject their system.

I wonder when they will want their mommy bad enough to stop legally fucking with women.

[Ilsa]

5. Yay!!! I'm glad the judge

didn't try anything foolish to throw out the jury verdict. I guess that's not possible, but nothing would surprise me any more.

[ThoughtCriminal]

7. Siunds like the San Diego City Attorney Office

needs a lot more cleaning than the sidewalk.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The DA (jan Goldsmith) is an ass

He wasted the people's resources. And he got the friendliest judge in the whole local Superior Court bench.

Olson's lawyer (due to another case the paper is following) is impressive. Tom Tosdal just is.

This is prelims for the mayoral race of 2016. The local republican establishment is not happy. They are losing control. (Though you should ask, we had a collective head scratching moment) why they kept Kevarick as party chair. He is a walking disaster at multiple levels.

Context not in the paper

[petronius]

11. Good news! (nt)

[okaawhatever]

12. The real story here is what the District Attorney's office tried to do to a citizen. We can't allow

these prosecutions-as-campaigning to continue. We must make sure they are shown for the money wasting, greedy political ladder climbers they are.

[MindPilot]

60. Or more accurately what a too-big-fail bank cajoled a DA's office to try

to do to a citizen.

This is a classic abuse of power case.

[PoliticAverse]

15. He even used special washable chalk!! n/t

[pamela]

95. Is there such a thing as "unwashable" chalk?

I'm not being a smart-ass. I just thought when I heard "chalk" that it was pretty much a given that it wasn't permanent. What a dumb-ass thing to prosecute.

[lpbk2713]

16. Now it's time to hold the PTB accountable.

... for wasting time and resources on something so trivial and frankly so glaringly stupid to persue.

Yeah. Like that's gonna happen.

[hollysmom]

62. Absolutely

not to mention denying this man his free speech. This judge violated the constitution.

[lpbk2713]

63. Spiteful and malicious prosecution.

BoA's one percenter mindset could have Mr Olson living on Easy Street real soon.

[DainBramaged]

23. I might have moved to Greece, at least there firebombing is the norm

the judge is a bought and paid for BOA scumbag.


Yay justice

[MineralMan]

24. Proper!

[Fantastic Anarchist]

25. 13 Years?

Un-fucking-believable.

[WinkyDink]

26. Hop-Scotch players of the world rejoice! THIS ARREST is how far the 1% AND THEIR LACKEYS will go.

[Melinda]

29. Bank of America committed foreclosure fraud, was bailed out by the government, and paid no taxes

That’s right. In 2010, while BofA was negotiating a sweet settlement deal for its foreclosure fraud, it paid nothing in taxes. (Source: FACT Coalition.) Zero, on $17.2 billion in offshore earnings. (Source: Americans for Tax Fairness.)

Its $4.1 billion tax break came on the heels of the bank’s taxpayer-funded bailout, immunity from prosecution for its criminal employees, and a cushy government settlement for its foreclosure fraud.

Now David Dayen reports that the bank has apparently continued to defraud customers in violation of its government settlement. Whistleblowers have stated in affidavits that they were “told to lie” to customers, continued to deceive homeowners before foreclosing on them, and flipped customers to new servicing companies to invalidate previous homeowner agreements.

http://thecontributor.com/13-mindblowing-facts-about-america%E2%80%99s-tax-dodging-corporations

So, when does BofA's trial begin?


Go back to sleep, 'Merica - nothing to see here.

[PoliticAverse]

31. I guess you have to chalk that up to special privilege... n/t

[blackspade]

69. LOL.

[ctsnowman]

101. That's different

when you do crimes that large it's called a business.

[Dr. Strange]

34. Fucking travesty!

Band of America is working its ass off trying to help the poor and middle class, and now they have to contend with people writing in chalk on the sidewalks? Right in front of their bank? Not cool!

Naw, just kidding. Fuck you BoA!

[jtuck004]

35. So what's he writing today? n/t

[Jefferson23]

38. Uh, hopefully the rest of the nation takes note, in case any other idiot attempts to prosecute:

The prosecution of Olson brought condemnation of the City Attorney's Office from Mayor Bob Filner, who called it a waste of time.

You have a nice day too, Bank of America.

K&R

[frylock]

54. Mayor Filner has been up jan goldsmith's ass since day one..

I hope he continues to be a thorn in his side.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

40. Here's Jeffrey Olson and his attorney, Tom Tosdal:

[forestpath]

42. YESSS!!!

[MotherPetrie]

43. K&R! Cheering!

[felix_numinous]

44. Ha ha.

Chalk one up for the People-- at least we have the right to mock using water soluble art supplies.

[G_j]

45. one lesson

requesting a Jury trial ain't such a bad idea, even though your lawyer may hate the idea.

[stuffmatters]

46. There is a Recall Jan Goldsmith Petition

He's the City Attorney who is a Complete Tool of the Rightwing in San Diego - Doug Manchester who owns the Uniont Tribune, The Lincoln Club who is our local ALEC, and the Corporate Reugs who still think they own San Diego...even tho we recently elected Bob Filner, (probably the most certifiably progressive Democrat in the Country) as mayor.

This Judge also needs to be voted out. Not only did he deny this defendant a "free speech" defense, which is what the whole case was about and impose a gag order on anyone discussing the case...including our Mayor. He also teamed up with our hyper rightwing local DA Bonnie Dumanis to prosecute medical marijuana ...he kept calling it "dope" in court and denying the defendant use of our legal marijuana laws as defense. Typical Republican judicial scrambling just like Roberts on the VRA - if it's about (free speech, equal right to vote, etc) just deny the essential right or fact as a defense and move on with the decision.

Our new mayor, Bob Filner, is in daily struggle against the entrenched rightwing in San Diego, Goldsmith has tried to obstruct Filner at every turn, playing the usual Repug "victim" while defending the deep wealthy and corporate interests. Filner had referred to this "chalking" trial as a waste of taxpayer money and denial of free speech. Yet Friday the rightwing local news(ABC especially) were treating Filner as tho he were the wingnut not Goldsmith or this judge.

[MindPilot]

65. +1 wish i could rec this post. n/t

[stuffmatters]

83. WOW thanks.Let's find the recall petition ag Goldsmith & sign it!

[FreeState]

78. +1 from another San Diegan n/t

[stuffmatters]

84. Thanks,Filner really needs vigilant support

Filner just seems to be out there without a shield from the daily (main) media (Manchesters newspaper U-T & NCTIMES) and Tv affiliates.

Even the SD Dem Party is oddly quiet against the constant barrage Filner faces from the Repubs.

I'm checking ABC, NBC & CBS local reports tonight on this case...then complaining to each if they continue to feature this story in the pro BofA & Goldsmith bias they've shown so far.

Filner won the election; SD is now a Democratic city and County. Manchester, VOSD, and all the Tv stations should start respecting the voters.

[DeSwiss]

48. K&R

- We're waking up!

[SunSeeker]

82. Olson did not use spray paint. He used washable chalk.

I think if he had used spray paint on the sidewalks, like what your picture appears to show, the jury would have found vandalism.

[Javaman]

49. Chalk one up to free speach.

sorry, couldn't resist.

[MindPilot]

51. That took about the amount time for the jury to elect a foreman & vote once.

I'll bet that was 12-0, not guilty; it's lunchtime.

&quot Deputy DA) Hazard said Olson had to make "a real nuisance of himself" to attract the attention of law enforcement."

I think that statement should actually apply to the security dude from BoA who repeatedly pressured the DA's office to bring charges.

[Renew Deal]

52. Is this what you two have in mind?

3 die when Greek protesters set fire to bank

Three people were reported killed Wednesday after protesters set fire to a bank building in central Athens as workers across Greece went on strike to protest tough austerity measures aimed at staving off economic collapse.

Tear gas billowed across the central Sintagma Square in front of Parliament as demonstrators trying to storm the Parliament building hurled rocks and gasoline bombs. Police responded with tear gas canisters that spread a choking pall of smoke.

Tens of thousands of people had converged on the city center as part of a general strike that paralyzed flights, ferries, schools and hospitals.

At one point, Reuters reported, protesters set fire to a building and a witness saw firefighters evacuate at least four people. "There are probably people trapped in the building," fire officials said in a statement before the news emerged that people trapped in the building had died. The police blamed what were called "hooded youths" for setting fire to the building.

The Greek fire brigade reported that three people died in the building, according to the Associated Press.
<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/may/06/greece-crisis-protest-killed

One of the female workers was pregnant.

[ZRT2209]

55. FUCK YOU Bank of America ASSHOLES

[Arugula Latte]

72. Yep.

I second that emotion.

[Enthusiast]

102. And their protectors and enablers in government!

Those working against our interests.

[marmar]

56. F**k Yeah !!!!

[ZRT2209]

57. GO TO HELL JAN GOLDSMITH

[Poll_Blind]

61. +1

The Mayor himself declared the trial a waste of taxpayer's money and prosecutorial power. A unanimous jury verdict after such a short deliberation lends credence to those statements and a reasonable person might question what the prosecutor's motivations were to spend the taxpayer's money on such a needless case.

PB

[mountain grammy]

64. They couldn't get him for slander because everything he wrote was true.

[NightWatcher]

66. This is why you need to serve on jury duty

and try to get sat. If you were on trial, wouldn't you want to have a you on the jury?

[JDPriestly]

67. This is good news and reaffirms my opinion that Americans are essentially

good, freedom-loving people who don't want massive surveillance or overly zealous police reactions to the expression of frustration or discontent.

[Vinnie From Indy]

68. Get a grip dude!

While I agree that if this man was convicted it would be a tragedy, offering to start firebombing is way over the top! You do no one any favors here on DU by advocating violence of any kind. You certainly do yourself no favors by advocating violence.

There are hundreds of ways to fight injustices like this without resorting to violence.

Cheers!

[tclambert]

73. But, Will, the poor, poor banks had to go to the extreme effort of hosing off their sidewalks.

That chalk, it can take several seconds to clean up.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

79. I wonder if anybody in the neighborhood has any more chalk.

[Squinch]

97. And I wonder how much the lawyer, the lost work time, the fear, cost the protester.

He won, and I share the relief, but he paid.

[Swede Atlanta]

75. Glad you added the "On Edit" line....

because participating in DU anymore is like attending Ms. Maples school of fine etiquette. You dare not write or express anything that the prima donnas around here don't like. If you do your post is removed.

So much for free speech and the right to express yourself. I have seen the most ridiculous censures for things that are written in jest or hyperbole but the Nazi police are out in force.

I have to seriously question whether DU will survive another year. I have stopped financing the Nazi censorship of people's posts. I think I will likely mosey on over somewhere else.

[Historic NY]

76. Chalk, really ...

kids don't stand a chance in San Diego. Who's brilliant idea was to prosecute.

[ms liberty]

80. Good. K&R...and a +1 on the postscript! n/t

[reusrename]

81. Who might you have aimed these hyperbolic firebombs at?

That's the important question, and it's the part most have difficulty with.

The jury?

The cops?

The lawyers?

The politicians?

The corporations?

[WilliamPitt]

86. Go back to bed.

[reusrename]

91. Check it out!

The judge in the case gagged him.

http://rt.com/usa/chalk-olson-diego-san-404/

[bluedigger]

85. Well isn't that just great.

Now the banks are going to have to fire the judge and DA. Somebody will have to be foreclosed on to pay for all this, you know.

[indepat]

87. It's a shame 13 years imprisonment for chalking a sidewalk would not meet the cruel and unusual

punishment criteria.

[tiredtoo]

88. Nice to see they had some common sense people

in the jury.
Viva la Revolucion!

[blkmusclmachine]

89. "Olson could have faced up to 13 years imprisonment.."

But the Banksters that crashed our economy got Golden Parachutes and a promise not to prosecute.

[caseymoz]

92. It would have made hopscotch a felony. nt

[tclambert]

96. It's a slippery slope. If you allow hopscotch, pretty soon people will marry animals!

Or at least Republican Senators will fantasize about it.

[rhett o rick]

104. The business about marrying animals is just Republican projection. nm

[Cha]

93. K&R for the freedom to Chalk!

[arely staircase]

94. I never doubted this outcome

I do doubt the wisdom of the prosecutors who pursued it.

Not surprising but good news.

Shame on the DA.

[Fire Walk With Me]

98. It is important to realize that this is what BofA wanted. BofA wanted him in jail for 13 years.

Fuck BofA. Move your money into a credit union.

[hue]

103. This acquittal is a little light of hope!!!! K&R!