Nearly everyone arrested at GOP convention found not guilty

[wookie294]

Seven months after the convention at Madison Square Garden, criminal charges have fallen against all but a handful of people arrested that week. Of the 1,670 cases that have run their full course, 91 percent ended with the charges dismissed or with a verdict of not guilty after trial. Many were dropped without any finding of wrongdoing, but also without any serious inquiry into the circumstances of the arrests, with the Manhattan district attorney's office agreeing that the cases should be "adjourned in contemplation of dismissal."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/nyregion/12video.html?ex=1270958400&en=c6f360560bebb92f&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo

[Syrinx]

1. that's cool

I believe in the right to protest.

[wookie294]

2. The right to protest is slowly being taken away

When cops arrest protesters who are not guilty of anything, then the right to protest is going away.

[Syrinx]

3. I agree with what you state

But it said 91% were okay. I'd like to know more about those ceased. And if they're is systemic abuse against those other 9% I will happily join you in resistance! Well, not happily, but you get the message.

[kskold]

4. 91%

It said 91% of the protestors arrested should *not* have been arrested - that the ones who went to trial were found innocent and the rest had no charges pressed against them at all. Now - there may be issues with the charges against the remaining 9%, but it is indeed the 91% we should be concerned about. Americans exercising their rights in peaceful protest and being improperly arrested for it.

Kristen
Not New, Just Quiet.

[wookie294]

7. Hi Kristen

I'm not new, too! Just quiet! lol

The fact that 91 percent of the protesters were ARRESTED at the demonstration, then found NOT GUILTY really scares me! It's nothing to celebrate! This is the government trying to intimidate people from attending political rallies and demonstrations. And I'm sure the tactic is working.

[chelaque liberal]

5. At the time those "arrests" were used as propaganda for the GOP

Those "criminal" Democrats. Protect your children from turning into unpatriotic, drug using, homo, hippie, pagan anarchists. Vote for "family values."

[chelaque liberal]

6. I'm suspicious about how guilty the 9% actually were.

My friend's son was one of those arrested. His court appointed lawyer talked him into pleading guilty in exchange for probation. He was pissed because he knew he hadn't done anything wrong but he felt he didn't have any choice.

[WearyOne]

8. what a scandal. Can they sue ?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. bet you never see this "ripped from the headlines"

on Law & Order-sad, too, because that would be a great forum for exposing what was done during the convention.

For those who don't know, Law & Order is a popular American TV series that often takes its story lines from actual events. It has been on TV since 1990, and in recent years has taken a decided right wing slant on things, sad to say.

[jdj]

10. Jesus H. read the first four paragraphs. Video got some of them off.

"Dennis Kyne put up such a fight at a political protest last summer, the arresting officer recalled, it took four police officers to haul him down the steps of the New York Public Library and across Fifth Avenue.

"We picked him up and we carried him while he squirmed and screamed," the officer, Matthew Wohl, testified in December. "I had one of his legs because he was kicking and refusing to walk on his own."

Accused of inciting a riot and resisting arrest, Mr. Kyne was the first of the 1,806 people arrested in New York last summer during the Republican National Convention to take his case to a jury. But one day after Officer Wohl testified, and before the defense called a single witness, the prosecutor abruptly dropped all charges.

During a recess, the defense had brought new information to the prosecutor. A videotape shot by a documentary filmmaker showed Mr. Kyne agitated but plainly walking under his own power down the library steps, contradicting the vivid account of Officer Wohl, who was nowhere to be seen in the pictures. Nor was the officer seen taking part in the arrests of four other people at the library against whom he signed complaints."

People need to take a camcorder to every protest from now on. Power to the people!!

:woohoo:

[Toots]

15. Officer Wohl needs to lose his job immediately.. He is a LIAR

and guilty of false imprisonment (kidnapping) in laymen's terms. Why is he still employed as a law enforcement officer?

[Kingshakabobo]

16. The officer needs to be fired and prosecuted for perjury.

I know too many cops who brag about committing perjury because they know it's their word against the poor schmuck being arrested.

[G_j]

11. preemptive arrests

have been an 'important' strategy for a while now.
WB/IMF protests 2000
RNC in Philly 2000
RNC NYC 2004
(for instance)

[seabeyond]

12. how about the criminal that was actually caught on video kicking

a girl. did he get off too. oh ya, he didnt even get in trouble. got pat on back from fellow repug men

[July]

13. Mission accomplished.

Protestors out of sight, and, as a bonus, intimidated by law enforcement. Charges quietly dropped for lack of evidence later. GOP SOP.

[BurtWorm]

17. "Show's over. Move along, folks. Nothing more to see here."

Down into the memory hole it goes.

[BeFree]

14. Warning!

Do not participate in democracy or you will be arrested!

Yeah, the damn courts will let you go, later, but for now, you will be thrown in jail like a common criminal, cause, y'know, being free ain't free. We will make you pay.

This message brought to you by the NYPD, the GOP, the VRWC, the Committtee to re-Select *, and other chicken-shits from around the world. Beware!