The New Police State!

Ralph over at Newsfare posts this and I think it is a logical follow-up to my Buffalo Springfield post.

So, I offer it up for your edification on the new national security and civil liberties situation. And please follow the links. Here it is:

Carol Fisher to be Sentenced

This story makes me ill. I discussed it in an earlier post.

Carol Fisher, an activist with “The World Can’t Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime,” will be sentenced this Friday, June 2 at 10 am in the courtroom of Judge Timothy McGinty, on the 21st floor of the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland.

Ms. Fisher was convicted on April 28 of 2 counts of assaulting police officers in Cleveland Heights for putting up posters which read “Bush Step Down.” This case been covered in the Cleveland Free Times, Sun Press, the Plain Dealer, along with radio shows and blogs all over the country.

For background on the case, see this link. A brief excerpt:

The officer’s partner arrived on the scene and Carol was thrown face down on the sidewalk with one cop’s knee in her back and her face held to the ground. She was handcuffed and her legs were shackled. Additional backup arrived.

After she was restrained, the arresting officer said, “I am sick and tired of this anti-Bush shit.” Another cop said, “Shut up or I’ll kill you”. The officers said “she is definitely crazy, we should send her to the psych ward.”

Back to the main story…

[Fisher] is facing a maximum of three years in jail with a fine of several thousand dollars. After the guilty verdict, Judge McGinty told her, “When you come to the sentencing, be prepared to apologize and admit you were wrong, or bring your toothbrush - you are going to jail.” Judge McGinty repeated these threats to her attorneys yesterday.

Ms. Fisher’s supporters will rally outside the Justice Center Friday morning at 9 am, by the sculpture on Ontario St between Lakeside and St. Clair. Press packets will be available, along with a new statement from the Cleveland chapter of World Can’t Wait. People will then fill the courtroom to witness the sentencing.

Before the sentencing, in court, Ms. Fisher will make a statement. She has consistently declared that she has nothing to apologize for and is not guilty.

An appeal will be filed by her attorneys, Terry Gilbert and Dan Sheilds.

Carol Fisher is about to be imprisoned solely for her political views. Note that the judge specifically threatened to send her to jail if she did not publicly recant. You can donate to help cover Fisher’s appeal costs at this Paypal page.

So, this is what we have come to. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!