14 Assholes..I Mean Activists Arrested

[Grinning Grim Reaper]

14 ACTIVISTS ARRESTED TODAY AT U.S. SUPREME COURT TO COMMEMORATE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST EXECUTION

35 years after the first execution under contemporary laws of Gary Gilmore, fourteen members of the Abolitionist Action Committee were arrested at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.  The group unfurled a 30-foot banner that read “STOP EXECUTIONS!” on the steps of the Court.  All members were arrested under Title 40-6135 - unlawful assembly and display of a banner on Supreme Court grounds- and are expected to be held in jail overnight, awaiting arraignment before a judge on Wednesday.

Participants from Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, DC, Utah, Vermont, Kansas and New York were there to peacefully and visibly call for an immediate cessation of all executions in the United States through civil disobedience and the risk of arrest.   The group included several murder victim family members, family of the incarcerated, and national leaders in the death penalty abolition movement. One of the participants who was arrested was Randy Gardner, whose brother, like Gilmore, was executed in Utah by firing squad.  "My Brother Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed June 18th 2010 by the same state, by the same method as Gilmore.  I believed then, and I still believe now, that the death penalty is morally wrong.  I'm here to help abolish the death penalty by protesting in any shape or form.”  And, using Gilmore’s last words, he says, “Let’s do it."

35 years ago, on January 17, 1977, the State of Utah shot to death Gary Gilmore, who "volunteered" to be killed in revenge for his murder of Ben Bushnell and Max Jenson.  This state-assisted suicide was the first execution under the Supreme Court’s upholding of the death penalty in 1976.   

Since then, there have been 1277 (1278 they forgot to count Welch!  ) more executions, with others consecutively scheduled on January 18, 19 and 20 in Ohio, Kentucky and Delaware, respectively.  Texas alone has 7 executions scheduled this winter. 

3 of the participants were arrested without identification, and when asked for their names, responded "I am Troy Davis." 

(source: Abolition Action Committee)

[k"KKK"hirschkorn]

So  if  they  gave  there name  as Troy  I'm  a lair Davis. I beleave  they  add  giving  false info.  And  Id  theft. And  maybe  there  is a law  about  escaped Dead inmates.  I hope  they  get  in  Big  doo doo  over  this. 

[AnneTheBelgian]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/supreme-court-arrest-death-penalty_n_1210547.html

(with video)

Supreme Court Protest: 14 People Arrested At Death Penalty Demonstration

01/17/12 01:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Fourteen people have been arrested at the Supreme Court for protesting the resumption of the use of the death penalty in the United States.

Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg announced the arrests soon after the high court began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday. Those who were arrested will likely be charged with illegally demonstrating at the Supreme Court. Such activities are banned on the court's plaza looking out toward the U.S. Capitol.

The protests are timed to mark the year of the 35th anniversary of the execution of Gary Gilmore, who protesters said was the first person executed under the Supreme Court's upholding of the death penalty in 1976.

Protesters say there have been 1,277 more executions since then, with at least three more scheduled for this month.















Anne

[TheKiecker]

I had a 4 paragraph post that I had to delete. (Im a new guy )

I am sooo angry.

 

[k"KKK"hirschkorn]

OK I am lost why  did you delete it ??

I had a 4 paragraph post that I had to delete. (Im a new guy )

I am sooo angry.

 

[Granny B]

I had a 4 paragraph post that I had to delete. (Im a new guy )

I am sooo angry.

 

Next time post it.  You are among like minded people here, who will probably thank you for it!

[JeffB]

So  if  they  gave  there name  as Troy  I'm  a lair Davis. I beleave  they  add  giving  false info.  And  Id  theft. And  maybe  there  is a law  about  escaped Dead inmates.  I hope  they  get  in  Big  doo doo  over  this.

Yo'r meddle Name, wooldn't Happen to be Sylar woold it?

[Granny B]

So  if  they  gave  there name  as Troy  I'm  a lair Davis. I beleave  they  add  giving  false info.  And  Id  theft. And  maybe  there  is a law  about  escaped Dead inmates.  I hope  they  get  in  Big  doo doo  over  this.

Yo'r meddle Name, wooldn't Happen to be Sylar woold it?

Please don't go there again.

[Hutchsmash]

I love how these anti d-bags use lame catch phases like "state-assisted suicide" instead of lawful execution.  These people are so predictable, do they really think peoples minds can be turned with such sorry tactics?

Hutch

[J - Dog]

Who is Troy Davis?   

Sign should have read "Save the Humans! Start X's Now!"  Funny only 14 supporters on the capital steps, they must have had a hard time holding up that sign.  Were did all the Davis lovers go!?

[k"KKK"hirschkorn]

Troy  who?  O  that  guy  yea  hes dead  so  whats  it matter.

Who is Troy Davis?   

Sign should have read "Save the Humans! Start X's Now!"  Funny only 14 supporters on the capital steps, they must have had a hard time holding up that sign.  Were did all the Davis lovers go!?

[Grinning Grim Reaper]

Anti-Death Penalty Activists Found Guilty for Protest, to Serve Jail Time

 

Today, 13 death penalty abolition activists went on trial in DC Superior Court to face a charge stemming from a January 17 arrest this year at the U.S. Supreme Court.  On that date, 14 protestors unfurled a 30 foot banner, which read "STOP EXECUTIONS!" on the steps of the Court.  Such displays of banners are prohibited under U.S. law.

  At trial, the pro-se defendants made a case against the death penalty, and also in support of the 1st amendment. They challenged the constitutionality of the statue prohibiting people from displaying at the Supreme Court "a flag, banner, or device designed or adapted to bring into public notice a party, organization, or movement."

After 6 hours of testimony, review of the evidence and presentation of oral arguments, Judge Juliet McKenna found all 13 defendants guilty and imposed a range of sentences, varying from time served and a $100 fine (plus $50 mandatory contribution to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund), up through suspended sentences of 5 to 60 days.  Additionally, in various cases, 50 hours of community service was imposed, and/or 1-3 years of probation with a stay-away order from the Supreme Court grounds during probation.

4 of the defendants declared in court that they would not pay any fines or participate in community service for an arrest that they believed to be unlawful and unjust.  The judge then imposed a 60 day jail sentence on 80-year old DC resident Eve Tetaz, and a 5 day jail sentence on Jack Payden-Travers (a Lynchburg, Virginia resident) and Amber and Kevin Mason (both DC residents). 

Immediately following court, Tetaz said, "Of course I don't want to go to jail for 60 days.  But 60 days or 24 hours... it doesn't matter.  What is important is that I spoke truth to power, which was the only morally responsible thing to do."

Payden-Travers, Amber Mason and Kevin Mason began serving their sentences immediately Wednesday afternoon, and Tetaz will self report to DC jail on Monday, July 2.

All 13 defendants represented themselves, with DC attorney Mark Goldstone acting as attorney advisor to the group.

The "defendants spoke eloquently and passionately" stated Judge McKenna at the conclusion of the trial.  "What a marvelous example of teamwork."  The judge then commended defendant Randy Gardner for "channeling  your experiences...in productive ways giving back to the community."  Gardner, whose brother was executed by a Utah firing squad in June 2010 said on the stand, "I can't imagine teaching [my son] that it is okay to kill someone for killing someone else."  Gardner's 14-year old son sat in the courtroom watching as his dad took the stand as one of the 3 defense witnesses.

At the time of the January arrest, 5 of the defendants did not carry any identification, and when asked for their names by the police, each responded, "I am Troy Davis."  Troy Davis was executed last September in Georgia under serious doubt about his guilt.  Although this act of solidarity did not result in any increased penalties at trial for the involved defendants, Troy Davis's name and memory were brought into the courtroom.

Daniel Flynn, one of the defense witnesses who took the name of Troy Davis upon arrest, testified on the stand, "Troy Davis represents what is wrong with the system.  Troy Davis is any one of us in this court here today."  Flynn said that because of Mr. Davis's execution, "I had to do  something more.  Something different."

The January 17 protest that resulted in the arrest of 14 activists took place on the 35th anniversary of the execution of Gary Gilmore, the 1st execution under contemporary laws.  The protestors included Amber Mason, Kevin Mason, Eve Tetaz, Daniel Flynn,  Anne Feczko,  Scott Langley, Jack Payden-Travers,  Ron Kaz,  Anna Shockley, Randy Gardner,  Charity Lee,  Rachel Lawler, Jon Dunn and Tom Muther.

This every-5-year protest is organized by The Abolitionist Action Committee, an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through nonviolent direct action.

[JTiscool]

What a bunch of idiots they are. I wonder if they would accept a longer sentence if they were allowed to bunk with their scumpals 

[Hangman1981]

They should give them a tour of death row to see the scum they are worshipping!

[k"KKK"hirschkorn]

I hope they have zero fun or zero compassion while in jail.....