Revolution #210, August 29, 2010
OUTRAGEOUS VERDICT!
VIDEOGRAPHER FOUND GUILTY,
TAKEN DIRECTLY TO JAIL!
The following is from a statement received by Revolution, dated Thursday, August 26:
After 9 months of vengeful and unrelenting pursuit of a conviction by the Cook County (Illinois) State’s Attorney and the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago (EHSC), a videographer was found guilty today of trespass, resisting a police officer, and battery for the "crime" of videotaping a brief but newsworthy statement by Sunsara Taylor at the EHSC. The young man was maced and brutalized during the arrest, and this was acknowledged by police at trial, yet he was the one charged and now found guilty.
The courtroom was continually packed with the videographer's supporters who were stunned and outraged by the verdict. Then the judge furthered this shameful persecution by upholding the prosecutor’s demand that bond be revoked immediately. He was taken directly from the courtroom to the Cook County Jail until sentencing on September 8. He could be sentenced to up to 3 years in jail.
His lawyer said, "I am unbelievably disappointed with the verdict and I know we will appeal. [He] is a fine man and does not deserve this. I was stunned by the Court's decision to revoke [his] bond." A motion for an order to reinstate the bond will be filed immediately.
Supporters went straight from the suburban courthouse to the jail to protest and demand "hands off" the videographer and his immediate release from jail. This was really welcomed by people coming in and out of the jail, by people driving by, and most of all, by prisoners in the windows and in the yard.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Send this newsflash to everyone you know. Use Twitter, Facebook, use the list serves you are on to get this out everywhere
- Immediately send statements of support to the defense committee (adhoc4reason@gmail.com)
- Show your support at the sentencing hearing on September 8.
More information will be coming; keep in touch with the Ad Hoc Committee at adhoc4reason@gmail.com.
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