Freedom of Speech overruled by ‘inciting’ civil disobedience.’

I once had a friend who spoke up to
a judge who then dismissed the
charges against him but jailed him
for “felonious fatmouthing”.

The fact that judicial discretion
reflects the personal and political
impulses of retrograde failed
lawyers with delusions of grandeur
should not surprise anyone.

The Obama Justice Dept. and American jurisprudence in general is becoming a laughingstock to the world.  This case should have never gone to trial in the first place, much less put the sentencing in the hands of someone who neither understands nor defends the proposition of free speech.

Great quote! So, uh, when will you be joining him in prison, ARK? (Before you go, can I have your iPod?)

Apparently, DeChristopher refused to kiss the pinkie ring of our fossil fuel overlords after being arrested.  Maybe he’ll end up on a fracking chain-gang somewhere in the deserts of Utah. I imagine the judge told him, “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”

QUOTE, Salt Lake Tribune:

“If not for that ‘continuing trail of statements [arguing that civil disobedience is justified in fighting climate change],’ [Judge] Benson said, DeChristopher might not have faced prosecution”
_________________________

Actually, Obamanation’s prosecution of DeCristopher is a persecution.

Sick societies persecute people who have healthy minds.

The Devolution of Liberalism:

http://chenangogreens.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=496&Itemid=1

Wake up Amerika! We are now living in an authoritarian, progressively totalitarian, fascist state comprised of a full-bore fascist party(republicans) whose dirty work is accomplished by a bunch of not-yet-violent dupes called the “tea party” who don absurd 18th century costume in lieu of Brown Shirts. Complicit in their apoligisim and/or surreptitious support are our latter day Weimars (democrats) leaving only a handful of left leaning pols and civic and non-profit groups manning the flimsy barricades of democracy! Alas, as has happened in other places in the past, prisoners of conscience are collected and either become “disappeared” or put to work for the greater good of the economy (the state). Meanwhile, the ignorant amongst us are spurred to take their anger out against various groups who form the scapegoat part of this deterriorating society while endlessly promised the fruits of the trickle down myth as well as salvation when you-know-who returns to collect his chosen. If you choose not to believe the insidious role of multinational corporate greed and corruption in this just recall the meticulous data kept on IBM cards concerning the disposition of Jews collected all over Europe not so long ago or that Fanta was the official soft drink of that nation’s military because it was deemed in poor taste to provide both sides in the conflict with Coca Cola. Oh, and let’s not forget the contributions of Bayer to both sides of this affair! The US government does not work for or represent the people who think that their votes mean anything. Case in point- Obama!

According to the judge, Dea Benson, it wasn’t about what DeChristopher did; it was about what DeChristopher said.  What he did, according to her, “wasn’t that bad.”  It was “that continuing trail of statements” that brought him a sentence of two years in prison. So, in effect, DeChristopher is being put in prison and fined for his speech.  And what does that do to our Constitutional right to “Freedom of Speech”? 

What was DeChristopher advocating by using his right of free speech?  Civil disobedience. Judge Benson to some degree seemed sympathetic to DeChristopher. at others merely confused. The ultimate result is that her judgment declared it is illegal to talk about (advocate) civil disobedience.

Does that mean it is illegal to talk about Martin Luther King’s beliefs and actions?  The Berrigan brothers’ civil disobedient actions? Nelson Mandela? Gandhi’s “ahimsa”?  Gene Sharp’s “Alternatives to Violence”? Which brings us, eventually, to Jesus of Nazareth and the doctrine of “love thy neighbor; do good to those that despise you.”