Holy smoke, this one is, like, out there. Jeff Olson, a 40-year old San Diego man, is facing 13 years in prison for writing anti-bank slogans on the sidewalk in front of three local BofA branches - in chalk. No, wait, it gets better. The judge in the case has ruled that the First Amendment doesn't apply, and that Olson's attorney will be in contempt of court if he even so much as mentions Freedom of Speech.
What the hell country are we living in anymore?
In addition to possibly spending years in jail, Olson will also be held liable for fines of up to $13,000 over the anti-big-bank slogans that were left using washable children's chalk on a sidewalk outside of three San Diego, California branches of Bank of America, the massive conglomerate that received $45 billion in interest-free loans from the US government in 2008-2009 in a bid to keep it solvent after bad bets went south.
I'm speechless (no pun intended).
This guy scrawls a bunch of stuff on the sidewalk in chalk, and now he might go away for more than a decade? And he's not allowed to argue that what is an obvious political statement doesn't fall under Free Speech.
Speechless.
Love to hear what you guys think. This is a travesty.
Did it say why the judge didn't think freedom of speech applies? This is truly bizarre and I feel that there must be some other reason behind the harsh charges.
Because the 1st Amendment isn't mentioned in the state's Vandalism Statute. Total bullshit:
http://rt.com/usa/california-man-13-prison-banks-237/
That is absolutely pathetic. Also, where did they come up with the number $13,000 as a fine amount? Often even rain washes chalk away.
I'm guessing the statute calls for one year in prison and $1,000 fine per incident.
Shit like this scares me. I am pretty outspoken on my political views. I really don't know how I'd react.
Write in chalk, go to jail. Almost destroy the worlds financial markets and millions of peoples lives, take this free bailout money! And people wonder why I never want to live in the US...
So wait. He is disallowing a constitutional rights driven defense because the state's statute doesn't mention the first amendment? Seriously? hahaha. I am far from being a lawyer but that sounds absolutely absurd.
Looks like Vladimir Putin has more empathy for freedom of speech than San Diego county. Pussy Riot only got 2 years.
The charges are largely overstated in an effort to grab headlines. His defense doesn't even need to claim freedom of speech as a defense, even though it would be a good one. They will push this for a jury trial, the state will loose that, and all the defense really has to do is say "It's the sidewalk stupid, you know that thing that everyone walks on. Yea, that's public domain."
I understand your logic, but just because it is public domain doesn't mean you can do whatever you want to it. I can't just take my garbage out on trash day and leave in front of BofA.
scared yet?... get used to it.
Punishment fits the crime! Let that be a lesson for all the Wall Street haters out there!
Awful analogy, rubbish (trash translated into English) doesn't equate to chalk. Rubbish is heavy, smells and potentially dangerous. Chalk, you just need a drunk guy with a full bladder to get rid of it....
Haha, well my point was that just because it is public domain doesn't mean that it is a free for all. Granted chalk is essentially nothing though.
They're trying to make an example out of this kid to stick it to OWS, and like heister said, the state is going to lose. If the state wins, this will be appealed in federal court and will be overturned. On some slim chance that doesn't happen, I think this is a perfect candidate for a presidential pardon....and Obama's ACLU power base will basically drag him by the balls to sign.
We all know this, but I'll be the one to spell it out: American colonies were originally governed by corporations, such as the Massachusetts Bay Company. We all know how well that went over. To quote Abraham Lincoln:
"The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces as public enemies, all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the Bankers in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe.. corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money powers of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in the hands of a few, and the Republic is destroyed."
He really said that? Shit is cray.
Sorry to be the troll here but according to the sources named in this link, it looks like that Lincoln quote never happened (there are source links embedded in the responses in this Yahoo Answers thread). http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110213160015AA2fcnu
The Thomas Jefferson quote is a good one though: "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." -- Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson also mentioned something about banks and standing armies.
Hang on. They're actually prosecuting him?
If this goes to trial, there's no way he'll get convicted.
Time for Tank-a-Bank - Chalk addition. I'm taking the kids over to LaSalle St
The U.S. has officially become that turd that no matter how many times you flush the toilet, won't go down the hole because it's too big. No matter how hard the gov't tries, they just can't seem to get beyond having us circle the drain.
1) this is hyperbole
2) He did this shit for 6 months straight and was charged with 13 counts, hence the sizable potential sentence
3) Graffiti isn't free speech. It is defacement of property. Sidewalks are either public property or public property with the responsibility of the owner near it (shoveling sidewalks in front of your house). Anyway you slice it this isn't his property to deface.
4) The state law has intention. Hence why a kid isn't going to be arrested and a guy who does this shit for 6 months straight will.
5) It is going to be thrown out or he will be acquitted.
Judges in many parts of this country basically make the law up as they go. Hence why you have to appeal shit. Judges never want to be overturned so they usually follow the law for things people would actually appeal. Not sure why this dude is pushing this since removable chalk is hardly destroying property. His drawings can't even be considered defamatory either.
yes, you are correct. a nation of over 300 million people, in-fact, a turd b/c some douche kept fucking with other douches and another douche agrees with the douches he was fucking with...big deal. i highly doubt this case is a slippery slope to obamazis beating down everyone's door and murdering children. thank god we have a wso official here to declare and sumarize everything in such a succinct manner.
I was clearly only referring to this little occurrence as our circling of the drain and not other current events.
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