My Punishment for Free Speech

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24033

My Punishment for Free Speech
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-06-26 22:17. Nonviolent Resistance

By Pete Perry

Today Chief Judge Ramsey Johnson sentenced me to 6 months of
supervised probation where I will have to take a drug test every week
and check in with a probation officer. Also, I must complete 40 hours
of community service. My crime? Unlawful entry when myself and three
fellow peace activists refused to leave Senator Barbara Mikulski's
office.

Why the harsh sentence? Not sure, except Judge Johnson has seen me in
a protest related trial once before, and I chose to plead no contest,
while my three co-defendants decided to plead guilty. I have lost a
great deal of respect for our government, and I really believe that we
were indeed obeying a higher law, and therefore could not find it
morally acceptable to plead guilty. They decided to go with an
agreement from the government, and the judge accepted it -- one month
unsupervised probation by pleading guilty.

Again, I don't believe we were guilty. I believe that the senators and
representatives, because we pay taxes, are our employees. And sadly
and immorally, they continue to fund war and occupation. The current
occupation in Iraq has caused more than 3,500 US soldiers to be
killed, and well over half a million Iraqis to be killed. Many of
these are children who don't even understand war, and don't even know
who Americans are besides the ones who attacked and invaded their
country.

So what now? I intend on going to grad school at Catholic University
at the end of August, and I will continue to support the peace and
justice movement int his country. Just do me a favor -- instead of
thanking me -- do your part to end this illegal and immoral war and
occupation done in our very names. For my 40 hours of community
service, I will be working at the Torture Abolition Survivors Support
Coalition.

In hope for peace with justice,
Pete Perry

[EFerrari]

1. Thank you, Pete.

[MADem]

2. That's not a terribly harsh sentence, IMO.

A harsh sentence would be sixty to 90 days in jail and a substantial fine.

That was a light sentence for failure to obey the orders of a police officer, really.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Drug testing is inappropriate for the offense

40 hours community service is also excessive in my opinion.

[Solo_in_MD]

12. I have no problem with the sentence

I believe that the supervised probation means automatic drug testing.

[LiberalFighter]

14. I don't believe drug testing should be implemented unless the offense

involves alcohol, prescription drug abuse or illegal drugs.

[Solo_in_MD]

17. Concur that it would be more sensible policy

but if it is indeed standard policy today, and not specifically imposed, I don't see it as extra punishment

[maxsolomon]

3. the drug testing is uncool

:smoke:

[Frogger]

4. I don't k now.

I repect the author's convictions, and agree with them. And I respect his courage. But trespassing is trespassing, not 'free speech'. don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. Yes, The law MUST be obeyed.

Punishment must be swift. Sure. And painful.

There is no excuse -- EVER.

A crime is a crime. There must always be consequences.

We must have the rule of law.

Law -- and Order.

Our Homeland needs more discipline. And the strict application of law and order will restore that discipline.

It is only discipline that separates us from the animals and the inferior races.

--p!
Do I REALLY need a sarcasm smiley?

[mondo joe]

7. True civil obedience has always included prepardness to ho to jail. But in this

instance, it should be noted the law that was broken was not free speech but trespassing.

[starroute]

19. The two are becoming indistinguishable

The more stuff gets privatized, the less of a public commons there is in which to protest. Pretty soon, it won't even be possible to gather an audience without trespassing on some corporation or other's private turf.

If you haven't noticed, property rights are being inflated as the ultimate trump card against civil rights, free speech, and almost everything else we hold dear. Note, for example, the court decision that the propriety software of the voting machine companies trumps the right to transparent elections.

"Trespassing" will be the way they shut off free speech without ever having to lay a finger on the Constitution.

[Frogger]

8. No, just a brain.

If you deliberately disobey the law, then you have to be prepared to accept the consequnces.

The law may be wrong, but as long as it is the law, it will be enforced. That's the way the system is set up.

[Dogmudgeon]

10. Since you have all the brains, here's a question --

To reduce injustice, we should:

a) support injustice; or,

b) fight injustice.

Every time anyone breaks any law, no matter how unjust, a dozen or more cheerleaders emerge to recite the Obedience Mantra.

They also never fail to get offended when this is pointed out.

--p!

[mondo joe]

13. I don't think trespassing is the only way to fight injustice.

If you think you need to break the law, expect to pay the price.

You can then accept it or fight it.

That's what Rosa Parks and MLK did.

[Frogger]

18. if the law offends you,

if it is unjust, if your conscience commands, then you must break it.

But don't come whining when you have to pay the consequences. It requires no courage to do something that has no penalty attached.

Besides, other people may think the law is just, or at least necessary. You wouldn't like it if they were flouting laws that they thought were unjust but that you thought were just.

MLK was always prepared to accept the consequences of his civil disobedience. And he expected to pay them. Most 'protesters' nowadays seem to be poseurs.

[Quantess]

5. What was the drug testing part about?

It makes me wonder if he was high on drugs at the time.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. Drug testing is std for those on supervised probation

[LiberalFighter]

15. Drug testing is probably required as a means to fill the coffers of the judicial system.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

16. More pressure NOT to participate in your right to government of the people.

F'n BS! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: