Statue Climber Among 100 Victims of Police Murder Gets 3 Months at Riker Prison
EndFragment
Arrest was during demonstration last year, where over 100 families of victims of police murder
Today, Wednesday, May 11th, I will appear in court for trial for charges resulting from the #RiseUpOctober protests against police murder last October. In an unprecedented maneuver, the NYPD itself is bringing these charges against me directly, and playing a prosecutorial role in the proceedings. If I am convicted, I could find myself serving up to a three month sentence at Riker’s Island for the obscure charge of ‘climbs on statue’.
I am not being prosecuted by ‘the people’ — , the state or city of New York or its district attorney — I am being prosecuted by the NYPD via their legal advocate, Gregg Turkin. At the first court appearance in November 2015, five officers sat in the front row of the small Manhattan courtroom, as Turkin interceded, demanding that in order for the case to be dismissed — I admit to to ‘some wrongdoing’ or probable cause for my arrest. During a sidebar with the judge, I overhear Turkin clarify his role in the proceedings: to prevent ‘career protesters’ from suing the city on false imprisonment or unlawful arrest — by forcing them to admit to probable cause for their arrest in order to receive an ACD — and bringing them to trial — and possibly jail, if they refuse.
EndFragment