Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Fri, 2007/07/13 - 3:15pm.
In this day of government's increasingly imposing limits to free speech, this KNS story (prominent on the "hardcopy" page B-1, but difficult to find on-line) was very affirming. It also caused me to think even *more* highly of Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz.
From the text:
The judge lamented the fact that real terrorists have fostered a culture of fear in America, a culture that demonizes dissidence that once was honored and puts protesters like Johnson on Homeland Security lists.
“That doesn’t make you evil,” she told Johnson. “It doesn’t make you terrible. It makes you a dissident.”
Johnson told the judge he was offended at Walker’s labeling of his involvement in environmental protests as akin to street gangs and hate groups.
“The fact the state needs to classify legitimate political dissidence as gang activity I think is pathetic and ridiculous,” he said.
It appears that Jamie Satterfield had to leave the courtroom before Liebowitz rendered her verdict/sentence, as we aren't told how the defendent fared. Well, I hope. See Link....
(Edit: Ah, I see it now, early in the text: Six months probation.)
Submitted by Anarchist on Fri, 2007/07/13 - 3:45pm.
Good for Mary Beth! She is a breath of fresh air and a mighty fine jurist!!!
Johnson is lucky he wasn't tasered and shot repeatedly by the SWAT team like poor Sgt. Derek J. Hale, USMC, who was murdered by police in Wilmington, Delaware last November. (Do a Google search to find the details of the final moments of Mr. Hale's life. The story should make your blood boil!!!!)
Submitted by Hildegard on Fri, 2007/07/13 - 10:32pm.
...is a good judge and a brilliant woman. I wish more outspoken women (like her and Tamara) got the attention they deserve in this city. Regrettably, she is relegated to the status of a courtroom character for local news reports' coverage of criminal cases, instead of as the strong, independent voice of leadership that she is.
Ah, those were the days. I'll never forget getting questioned by TVA police (what was that ex-FBI guy who was their chief jackboot?) for 2 hours for "being present at a demonstration" on Market Square, then being asked at the end why I attended a party where Johnson was present a year or so before. These people are so obsessed with John that they keep a cross-reference of whoever he happens to be standing next to on the street. As to why I was at the party? Free beer.
The next time his name came up was when I was doing work for a trucking company that hauled into Oak Ridge and they were checking everyone out who would be involved with the shipments. This was 4 years later.
Remember this is a guy who dresses as a forest creature. Terrorist!
Where the fuck is Osama? True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Except Norm wasn't the head of the TVA police. He came on board as IG, then eventually became Chief Administrative Office.
"If we want to revitalize our towns and protect our countryside from sprawling development, we should renovate our older schools, not throw them away."
-- Save Our Land, Save Our Towns President Thomas Hylton
What is with the hair anyway? For about 6 months back in the early 90s he had it orange. I remember attending one all hands meeting where no one heard a word he said because we were all whispering about his hair.
Interesting law enforcement history, yeah. I read the book you linked to a couple of months ago. Fascinating and heart-breaking. Made me proud to be a 'merikan.
"If we want to revitalize our towns and protect our countryside from sprawling development, we should renovate our older schools, not throw them away."
-- Save Our Land, Save Our Towns President Thomas Hylton
Good for Mary Beth! She is a breath of fresh air and a mighty fine jurist!!!
Johnson is lucky he wasn't tasered and shot repeatedly by the SWAT team like poor Sgt. Derek J. Hale, USMC, who was murdered by police in Wilmington, Delaware last November. (Do a Google search to find the details of the final moments of Mr. Hale's life. The story should make your blood boil!!!!)
...is a good judge and a brilliant woman. I wish more outspoken women (like her and Tamara) got the attention they deserve in this city. Regrettably, she is relegated to the status of a courtroom character for local news reports' coverage of criminal cases, instead of as the strong, independent voice of leadership that she is.
Ah, those were the days. I'll never forget getting questioned by TVA police (what was that ex-FBI guy who was their chief jackboot?) for 2 hours for "being present at a demonstration" on Market Square, then being asked at the end why I attended a party where Johnson was present a year or so before. These people are so obsessed with John that they keep a cross-reference of whoever he happens to be standing next to on the street. As to why I was at the party? Free beer.
The next time his name came up was when I was doing work for a trucking company that hauled into Oak Ridge and they were checking everyone out who would be involved with the shipments. This was 4 years later.
Remember this is a guy who dresses as a forest creature. Terrorist!
Where the fuck is Osama?
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
what was that ex-FBI guy who was their chief jackboot?
Stormin' Norman Ziggy Zigrossi.
Except Norm wasn't the head of the TVA police. He came on board as IG, then eventually became Chief Administrative Office.
"If we want to revitalize our towns and protect our countryside from sprawling development, we should renovate our older schools, not throw them away."
-- Save Our Land, Save Our Towns President Thomas Hylton
Yeah, but Norm always remained a cop at heart, even to the point of involving himself in local investigations from time to time.
He's just another old guy in a track suit and purple hair today, but he has a pretty interesting history in law enforcement.
Link...
What is with the hair anyway? For about 6 months back in the early 90s he had it orange. I remember attending one all hands meeting where no one heard a word he said because we were all whispering about his hair.
Interesting law enforcement history, yeah. I read the book you linked to a couple of months ago. Fascinating and heart-breaking. Made me proud to be a 'merikan.
"If we want to revitalize our towns and protect our countryside from sprawling development, we should renovate our older schools, not throw them away."
-- Save Our Land, Save Our Towns President Thomas Hylton
great. thanks for posting, tamara.
Wasn't that what he was doing in the first place?
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