Student's Arrest at G.O.P. Convention Puts His Life in Limbo (Waaaaaaaah)

New York Times ^ | April 15, 2005 | SABRINA TAVERNISE

[WBurgVACon]

Freedom of expression, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, is under assault in this country.

THAT is what you said. You can try and insult my intelligence to defeat logic, but English is English. You said it. Reread what you wrote, say it out loud if it helps.

[skimask]

My, my, my, aren't you the intellectual....how many of Ward Churchill's classes are you taking?

[desidude_in_us]

Freedom of expression, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, is under assault in this country.

Thats very much true.. Back home, everyone I knew used to protest for ridiculous things, and I hoped the government had some control over these protests as they were "potentially" violent.. now, am glad they had those rights to protest.. after I came to US, I met some students from former soviet republics.. inspite of renouncing communism some 10/12 years ago, most of them shared a common trait, viz., they somehow seem to be very scared of speaking out against authority.. or infact, what they really think about controversial issues... apparently, thats the fallout of hailing from a communistic state - too much fear of authority and too much concern about agreeing with the majority (and thereby losing your individuality). Meeting them only convinced me that communists are the scummiest folks on the planet when it comes to suppressing FOE..

However, from what I'm seeing, they seem to have some counterparts on the right side of the political spectrum in this country. And some people seem to be glad enough to surrendering their rights to protest and disagree.

You know the joke Chinese make about freedom of expression in their country ?

A Chinese guy brags to an American guy : "You know, we also have freedom of expression in our country.. we dont have any problem with protests in our country.. we can always protest against American government in our country, just like you people do ;)"

Dont think most Americans realize how lucky they are that they still have the right to dissension. Its utterly naive of them to be parochial and blame liberals or conservatives, its just a democratic issue afterall.

regards,

[Rembrandt_fan]

You wrote: An American is falsely arrested and charged with a crime he didn't commit. And you're concerned with my writing style? Interesting."

Perhaps you should've written "Interesting".

False arrests happen all the time. Screw-ups are part of the human condition, not a sign of an 'emerging totalitarian state'--particularly in this case, where the charges have been (or are about to be) dropped. Hyperbole gets you nowhere, and neither does unfounded paranoia. Of course, the moment you start going on about 'The New World Order', the paranoia seems a given. Watch out for those pesky black helicopters.

[WBurgVACon]

However, from what I'm seeing, they seem to have some counterparts on the right side of the political spectrum in this country. And some people seem to be glad enough to surrendering their rights to protest and disagree.

Maybe since you aren't from this country, you do not understand the rights we have. For example....you have the right to stand on a corner, and hold up a sign basically saying whatever you want. However....should you choose to hold up that sign in the middle of the street, blocking traffic, you are no longer protesting, you are breaking the law and should expect to pay the consequences. The leaders and participants of the civil rights movement understood this. They wanted to be arrested to bring attention to their cause. "Protestors" today feel that they have the right to cause civil disobedience, and then also be unaccountable for their actions. There is nothing wrong with speaking your mind in this country....it's when you infringe upon the RIGHTS of others to live their lives that you run into trouble and should pay the consequences.

[NYpeanut]

do tell.

[desidude_in_us]

...you have the right to stand on a corner, and hold up a sign basically saying whatever you want. However....should you choose to hold up that sign in the middle of the street, blocking traffic, you are no longer protesting, you are breaking the law and should expect to pay the consequences.

I agree.. yes it seems reasonable.

"Protestors" today feel that they have the right to cause civil disobedience, and then also be unaccountable for their actions. There is nothing wrong with speaking your mind in this country....it's when you infringe upon the RIGHTS of others to live their lives that you run into trouble and should pay the consequences.

Yes, if it goes out of hand, its not unreasonable for the authorities to take appropriate measures, especially to uphold the law of the land.

The problem I was referring to is when people deny others the right to protest itself.. And some people are implying that those who disagree with them shouldnt be allowed to protest (or even express their opinion).. then the issue becomes a matter of surrendering one's individual freedom of expression. They are inadvertently endorsing fascism.

Afterall, if people want to protest peacefully, its a sign of a healthy democracy..

[G.Mason]

Just a note to let you know I am anticipating the enjoyment I will get reading the barbs coming your way.

Talk about open mouth, insert foot!

... Not that I haven't tasted shoe leather before. ;)

[MeekOneGOP]

There are FReepers

There are SLeepers

Many on FR are obviously both .....

Yeah, no kidding, DV.

I read just enough of this article (and comments) to get the gist of it and also NOTE it is by The New York Slimes.

They, of course, are simply using their long held and strictly adhered to policy All the news that's fit to print and not advancing any agenda in this story!

< /sarcasm >

Whether that is true about this story, I don't know. But all their past actions indicates to me:

Let the READER beware!!

Ah, yes. Let the FREEPERS beware.

[G.Mason]

Error # 2

... after making dumb comments on a "news" article, that may, or may not have truthful parts to it, you get in the face of a poster who comments on your inane comments. ;)

[G.Mason]

Error #3

... Not realizing the flame suit you are wearing was made with flamable material, you charge full tilt into the inferno. ;)

[Beckwith]

Welcome to Amerika.

The only thing more disgusting that what happened to this American is the fact that many so-called "conservatives" will applaud his abuse by "the system"

Conservatives know how to spell America, hippy. And the little turd got what's coming to him.

Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time.

[G.Mason]

Error #4

... Not being satisfied with projecting yourself as a Conservatives Conservative, you abruptly change and start chanting a Leftist montra by saying ... " The state of New York needs to be paying his bills." ... to which the crowd roars with delight. ;)

[G.Mason]

Error # 5

... The fifth and final error.

All debators, but the most inexperienced, realize that once any reference to Nazi's, Hitler, or the Third Reich are made the debate is over. ( for future reference you may wish to Google Villepinist, or Idiotariat as an aid in debates of this nature)

With your utterance of ... " Seig Heil" ... I am afraid you have lost the battle. Here, and only at post 19, you have gone down in flames.

Sadly I leave the arena, unable to watch this dreadful scene any longer.

Is that sirens I hear coming from far off? ;)

[Mad Dawg]

Protestors came to Manhattan with the intent of breaking the law. Calling what you do a "protest" does not necessarily place civil disruption under the protection of the Bill of Rights.

When a whole bunch of people gather to break the law, things necessarily get messy. Underfunded, underequipped, understaffed LEOs will make mistakes. It is likely that some of the LEOs will not be as virtuous as others. These will take advantage of the confusion, precipitated by those who come with the intent of causing civil disruption and of violating the right of others peaceably to assemble, to sow confusion and commit injustice.

To conclude from this that the US is becoming a police state is unreasonable, and the conclusion is not born out by facts readily observable by spending a few days in your local general district court. To suggest (by typing "Sieg Heil") that those who disagree with you are Nazis is a trick over-used by the left. To question the intelligence of those who do not see things your way is jejune. I have to if Mulder means to persuade or gets his or her jollies from giving offense.

[Casloy]

If you are in a protest and you see illegal activity, either put a stop to it, or walk away. If you hang around don't complain when you get caught up in the arrests.

[kcvl]

Ex-student arrested at RNC


By Mitra Taj
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Print this

Charges 'most serious' yet levied against any convention protester

A former UA student is being held on $200,000 bail in New York City following a fight that erupted Sunday between police and protesters near the site of the Republican National Convention.

Yusuke Banno, 21, is charged with assault in the first degree, assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, riot in the first degree, resisting arrest, and hindering riot resistance and obstruction.

Banno completed the spring 2004 semester at the UA as a political science junior before transferring to Prescott Community College. Banno was also a member of the Daily Wildcat staff during his freshman and sophomore years.

An estimated 250,000 protesters were in the streets of New York on Sunday, the day before the RNC started.

Of all the charges leveled against the approximately 500 RNC protesters arrested, those against Banno are "the most serious," said Barbara Thompson, spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office.

Though Banno isn't charged with arson, Thompson said Banno and others set fire to a giant papier-mâché dragon she said they were marching with on Sunday. When police officers threw smoke grenades and tried to arrest the arsonists, she said the group blocked police officers.

Thompson said Banno fought with the police officer who attempted to arrest him and the officer's hand got caught in the burning float, resulting in third-degree burns and possible nerve damage.

snip

Wellins, who was in New York on Sunday said Banno was arrested three to five times before, but always for minor offenses like failure to obey or disturbance of the peace.

In March 2003, Banno and two other students were arrested at the UA when they locked themselves to the railing of the Administration building to protest the news of a $1,000 tuition hike.

Charges against the three were later dropped.

Wellins said he and Banno were arrested for stepping off the sidewalk at an anti-capitalist march at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., in 2002.

Wellins said the RNC protest was "insane."

"I'd never been in a crowd so big in my life," he said.

The dragon, Wellins said, was a good idea in theory. He said it was painted with words like "Iraq," "Afghanistan" and "women's reproductive rights," before going up in flames.

snip

Wellins said he went to protest Republicans' "neoconservative plans and the elitist ideologies behind them and the lack of accountability and degradation of democratic principles of public officials."

snip

Banno's friends said they've started a Josh Banno Defense Fund to help him pay for legal counsel and bail.

More...

http://wildcat.arizona.edu/papers/98/8/01_1.html

[Trteamer]

So now that you have condemned our country as a one party police state, what is your answer to fix it? I know many people who talk like you, most have turned to being anarchists, most have been in trouble with the law.

To call this country a police state is a little extreeeeem don't you think? I am not saying you don't have the right to say it, but that does not make it true.

Anyway, go ahead and flame away. In a real police state you wouldn't be able to.

[kcvl]

Tucson Anarchist Josh Banno was arrested recently at the RNC protest.

"There were nearly a million people on the streets on Sunday. It could be any one of us in his place," said fellow marcher Abigail Singer.

To make donations for Banno's defense, go to www.foodnotbombs.net.

Law Office of Shroff
350 Broadway, Ste. 700
New York, NY 10013

Barbara Thompson, spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, said, "There is an extremely strong case against him. He was arrested next to the fire, and the officer who tried to arrest Banno was pulled to the floor and the officer's hand was lodged in the burning dragon."

Reports stated that the officer suffered third-degree burns, and was hospitalized with "possible nerve damage."

But Banno supporters have been vocal since his Aug. 30 arraignment, where many were escorted out of the courtroom by police officers while shouting obscenities in response to allegations that Banno was the primary mastermind of the dragon burning.

A flier put together by the Banno Defense Committee says, "Josh was participating in a permitted, peaceful, nonviolent, legal march in New York on Aug 29 when the police arrested him ... Josh was made out to be the ringleader of the incident, receiving the most serious charges and the highest bail. The prosecutor based this claim on false evidence."

snip

"He is not at all a violent person who would put anyone at risk," said Alex Holznienkemper, international studies senior and long time friend of Banno. Holznienkemper said that Banno is devoted to helping the community, having taken part with Alternative Spring Breaks in helping impoverished Mexican communities improve their infrastructure, and with assisting prisoner support groups such as the Sherman Austin support group in Tucson.

"Josh has often been known to help homeless people by going around town and handing food to people who are less fortunate than most of us," he said.

Yusuke "Josh" Banno lies on a hammock outside a friend's home here with a "Free the Banno" sign that friends made for him.

After spending six days in jail, Banno said he feels sick from eating canned vegetables and other jail food, but he met others who understood the plight of the protesters.

snip

After Banno, who wore a black mask to conceal his face, was arrested, matches and an oven mitt were taken from him, the complaint said.

He didn't wear a black mask but a blue bandanna around his neck, and the matches were for his cigarettes, Banno said yesterday. The oven mitt was in case tear gas was thrown at him, he said.

Banno is now studying sustainable community development and settling in Tucson again after traveling over the summer.

He worked at a community center in the Bronx before the protest and said this was his first visit to New York.

Banno said that after he was arrested, he was taken to Pier 57, a detention center for most of the 1,200 protesters arrested that day. "We called it 'Guantanamo North,'" Banno said.

Banno was held there for nine hours in what he described as a crate with orange metal bars reaching 30 feet high and topped with coiled razor wire.

"The media's been trying to pin anarchists with a bad rep," Banno said. "Anarchy isn't about chaos, destruction or malice. It's about helping the community in the face of an ineffectual two-party government."

snip

"The protest wasn't about Democrats versus Republicans. They're both supporting the war, they push the same economics, they're both ... thriving off the backs of the hungry and the homeless," Banno said.

A bail bondsman was on hand in the court room to bail Josh out immediately after the hearing. Josh was heard saying "Sabrina (his lawyer) kicks ass!" after being escorted out the back of the courtroom.