While I'm not celebrating, I don't see him as a hapless unfortunate either.
He positioned himself in an environment of disorderly conduct that was very mob-like. The police were just doing their jobs. In an uncontrolled environment like that, it's hardly surprising they weren't able to effectively nab the right person.
If he was unwilling to assume the risks associated with that, he should have found a more calm group and protested elsewhere.
It's like hanging out with a gang. The kid may not do anything wrong, but it's hard to sympathize with him if he gets in trouble anyway.
Surely you don't mean to imply that free speech is synomous with "disorderly conduct"?
The police were just doing their jobs
Where have we heard this excuse before?
BTW, they were so competent at doing their jobs that 90% of the charges against protestors are being dropped.
Equating political protest with gang activity is un-American.
It is Amerikan, however.