Posted on 07/16/2020 5:34:41 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The federal government says it was arson. The protester charged with igniting a Molotov cocktail outside the District of Columbia police station during the recent race riots says it is protected First Amendment speech.
Jarrett Jeremy Pace, on the night he set the fire, had said on Facebook he wanted to “burn a 12 station to the ground!” The number “12” is street slang for police.
But now, Mr. Pace argues in federal district court he was speaking metaphorically, that he actually tossed the firebomb on the street near the Fourth District police station rather than at it, and that his action was not meant to burn the station but rather to express solidarity with George Floyd and protesters in Minneapolis.
“Ranging from inappropriate to deplorable, fire has historically been used as an expression of speech,” Eugene Ohm, Mr. Pace’s lawyer at the federal public defender’s office, wrote in briefs asking for his release.
Arson cases are mounting daily as Justice Department prosecutors, under the urging of President Trump and Attorney General William P. Barr, scour the last seven weeks’ protests, looking for cases to make into federal crimes.
On Wednesday alone, prosecutors announced charges against six men in New York, all accused of igniting fires aimed at government property in Rochester and Buffalo. Prosecutors in Seattle announced arson charges against a man they say set a fire outside a city police precinct there.
Mr. Pace was initially charged in superior court in the District but had the case sent to federal district court days later.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I agree. I put money the leftist judges will use this verbiage as the “newest” right extracted from the Constitution to support a leftist cause just like murdering a baby is now “a right” simply because 5 leftist judges said so in 1973.
JoMa
He will get a longer sentence for poor conduct...ivity.
Whatever happens to Wile E. Coyote when he tries to launch one.
You're welcome.
Nah - the second it is lit, it becomes a public hazard - like lighting a stick of dynamite in public - before long, it’s gonna go off.
If Molotov cocktails are free speech, then so are bomb belts and IEDs to name a few
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.