Citations for 9 people who demonstrated near McCloskey home

AP ^ | 09 11 2020 | JIM SALTER

[yesthatjallen]

Nine protesters have been issued trespassing summonses for marching onto a private St. Louis street in June, a demonstration that prompted a couple to emerge from their home with guns to confront the demonstrators.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey were both charged in July with unlawful use of a weapon in a polarizing case that landed them a spot at the Republican National Convention last month. Police spokeswoman Evita Caldwell on Friday confirmed that nine protesters have been issued summonses but said the St. Louis City Counselor's office is still deciding whether to issue charges on the citations.

The Rev. Darryl Gray, who led the protest, called the citations an attempt to intimidate peaceful protesters.

“We’re not going to be threatened, and that’s what’s happening across this country,” said Gray, who was not issued a summons. “You’ve got local governments and states who are trying to charge protesters, financially charge them, wanting them to pay costs. You’ve got others who want to make it a law against exercising our First Amendment right.”

SNIP

[T.B. Yoits]

These nine citations are the proof the McCloskeys' lawyer needs to go after the prosecutor who arrested and charged the McCloskeys. The prosecutor is guilty of malicious prosecution for charging the victims when there was clear evidence of criminal trespass and threats from the rioters. Forget fines, this prosecutor needs to do hard time for deprivation of rights under the color of law.

Also, the crime lab needs to be de-certified for tampering with evidence when they re-assembled Mrs. McCloskey's handgun.

[Maris Crane]

You are not peaceful if you tear down an iron gate to get into the area.

This is maddening.