High Speed Railroad Set Up To Persecute Occupy Wall Street Protesters

New York City is expanding a special court for the express purpose of “processing” the 900 protesters rounded up by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in the past few weeks. 

The special “court” dispenses with such niceties as juries or allowing defense attorneys enough time for preparation. (Bet you thought the U.S. Constitution “guaranteed” you a right to a jury trial That’s what it says, true, but words don’t always mean what they say, I guess.)

An enthusiastic NY Times article on the matter hails it as providing “swift justice.” Egyptian military “court” style, I’d say. [“Special Manhattan Court Trims Case Backlog, but Defense Lawyers See Drawbacks,” NYT, 11/3/11, p. A25. “Drawbacks” like the fact that the whole setup is skewed to favor prosecutors and produce convictions.Link to article on blogpost title.]

The Times gives an example of how the “court” works by citing the case of an African street vendor arrested for selling umbrellas without a permit. His lawyer asked for a ONE DAY delay in the “trial” so that a defense witness could appear.

The “court” said no. (Time is of the essence in such serious matters, you see.) Duly convicted by the “judge,” the African was fine $500 for the crime of trying to survive.

Next up, $500 fines for silly people who think the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution “guarantees” their freedom of speech and assembly. And if you don’t pay, they imprison you.

Of course, these being misdemeanor charges, defendant-victims can still be sentenced to jail for a year, say. But in a country where stealing a slice of pizza can get you life in prison, as happens in California, what’s the big deal about having a year of your life stolen? Quit your whining!