January 23, 2008

Columbus Day Protestors Found Guilty, Penalties A "Bloodbath"

Not really (they were found guilty, however). The penalties--a meager fine for each--are more of a "slap on the wrist" variety (although Glenn Morris' fine is exquisitely appropriate):
Morris also must pay $323.53, the cost of cleaning up the theatrical blood.

The cost is so high because police called in a hazardous materials unit to do the cleaning before the parade was allowed to proceed.
At least the jurors understood the situation, and didn't buy defense attorney David Lane's moral superiority argument:
Jury Foreman Terry Smith, a retired Ford executive, said that the panel based the decision only on whether the evidence showed the defendants committed the acts with which they were charged — not the message the protesters were trying to convey.

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