J20

On January 20th, 200+ protesters were mass-arrested and now face 6 decades in prison. Their cell phones were confiscated and searched, their homes were raided, and their social media data was seized. Defendants experienced sexual assault at the hands of DC police (MPD).

The US Attorney's Office is setting a repressive precedent for political expression under Donald Trump's administration. It is incumbent upon anyone who values dissent to stand in solidarity with the defendants in this case.

This case in many ways resembles those of the 800+ water protectors in the midst of Grand Jury processes in North Dakota, those arrested during actions against Confederate statues and rulings on police violence, and other resisters arrested and charged under riot statutes throughout the country.

The prosecution's case rests on a broad interpretation of the Federal Riot Statute, which could make a participant in a political rally guilty for any property damage that takes place during that time. A superseding indictment issued in April added additional charges to virtually every of the approximately 200 cases.

The charges are inciting to riot, conspiracy to riot, five charges of individualized property damage, and for over half the group, assaulting an officer or resisting arrest. These charges were effectively indiscriminate - every person named received the exact same first 6 felony and 2 misdemeanors charges.

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/64549-j20-protesters-1st-trial