California man faces 13 years in jail for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk

[CaseyJones]

http://rt.com/usa/california-man-13-prison-banks-237/


Jeff Olson, the 40-year-old man who is being prosecuted for scrawling anti-megabank messages on sidewalks in water-soluble chalk last year now faces a 13-year jail sentence. A judge has barred his attorney from mentioning freedom of speech during trial.

According to the San Diego Reader, which reported on Tuesday that a judge had opted to prevent Olson’s attorney from "mentioning the First Amendment, free speech, free expression, public forum, expressive conduct, or political speech during the trial,” Olson must now stand trial for on 13 counts of vandalism.

In addition to possibly spending years in jail, Olson will also be held liable for fines of up to $13,000 over the anti-big-bank slogans that were left using washable children's chalk on a sidewalk outside of three San Diego, California branches of Bank of America, the massive conglomerate that received $45 billion in interest-free loans from the US government in 2008-2009 in a bid to keep it solvent after bad bets went south.

[Brian4Liberty]

Better put all of these kids in the neighborhood in jail. Can't have that chalk everywhere. And those big, beautiful, three-dimensional chalk murals should result in life in prison.

The Judge should be recalled and disbarred.

[tod evans]

"Just-Us"

[kathy88]

Every time I read something like this I think,"Okay. This is it. The last straw. Everyone who hears about this will be so outraged a million people will show up to protest." Then nothing.

[Dr.3D]

Every time I read something like this I think,"Okay. This is it. The last straw. Everyone who hears about this will be so outraged a million people will show up to protest." Then nothing.
If it doesn't keep people from rooting for their favorite team, they are not going to get upset.

[ZENemy]

Every time I read something like this I think,"Okay. This is it. The last straw. Everyone who hears about this will be so outraged a million people will show up to protest." Then nothing.

Because you are waiting for someone ELSE.

it is YOU that must make that "nothing" into something.

Stop waiting for others. Forget about the sheep they will wake up when they wake up.

It is those of us that are awake that are consenting to each and every atrocity we see. Until we band together in one place and decide not to leave until we have a solution. We are lost.

[CaseyJones]

if they are sheep... be a sheepdog

[amy31416]

"A judge has barred his attorney from mentioning freedom of speech during trial."

Double down. Judge needs to be canned and imprisoned for a while with nothing to read but the Constitution.

[Anti Federalist]

Free Country

<insert Jack laughing here>

[dannno]

"A judge has barred his attorney from mentioning freedom of speech during trial."

Double down. Judge needs to be canned and imprisoned for a while with nothing to read but the Constitution.

The irony of barring somebody in court from using speech to defend themselves from their 'crime', when their defense in the first amendment, is absolutely insane.

San Diego is such a police state, I'd probably head down there if there was a big protest or something though.

[jkr]

...he should have got 199 friends to meet at a random mall and start a riot...BECAUSE HE WOULD BE FREE WITH NO CHARGES!

[Philhelm]

The Judge should be recalled and disbarred.

I was going to suggest execution, but okay.

[shane77m]

I wonder how much money the judge gets from the bank?

[Occam's Banana]

[...] a judge [is preventing] Olson’s attorney from "mentioning the First Amendment, free speech, free expression, public forum, expressive conduct, or political speech during the trial," [...] Olson will the anti-big-bank slogans that were left using [B]washable children's chalk on a sidewalk [...]

Do the math. We are fucked.

[heavenlyboy34]

common property theory fails yet again. Surprise!

[bolil]

Every time I read something like this I think,"Okay. This is it. The last straw. Everyone who hears about this will be so outraged a million people will show up to protest." Then nothing.

Aint you heard, gays can get married now... not that there was ever anything stopping them... BUT THAT IS WHAT MATTERS! Yay, state certificates of marriage for all!

[heavenlyboy34]

Aint you heard, gays can get married now... not that there was ever anything stopping them... BUT THAT IS WHAT MATTERS! Yay, state certificates of marriage for all!
Because you can't be a couple without State approval. /sarc?

[bolil]

Because you can't be a couple without State approval. /sarc?
Yeah, sarc... of course. I will try to add the disclaimer from now on.

Yay! When I say it, it means sarc.

[heavenlyboy34]

Yeah, sarc... of course. I will try to add the disclaimer from now on.

Yay! When I say it, it means sarc.
It was a tag for my post. But it's probably good to use the tag most places on the interwebz.

[bolil]

It was a tag for my post. But it's probably good to use the tag most places on the interwebz.

Ohhhh, there was a question mark and I was confused. Yes, much sarc, not here but on two posts ago. WINE, I NEED MORE WINE>

[Flugel89]

I have an old, old account with BoA account that I never bothered to close. The balance is $1. I'm wondering how much I'm costing them having them send me balance statements in the mail every month for the past 5+ years.

[randpaul2016]

this cant be cereal

[bolil]

this cant be cereal

Cheerio!

[ClydeCoulter]

Free Country

<insert Jack laughing here>


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXSvsEGlf84

[ClydeCoulter]

Ohhhh, there was a question mark and I was confused. Yes, much sarc, not here but on two posts ago. WINE, I NEED MORE WINE>

French or Californian? Red or White? Dry or sweet?

[Cleaner44]

This is the freedom we are spending billions and billions to spread around the globe?

[randpaul2016]

isnt this going to get dropped right away tho in court?

like dont some stories like this make headlines but dont go anywhere? know what I am talking about? There was something like this recently...

[ClydeCoulter]

?I don't understand. Sometimes I think that I entered into another world. Is this where I was born?
I saw what happened during the 2012 election cycle. I saw what happened in the job that I had. I saw how it could happen at higher levels.
For the average person, how can we work, pay attention to our children and still have time to keep track of the games?
How much of what I have done can you all take and leave me some? Do you ever get enough?

[J_White]

http://i.imgur.com/5bEssBB.png


Jeff Olson, the 40-year-old man who is being prosecuted for scrawling anti-megabank messages on sidewalks in water-soluble chalk last year now faces a 13-year jail sentence. A judge has barred his attorney from mentioning freedom of speech during trial.

You have the freedom for No free speech of mentioning free speech in a trial !!

[ClydeCoulter]

http://i.imgur.com/5bEssBB.png



You have the freedom for No free speech of mentioning free speech in a trial !!

So, the judge is also a commander? A maker of laws? A despot? Fuck Him and the car that he drove in on!

WTF is free speech zone? The only place where there constitution is valid or invalid?

[phill4paul]

Interesting story regarding the D.A.s selective prosecution of "chalking"....

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2013/jun/30/is-it-the-mess-or-the-message-city-attorney-has-be/


Is it the mess or the message? City Attorney has been selective when prosecuting chalk vandalism
Other chalking events, such as one pro-life protest, was granted permission from the Police Department. No charges were ever filed.

Is it the mess or is it the message?

Is it the fact that Olson's message was a key tenet of the Occupy Wall Street movement or would it happen to any person or group wishing to exercise their free speech with a piece of washable chalk?

Those are questions that will likely remain unanswered long after the case of Jeff Olson, a San Diego man who is facing a maximum sentence of 13-years in jail for scribbling anti-Bank of America slogans outside of three bank branches over a five-month span, is decided.

As we reported on Friday, attorney Jeremy Warren was well aware of City Attorney's Jan Goldsmith's desire to prosecute Occupy San Diego participants.

"...I was told in no uncertain terms that negotiations would be challenging because City Attorney Goldsmith was personally involved in the Occupy cases."

Goldsmith's decision to prosecute Olson and the young Occupier who Warren represented, seems to go against what other groups with different message were told.

One such group, pro-life activists Live Action San Diego, organized a "Talk and Chalk" July 2011 protest outside of a local Planned Parenthood.

The group's Facebook event page listed to day's events. "We'll break begin by dropping off Advocates (Live Action's newsletter) on doorsteps in the neighborhood surrounding the [Planned Parenthood] clinic, then head back over to the clinic and chalk up the surrounding sidewalks with pro life messages and take some time to pray for the unborn.

"This is a great chance to get outside, use your artistic skills, and most importantly, ACT for the pro life cause! Invite your friends and we hope to see you there!"

But before the event occurred, organizers began to have concerns about the legality of the chalk-a-thon. In a later comment, Live Action San Diego said their questions were answered.

"Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that we have contacted the San Diego Police Department and they confirmed it is NOT considered vandalism to chalk up a sidewalk. There have been some questions regarding this and we wanted to settle them. Hope to see you Thursday!"

The group didn't stop there. One month later the chalk crew were back at it.

"AMAZING flash mob chalking event today! Our team of 16 covered 3 clinics in less than 2 hours! Thank you everyone for coming to stand up for life," read Facebook post from August 2011. The post was accompanied by pictures of the day's events.


Nearly two years later, after the chalk has vanished outside the Planned Parenthood clinics, Olson awaits for twelve jurors to decide his fate. According to a statement from the City Attorney's Office, Olson is the only person to be prosecuted for vandalism with chalk.

Yesterday, on June 30, Olson appeared alongside nearly 100 supporters outside of the San Diego Superior Courthouse at Chalk-U-Py San Diego.

Eight police officers were assigned to oversee the event. Participants were given a six foot by 70-foot area around the building to write their thoughts on the case and exercise their first amendment rights.

"We've agreed to allow them to chalk and express themselves in the front of the courthouse," said Police Captain Mark Jones during the rally.

On Friday, Mayor Bob Filner again expressed his disappointment with the case and the decision by the City Attorney to prosecute Olson.

"It looks like we were prosecuting someone at the insistence of Bank of America for writing political issues. I mean, it's chalk. It's washable chalk. It's political slogans. We are not even responding to public complaints. They were complaints from Bank of America. I think it's a stupid case and is costing us money. If these are the types of cases the City Attorney is prosecuting then I am not sure he needs as much money in his budget as he says he does."

When asked if Filner is considering making a plea to jurors to acquit Olson in spite of his guilt, also known as jury nullification, the Mayor responded, "Nobody has asked me. Usually I respond when the attorney or the public ask me to get involved and no one has asked me."

Regardless of what happens, the public outcry has been heard and will likely not go away any time soon. On the Daily Kos website, as of 11am on Sunday, more than 28,000 people have signed a petition urging Goldsmith the dismiss the case.

"Dear San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith:

Prosecuting people who chalk political messages on vandalism charges is a blatant abuse of power, and sets a dangerous precedent for the First Amendment. Please drop all charges against Jeff Olson immediately."

The jury is expected to reach a verdict in the case in the coming days.

[Occam's Banana]

Interesting story regarding the D.A.s selective prosecution of "chalking"....

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!!! That just is NOT the case!! Why, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith his very own self has explicitly told us otherwise ...



"We prosecute vandalism and theft cases regardless of who the perpetrator or victim might be," Goldsmith said. "We don't decide, for example, based upon whether we like or dislike banks. That would be wrong under the law."


So cease and desist with your pernicious campaign of spreading misinformation and lies, comrade-citizen!

[phill4paul]

No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!!! That just is NOT the case!! Why, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith his very own self has explicitly told us otherwise ...
So cease and desist with your pernicious campaign of spreading misinformation and lies, comrade-citizen!

I was just pointing out how a deceitful media could perjure such and upstanding patriot and public defender. ;)

[cjm]

This is the freedom we are spending billions and billions to spread around the globe?

+rep. well put.