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News :: Civil & Human Rights |
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A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
Current rating: 0 |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
24 Jun 2006
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The malicious re-proscecution of Patrick Thompson, one of the "Cop Watch" videographers from 2004, reconvenes this week. COME WITNESS CHAMPAIGN COUNTY IN/JUSTICE THIS WEDNESDAY, July 5th at 9 AM in Courtroom A. Community Courtwatch is calling all community members to help witness this trial. We are concerned the jury will, once again, be all white and from rural "sundown towns." Patrick is facing prison time if found guilty of charges with NO EVIDENCE, NO WITNESSES, NO INVESTIGATION. To have true justice, we must not tolerate corruption in our justice system. |
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ARE YOU WILLING
TO STAND UP FOR
TRUTH AND JUSTICE?
For too long, the Champaign County Criminal Justice System has been incarcerating the poor and people of color in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. How long must we wait for the white law enforcement community to do what's right, and quit their senseless prison sentences and dishonest applications of the law?
Now comes one of the worst proscecutions in Champaign County history, The People v. Patrick Thompson. This case of railroading yet another innocent man represents the local criminal justice system at its worst and can no longer be tolerated.
COME AND WITNESS THIS TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE FOR YOURSELF.
PLEASE WATCH THE PATRICK THOMPSON RE-TRIAL.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5th at 9 AM in COURTROOM A
[editors note: this is an updated court date]
Like so many before him, Patrick Thompson is innocent of the charges against him. The state proscecutor readily admitted in open court to an all-white jury, that it has no physical evidence, no witnesses, and the jury must rely solely on the credibility of the accuser. The investigating police officer in this case admitted in open court he performed no investigation other than to write down the accuser's story. The State deliberately hid from the jury the facts that this accuser has made similiar accusations against three other men which were later unsubstantiated. The State hid from the jury that this accuser had pending charges against her while she testified and the State was threatening to take her children. The charges which were later dismissed by motion of the State AFTER she testified against Mr. Thompson.
AND BASED ON THIS, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ASKING US TO PAY FOR THIS INNOCENT MAN TO BE SENT TO PRISON FOR 120 YEARS!
Despite having little legal training, Patrick Thompson represented himself at trial and six jurors saw through the lies and refused to go along with a guilty verdict. The trial was declared a mistrial and instead of the State realizing it has no case, it has decided to pursue this case YET AGAIN!
Why would the Champaign County Law Enforcement community deliberately cheat to send an innocent man to prison?
Patrick Thompson is one of the videographers that created the controversial video documentary, Citizens Watch from 2004, documenting instances of local law enforcement behaving aggressively toward african-american citizens. Then-state's attorney, John Piland, lost his re-election bid by maliciously proscecuting Patrick Thompson and Martel Miller for criminal eavesdropping. Mr. Thompson's and Mr. Miller's constitutional rights were grossly violated during this attempt to stop the making of the film, and the state knows it. That is why the state is attempting to frame Mr. Thompson with a crime he did not commit so he cannot as easily press his civil lawsuit against government officials in the eavesdropping case.
OUR COURTROOMS CANNOT BE USED AS INSTRUMENTS OF DECEIT AND RETALIATION!
If the State's Attorney's office is intent on lying in this case, let us bear witness and let them know we are watching and they fool no one.
IT IS TIME WE TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. PLEASE COME TO WATCH THIS MALICIOUS PROSCECUTION.
IF YOU CARE ABOUT JUSTICE AND YOU CARE ABOUT THE TRUTH, SEE THIS INJUSTICE FOR YOURSELF.
Wednesday, July 5th 9 AM Courtroom A in downtown Urbana - Main Street and Broadway. |
This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: A Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by Randall Cotton
recotton (nospam) earthlink.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
24 Jun 2006
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Note the following courthouse rules. If you're not aware of them, you may be turned away.
1. You must arrive early. Once court starts (1:30PM), no one else is allowed inside. Patrick's case is first on the schedule, so it should begin immediately.
2. No shorts, tank tops, halter tops, or anything revealing. When in doubt, dress conservatively, or again, you may not be let inside the courtroom.
3. No minors allowed in the courtroom.
4. No audio, image or video recording allowed in the courtroom. Any such equipment that you hold in your hand (including cell phones which could contain a camera) will be confiscated.
5. Cell phone usage is prohibited. If you hold it in your hand or if it rings, it will be confiscated.
6. Pocket knives or other sharp objects will be confiscated at the building entrance unless you bring them back to your car. |
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Re: A Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by BD
BD (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
24 Jun 2006
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Again, to folks interested in peace and justice, we can not underestimate the importance of this trial.
Jury selection begins Monday.
The trial will probably take place Tuesday and Wednesday.
Please come be witness to the Thompson trial.
Bring a friend.
And spread the word.
This community has a small number of committed activists.
To lose one more would be a big blow to all our efforts.
See you at the courthouse.
BD |
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Re: A Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
26 Jun 2006
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Great question. And ordinarily I would agree that references to "People of Color" is easily equated with the old Segregated South signs "Colored Only".
So I see how you would cast a critical eye on the use of the phrase in the post. Since you misunderstood my intent for by using the phrase anyway, it's possible the phrase "People of color" needs to be retired, like a certain sports mascot.
My intent for using the phrase: "people of color" IN THIS CONTEXT of law enforcement is that law enforcement tends to target all peoples who's skin color is darker than the average cop's- hispanics included.
Even so, the word color is actually a good word. Color is good. We all like color.
I, and the rest of the tanning public, is thinking color a good thing.
Still, if it causing you, Black Man, derogatory confusion perhaps "people of color" should not be used in the public way.
Regardless, if you are concerned about racism then, we might meet at the Thompson trial this week and you can break it down for me better. |
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Re: A Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by BD
BD (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
26 Jun 2006
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UPDATE: TRIAL POSTPONED.
The judge has pushed back the trial for a later date.
Stay tuned.
BD |
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Re: A Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Jun 2006
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The Patrick Thompson trial has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. in Courtroom A. |
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Re: A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by BD
BD (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
03 Jul 2006
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For more on the Thompson case,
see the News Gazette article at:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2006/07/03/retrial_in_home_invasion_sex_abuse_case_set_to_begin |
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Re: A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by BD
BD (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2006
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EVERYBODY OUT TODAY!!!
Patrick Thompson trial expected to begin today, Wednesday, July 5 at 9am, Courtroom A.
Bring a friend.
BD |
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Re: A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by BD
BD (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
05 Jul 2006
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Trial is underway.
Nearly 20 in courtroom to support Thompson.
In a major decision, Judge Clem allows testimony of 3 other men accused by [redacted].
Jury selection is underway.
BD |
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Re: A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by wayward
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
06 Jul 2006
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UCIMC is an open newswire, though we do delete spam and troll postings. At this point, I don't think we really have any policies related to things like this. Perhaps we should.
Here is a link to the Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/about/about.aspx?act=ethics
I believe that this is the relevant item:
"Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy."
I can't speak for BD, but one might argue that in this case, the alleged victim might fall into the category of "others who seek power, influence or attention" because she has apparently made similar unsubstantiated allegations against other men in the past. |
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Re: A Call for Witnesses - Prevent Courtroom Lynching in Champaign County |
by not a troller
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
08 Jul 2006
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In response to wayward- I do sometimes agree with what is posted, but when I do disagree, I am labeled a "troll" and my voice isn't heard and my postings are banned. And you want freedom to say what you believe. How unfair is that?-- Not everyone who disagree is a troll- just let our voices be heard |
