Carol Fisher defiant to the last : Cleveland IMC (((i)))

In today's Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/114932350048340.xml&coll=2

(Plain Dealer photos attached--the comments on the photos are NOT that of the Plain Dealer! They are my personal commentary~ lee)

Protester is defiant to the last
Hearing delayed over T-shirt; judge gives her 60 days in jail

Saturday, June 03, 2006
Damian G. Guevara
Plain Dealer Reporter

Political activist Carolyn Fisher stood before a Cuyahoga County judge and
remained defiant even as she faced jail time for attacking two police
officers.

Fisher told Common Pleas Judge Timothy J. McGinty that she was wrongfully
arrested and accused McGinty of attempting to silence political dissent
and intimidate her.

"Let's get real," McGinty said, pointing a pen at Fisher. "You're here
because you've been convicted. . . . I'm not here to listen to your
political diatribe."

McGinty ended Friday's quarrelsome, two-part sentencing hearing by sending
Fisher to County Jail for 60 days and putting her on probation for two
years. Adding to the tense atmosphere were more than 20 of Fisher's
supporters, three of whom were kicked out of the courtroom for making
political statements or exclamations.

A jury found Fisher, 54, of Cleveland, guilty in April of assaulting two
Cleveland Heights patrolmen. The confrontation occurred in January after
the officers ordered Fisher to take down anti-Bush fliers she had placed
on utility poles. Posting fliers is against city ordinances.

McGinty warned Fisher then that she should be prepared to apologize to the
officers at her sentencing, or "bring your toothbrush," indicating that
she would be sent to prison.

The bespectacled, silver-haired woman's reply Friday: "You wanted an
apology, you wanted remorse -- forget about it."

Friday's drama was the end of a contentious five months. From the start,
Fisher and her supporters claimed that police had political motivations
for arresting her, and that the officers abused her.

Last month, McGinty sent Fisher to jail because she refused to undergo a
psychiatric evaluation and did not show up for a hearing and probation
interview. McGinty freed her after she complied.

The tension continued Friday when McGinty angrily postponed a morning
hearing because Fisher wore a T-shirt bearing a mock "wanted" poster that
included the faces of President George W. Bush and members of his
administration. McGinty chastised Fisher and ordered her to come back in
different attire.

"We are not here about her protest," McGinty said. "This is not about the
war."

While Fisher's lawyer, Terry Gilbert, said he thought McGinty acted
inappropriately when he demanded that Fisher change clothes, the court's
presiding judge, Nancy McDonnell, said a judge can dictate what is worn in
the courtroom to maintain decorum.

Fisher and several of her supporters returned for the afternoon hearing
wearing the anti-Bush shirts, but McGinty did not make an issue of it.

Gilbert said Fisher plans to appeal the conviction.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

dguevara@plaind.com, 216-999-4334

the infamous t-shirt
by posted by Lee, from today's Plain Dealer Saturday, Jun. 03, 2006 at 4:12 PM

This took place right after the judge ended the sentencing hearing because Carol wouldn't remove her t-shirt.

McGinty
by posted by Lee, from today's Plain Dealer Saturday, Jun. 03, 2006 at 4:12 PM

This is one of the faces of fascism.

carol and terry
by posted by Lee, from today's Plain Dealer Saturday, Jun. 03, 2006 at 4:12 PM

During the sentencing hearing, when the judge kept interrupting the lawyer...and everyone else.

thrown out
by posted by Lee, from today's Plain Dealer Saturday, Jun. 03, 2006 at 4:12 PM

Bill getting thrown out of court because the judge was still mad at him for "talking about justice" after the verdict a couple weeks ago.

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