I don't want this to be true. But I think it is. Update 5/16/06 - this is true guys. I've found a lot of info on it and will be posting here asap.
Things are getting really freaky. Sure, it happened in Cleveland, but it could happen anywhere, if it's allowed to happen there.
Here's the link from the World Can't wait website.
Defend World Can't Wait Activist Brutalized and Arrested by Police for Postering
This is from an email sent to me:
May 9: Judge Timothy McGinty forcibly incarcerated Carol Fisher in
the psych unit of the Cuyahoga County Jail in downtown Cleveland,
where she now sits for an indefinite period of time.In a hastily called hearing yesterday, Judge McGinty made a highly
unusual and outrageous decision to force Carol to undergo a state
psychological exam as part of her pre-sentencing investigation. From
the very start of Carol's case, the judge has openly said that she
must have mental problems for resisting an unlawful and brutal
encounter with Cleveland Heights police. He went even further in
yesterday's hearing, saying that her opposition to the Bush regime
makes her "delusional."
Dear World Can't Wait Supporter,
Judge Orders World Can't Wait Activist to Jail Psych Unit
CAROL FISHER REMAINS STRONG AND UNAPOLOGETIC
May 9: Judge Timothy McGinty forcibly incarcerated Carol Fisher in
the psych unit of the Cuyahoga County Jail in downtown Cleveland,
where she now sits for an indefinite period of time.
In a hastily called hearing yesterday, Judge McGinty made a highly
unusual and outrageous decision to force Carol to undergo a state
psychological exam as part of her pre-sentencing investigation. From
the very start of Carol's case, the judge has openly said that she
must have mental problems for resisting an unlawful and brutal
encounter with Cleveland Heights police. He went even further in
yesterday's hearing, saying that her opposition to the Bush regime
makes her "delusional."
The small courtroom on the 21st floor of the Justice Center was
ringed with 5 armed court bailiffs. McGinty started off the hearing
by making Carol stand up and had one of her attorneys read her t-
shirt, which said:
"Wanted for Illegally Crossing Borders: The Bush Regime
"If you are going to insist that crossing borders illegally is a
crime which cannot be tolerated, how about George Bush, Dick Cheney,
Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice (and yes, Colin Powell) and the
rest of that gang, with their highly illegal, and violent, 'crossing
of the border'-into Iraq, among other places?!"
McGinty then said this was proof of her delusion! He also kept
saying Carol "wants" to go to jail, and that she has a "martyr
complex." When Carol tried to explain why she wouldn't take this
test, the judge's only response was, "I do not negotiate with felons."
Does Carol really want to go to jail? No! But she is not willing to
comply with a vindictive court ordered test to "prove" her sanity.
And more than that, she is taking a stand for everyone who is angry
and fearful of a government that, under the rubric of "national
security and the war on terror," willfully and unapologetically
tramples on the most basic rights of privacy. Think about this in
light of the NSA spying scandal, and now Bush wants to install the
head of the notorious NSA to be CIA chief! As Carol said before she
went to jail, "I'd be crazy to go along with this shit! That which
you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn--or be
forced--to accept."
Just look at this whole case: a woman posts a "Bush Step Down" poster
on a telephone pole, being brutalized by the police in the process,
and now not only faces 3 years in prison but also a mandatory psych
exam. As Terry Gilbert, one of Carol's attorneys said, "This is
Gulag stuff--saying that people who are dissidents are crazy." He
further added that in his 33 years of practicing law, he has never
seen anything like this.
Is this the kind of country you want to live in?
On the phone this morning, Carol Fisher stated that, in addition to
sending her to the psych unit, McGinty has also put her on "suicide
watch"! They have taken away her eyeglasses. And if she refuses the
psych exam, she will be forcibly sent to North Coast Mental Institute
for a 20 day evaluation.
Legal challenges are continuing, including seeking a writ of habeas
corpus.
When the transcripts are available to the public, they will show how
outrageous this hearing was.
(Click here for previous news and more information about Carol
Fishers arrest and trial)
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
• Donate to Carol's legal defense. It costs a lot of money
to get transcripts, file appeals, etc. Make checks payable to “Carol
Fisher Defense Fund” and mail to “NION/WCW PO Box 609034 Cleveland,
OH 44109.
• Call Judge Timothy McGinty and express your outrage:
216-443-8758
• Join us at a "Speak Out!" for Carol Fisher - Saturday,
May 13 at 7pm at the corner of Coventry and Euclid Heights Blvd in
Cleveland Heights.
• Get your legal organization to be part of Carol's
defense: make statements, file friend of the court briefs, etc.
• Have your church group, school group, organization or
club join this battle by sending statements of support, donating
funds, etc.
• Request radio stations play any of the following songs,
dedicate it to Carol Fisher and explain what is going on with her case:
• Tom Petty’s “Won’t Back Down”
• Pearl Jam’s “World Wide Suicide”
• Pink’s “Dear Mr President”
• Neil Young’s “Let’s Impeach the President”
• Write letters to the editor of:
• The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Go to website:
www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/lettertoeditor
• The Cleveland Free Times. Email: editor@freetimes.com
• The Sun Press. Email: sun@sunnews.com
• Send this article to your list serves and post to blogs.
• Join the World Can't Wait- Drive Out the Bush Regime!
Contact: World Cant Wait, Cleveland 216-633-6200
PO Box 609034 Cleveland OH 44109
cleveland@worldcantwait.org
www.worldcantwait.org
World Can't Wait
info@worldcantwait.org
866-973-4463
305 W. Broadway #185
New York, NY 10013
