Like many, I am still waiting for the evidence used as the basis to charge the six officers in Baltimore for the death of Freddie Gray. This morning, however, I was disturbed to read that an effort to create a fundraising site for the defense of the officers was taken down on GoFundMe. It appears that the site has a very questionable standard for funding that does not afford accused parties a presumption of innocence in asking for support to fund their defense.
The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police created a GoFundMe page for the six officers after they were charged Friday. However, less than an hour later, it was taken down.
After 41 minutes, it has only raised $1,135 — considerably short of the $600,000 goal.
There is no confirmation on who is responsible. However, the site states the following : “‘Campaigns in defense of formal charges of heinous crimes’ are prohibited by our terms . . . GoFundMe cannot be used to benefit those who are charged with serious violations of the law.” Really? Why? I was under the impression that people were given a presumption of innocence in this country. Why shouldn’t this site be used to help guarantee a fair trial for anyone facing prosecution? Moreover, how do you define a serious violation? Clearly, this case would qualify but where is the line drawn?
This is a site that is designed to help people organize in making donations to support different causes. Giving such charity is a positive act, including giving money to guarantee a fully funded defense. Our criminal justice system is a foundational part of our society. It reflects our commitment to the rule of law. Central to that institution is the presumption of innocence. I find this policy of GoFundMe to be inexplicable and distasteful. Many people want to support the criminal justice system as much as environmental or other causes. The policy makes, in my view, an arbitrary and biased decision in barring those who are accused of serious offenses by the government. It should equally presumably bar those who are viewed as victims of government abuse like journalists or whistleblowers.
I also was a bit concerned to read Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby comments telling protesters: “I heard your calls for, ‘No Justice, No peace.’ Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man.” I generally think it is a bad idea for prosecutors to directly respond to public protests demanding criminal charges. Such protests should not have an influence on the decision to prosecute and it is always a concern, as with Mike Nifong in the Duke case, where prosecutors are seen as too responsive to public demands for criminal charges. This is not meant to suggest that a criminal case cannot be made but these press conferences can undermine the integrity of a prosecution if the chief prosecutor is viewed as too influenced by external events or demands.
If you’re interested in thinking seriously about some of the political, social, and economic factors at work in Baltimore and the rest of the US, rather than just reflexively emoting, I highly recommend reading in its entirety the following interview of David Simon:
“David Simon, creator of the excellent hit HBO series ‘The Wire,’ recently sat down for an interview with former New York Times reporter Bill Keller to explain the situation in Baltimore as he sees it, its origins, and what is needed to fix it.”
“Baltimore, Maryland is in many ways the perfect microcosm for these United States of America. If you still don’t get that, you’ll be in for a rude awakening in the years ahead. (Emphasis added)
“A gradual erosion of the Constitution and the civil rights of the citizenry, the abuse of power by people in authority, perverse financial incentives that lead to horrible outcomes, zero accountability, and a ubiquitous surveillance state apparatus; Baltimore has it all. Yet all of these troubling traits have also come to characterize early 21st century America.
“As tends to be the case, the populations that have been victimized the longest and most systemically — in Baltimore and across the U.S. — are the poor, weak and disenfranchised. Like a cancer, corruption, theft, and blatant abuse of the citizenry by the powerful will spread and spread until it consumes everything unless the tumor is removed.
“It has now spread so deeply and so dangerously throughout American life, the general public will soon have no choice but to confront it and do something about it, or face a total extinction of opportunity and suffer the same desperate fate as the people out in the streets of Baltimore.” (Emphasis added)
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2015/04/30/baltimore-as-a-microcosm-of-america/
OK confirmed, rafflaw, please unblock me from your thread.
Testing… because the cell phone thread doesn’t allow me to post there.
@NickS
That is one of my favorite ones, too. I really like another one Sondheim wrote, called A Little Night Music. It was based on a movie by Ingrid Bergman, or whatever his name was, called Tales Of A Summer Night, or something like that. Anyway, Sondheim wrote the whole thing in 3/4 time, which is also known as waltz time. But he just double-entendre’d the heck out of the words, and lyrics. Like this one, which hardly anybody really knows what it’s really about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXxFMMCI35Y
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Squueky, West Side Story is one of the few musicals I like. Great songs, with Officer Krupke being one of the. Maria and Tonight bring tears to my eyes.
I can read people. The cackling crowd here talking like tough chicks would NEVER go into the inner cities of the US. NEVER. I worked in them, and frequent them often. But, these people pounding their chests may go into the gentrified neighborhoods, but they are flat ass lying if they say they wander anywhere near the inner city. FLAT ASS LYING. And they know it. Watch them protest too much and too loudly now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7TT4jnnWys
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
SWM, I bet you’re chuckling and shaking your head too. Baltimore will survive this, white and black people will survive this and hopefully we’ll see a change in our criminal justice system and the culture in policing.
@bam bam
Certian persons here are all just raaaaciiisssts! They can’t stand it when blacks get uppity and start working for the police department. They like their black people subservient, and barefoot, and pregnant, where they will have to beg Whitey for food stamps, and Sec.8 money. That is why they are sooo down on Black conservatives, too. Just disgusting!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“My husband and I have put off any trips to anyplace that has a population of blacks. Racist? Nope. Survivalists.” dbq “A population of blacks” ? You do read some weird things here. We were in Baltimore two years ago, Annie. There is something about the city that I like.
Reblogged this on PUMABydesign001's Blog and commented:
Clearly, GOFUNDME has never heard the words, DUE PROCESS. Or could it be that GOFASCISTS simply does not give a damn. BOYCOTT GOFUNDME.
On the other hand, some will require more than a couple of eight year olds to save them from certain doom. Some will also require several healthcare aides.
Some people are already hermits just waiting for the apocalypse, they probably haven’t ventured to the big city with those scary black folks for years anyway, no big loss. There are people who hope for peace, and then there are people who hope for end times so they can use up their 5 year old canned goods, dried beans and bullets. Go figure. Takes all kinds to make the world go round.
DBQ
Notice, right on cue, as expected, no condemnation of the violence and mayhem, engulfing these communities, which form the well-founded basis of your fears and apprehension. Your comments are instead ridiculed, once again deflecting any blame for the out of control criminal behavior. This isn’t, however, just a black or white issue.
Boy. Lt. Furseth may need a couple of eight year olds to buck him up, too. That’s quite a list of people who have let him down. How about we start a gofundme for the good Lieutenant. See if we can’t get enough to buy him a nice shiny trophy that will help him feel like less of a victim of our thoughtlessness. Poor guy.
Dusty
Help is near!
I know a couple of eight year olds who are enjoying life in an integrated neighborhood who would be happy to provide both of you protection should you desire to visit our fair city. And I’m sure we can find millions of other children across the country who will be willing to accompany you where you might run across someone of color – a terrifying prospect, indeed.
Wow, I have dealt w/ Daniel Furseth on several cases I’ve worked DBQ. He is a smart, good cop. Thanks.
Read this and consider what you have sown by promoting “Cop Hatred” and reap the whirlwind. Unintended consequences.
http://iotwreport.com/?p=284427
My husband and I have put off any trips to anyplace that has a population of blacks. Racist? Nope. Survivalists.
DBQ
A very well-worded article. Unfortunately, those on here with a palpable sense of hatred for police officers will never be swayed, no matter how reasonable or convincing the article may be. America is demonized, along with the brave officers who protect our freedom on a daily basis. Where is all the outrage when officers are the target of these criminals, or, dare I say, thugs? No marches in the street or blocking of traffic demanding that all lives matter, including the lives of officers. The hatred, which is being fueled by our President and elected leaders, demanding that police officers stand down and not react to the bricks, pipes or bags filled with excrement thrown at them, is at the root of these all too often crimes targeting police officers. The criminals in the streets, who have become emboldened by the very insidious calls and demands of our so-called leaders demanding inaction by the officers, has created an environment that encourages this wanton behavior. They, in my opinion, have blood on their hands.
Squeeky, I’ve read up on this prosecutor. She is bright and VERY ambitious. She will attack anyone who gets in her way, or who she sees as an opportune target. When she took office she cleaned house of those who did not genuflect. We’ll see what she’s got when good defense attorneys attack her case. I am not going to evaluate the evidence like some here do based on media reports. That is stupid. The press always get basic facts wrong, and their bias infects what they report. This is my philosophy on all cases. However, one can evaluate in a macro way. It appears, I don’t know for certain, time will tell, but it appears this ambitious prosecutor not only overcharged, but used a sawed off shotgun to spray her shots widely, charging 6 cops. Time will tell. I am a patient man in an impatient culture.
USCWAP (UpShitCreekWithoutAPaddle.com) is a website about folks who need assistance. There are more people in need in this situation than just the six cops. You have the dumb Mayor, the Media, the Mob, and even the message itself. Thank Dog there was not a Grand Jury investigation for six months and then a No True Bill. I am not going to send anyone any money for assistance but I will send them a condolence letter.