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.
Paul, soul food to me is a Hungarian bratwurst and potato salad. But I do love me some BBQ ribs and collard greens with cornbread, mmmmm.
Inga – it’s your arteries. 😉
Oh, DBQ is tough, she’s got all those guns….
These are liberal lady gangbangers. Mean old liberal ladies, ganging up on a real woman.
Nope, but she’ll have all those beans and rice for years to come in her shelter.
DBQ, The liberal white women do love to cackle. They see a black man and they have their hand on their cell phone, clutch their purse, cross the street, and pee their pants. They like their black folk @ least 20 miles away. Ignore. We know their ilk.
Soul food? Are you nuts? Wild rice is too ethnic for her.
Well, at least she’s safe, but she won’t be getting any good authentic soul food either.
Inga – soul food to me is a hamburger, fries and a shake made with real ice cream.
swarthmoremom hits it out of the park! Dusty keeps her guns well-oiled and her census data up-to-date!
The woman knows how to live!
Annie, Who knows? I guess she and her husband will pour through the census data before they travel.
Sorry….7:15 should have been addressed to Ken Rogers.
Max
And if you want to go ‘global’ with what’s wrong with the world, read ‘Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death and hope in a Mumbai undercity’.
SWM,
Black folks live in the suburbs too, maybe she meant the burbs?🏡
DBQ “My husband and I have put off any trips to anyplace that has a population of blacks. Racist? Nope. Survivalists.” Thought that meant entire cities.
SWM, there are scary residents of this “hood” too, lol.
The city is not one big “hood” as these posters seem to think.
Is the inability to read and comprehend the written word a requirement for being a progressive/liberal? It must be. Do you guys have a test to see who can fail the most at being able to read a sentence and understand the words. Is English your second or third language?
I wrote: I know the areas to avoid….and I do avoid them. I know WHO to avoid and I avoid them too.
I am glad I no longer hang out in this “hood”, Annie. 🙂 Baltimore has a unique history and there is much to appreciate there both historically and culturally. The city is not one big “hood” as these posters seem to think.
WTF? This video keeps inserting itself. I give up. I’m gonna go drink scotch on the deck and bbq some steaks.
And the killed part. Obviously…I’m still standing.
DOH!!!
Well, that wasn’t the video I was trying to link to…..but….it will do.
We were in Baltimore two years ago,……. There is something about the city that I like.
Welcome to it, then. I hope that you would hate where I live and stay the flock away from here too.
I grew up in The City. SF. Lived and worked in several large urban areas in California. Cesspools all. I go to those areas several times a year to visit with relatives that still live there, and hold my nose the entire time.
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.
Yes. True dat. I lived in some of the less desirable areas because at the time, that was all that I could afford. Why would I want to expose myself to what has become 10 times worse than it was years ago. I know the areas to avoid….and I do avoid them. I know WHO to avoid and I avoid them too.
I guess not wanting to be killed, raped, mugged, robbed, have my car stolen or trashed is just not politically correct. I’ve already had those things happen to me (except for the rape that is). Not interested in traipsing down that litter and feces strewn memory lane any time soon.
Fffffffft. on that.
You go hang in the hood with your lily white face and report back to us.
White girl bleed a lot, you know.