Lauren Canario, New London eminent domain protester, freed after 90 days
What was that again about a fair and speedy trial? Not that it’s any form of excuse but Lauren Canario’s case isn’t even remotely related to teh “war on terror”.
Canario, 49, had been held on $20,000 bond since she was arrested for refusing to leave a Goshen Street home in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood. Canario, who is from Las Vegas and New Hampshire, had come to New London to protest the city’s taking homes by eminent domain for economic development.
Remember, this is a non-violent protester. From homelandstupidity.us:
Seems like the court was playing games with her right to a public hearing too:
The court that morning had told supporters that the hearing would be in the afternoon, and then held the hearing as soon as supporters had left the courtroom and gone outside.
And they had to be shamed into doing the right thing:
Supporters of Canario?s protest against eminent domain seizures for private economic development have bombarded Judge Kevin P. McMahon, prosecutors, prison officials and local media with letters of support, and Canario says that they helped.
The Keen Free Press claims that she had been held without any access to visitors:
York Prison officials refuse to answer whether Canario is again being held under these inhumane conditions, saying, “That is not public information. If Ms. Canario will just cooperate with our rules, she could receive all the benefits of our community.” Her husband has been refused entry to visit her. Officials will not even let members of the clergy see her and check on her condition.
If true, this is totally unacceptable. What are the chances Judge Kevin P. McMahon & company will ever face something like a federal lawsuit for depriving Lauren of her civil rights?
(Pretty long video on You Tube, slow at times, added here mostly to test out the pop-up window code.)
YouTube – Lauren Canario Eminent Domain Arrest 9:01 min.
View video in a pop-up window | Direct link
Michael Hampton Says :
We couldn’t even get Amnesty International in there.
Finally it was the judge being annoyed by a barrage of e-mail which got things moving.
2006-12-23 19:42 PermalinkStandard Mischief Says :
I would wonder what a little mainstream media coverage would have done. It’s crazy that a judge could hold someone for so long on such flimsy charges. All I can see is trespassing and failure to walk oneself over to the paddy wagon.
Apparently the judge has no fear of being recalled or impeached or convicted.
Reading the context of the links, the police officer who claimed injury from carrying away a non-violent protester is pretty funny. Hauling away passive protesters ought to be all in the the day’s work. Let him file for worker’s comp.
2006-12-23 22:15 Permalink