QUEERS ARE COOL.
IT'S THE COPS
WHO CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
ABOLISH THE PHOENIX POLICE
RED SQUAD.
(MY NEWEST T-SHIRT DESIGN...)
Made it to court for the reading of Chris Wilson's indictment by Judge Brian Rees. He has a public defender, and it looks like he's going to be in Joe Arpiao's "protective" custody (now that's an oxymoron) for the duration; under the Arizona Revised Statutes, the charges involving that 14-year old aren't bailable under any conditions.
He's going to have a hell of a road from here on out, even if he somehow gets acquitted or the charges are miraculously dropped. Once you're charged with a sex offense against a child in Arizona, your life is pretty much over. Only a few folks I know have managed to fight back, and that's largely because they're actually innocent (like Courtney Bisbee, who's still fighting). The process of prosecution itself destroys human beings, good and bad alike.
He's going to have a hell of a road from here on out, even if he somehow gets acquitted or the charges are miraculously dropped. Once you're charged with a sex offense against a child in Arizona, your life is pretty much over. Only a few folks I know have managed to fight back, and that's largely because they're actually innocent (like Courtney Bisbee, who's still fighting). The process of prosecution itself destroys human beings, good and bad alike.
Anyway, channel 3 news was there, and I chatted with the reporter from the AZ Republic afterwards - she was expecting Occupy Phoenix to be there. As were the cops, apparently - they had two armed deputies at each set of doors, and at least a couple of detectives circulated around the huge room. No one gave me any grief, though, and I was able to educate some folks in the crowd about the Red Squad before it all got started.
Wilson looked like hell in stripes and cuffs, for what it's worth - not that anyone looks good when being paraded into court from jail, but he was gray and gaunt and probably freezing cold. The courtroom is shiny and new, the seating is extra comfy, the technology is beyond me, and all the criminals are kept in a glass room now instead of in the jury box, but the prisoners all still look cold and beaten down, and they still wear pink underwear under their stripes, lest they forget one must be mocked and repeatedly humiliated until proven guilty in Maricopa County...
Wilson's next hearing will be October 8 at 8:15am in Maricopa County Superior Court. Call the criminal court info desk the day before to confirm time and place (602-506-8575). The case number to reference is CR2012-142112-001.
As for myself, I don't think I'll be going to his future court dates. My focus now is not on Wilson's suffering - the system will probably punish him pretty harshly. It already is, and it's not something I take pleasure in watching. The problem for us left to deal with is really the continued presence of the Red Squad in our community, not the future of their exiled detective - except to the extent that he is now a prisoner whose rights and humanity I care about.
Stay tuned here for updates on Wilson and send your Red Squad stories as well as thoughts on police alternatives to redsquadresistance@gmail.com.
1 comment:
Mixed feelings of sympathy and frustration ... I can't even imagine what Chris is going through emotionally right now and I wonder how the kids are doing as well. This case has all kinds of irony and if it goes to trial the jury will have a hard time listening to the many sides. However with his statements thus far it's hard to imagine and actual "not guilty" plea. Particularly if he only has a public defender. That's surprising to me as well. He will probably take a plea bargain ... Meanwhile the best we can do is work for something positive to come out of this. Abolishing the red squad is a good cause!! It protects the public, and the officers as well from being placed in a position like this. I am wondering if a new LGBTQ-community liaison has been assigned, and also what other citizen-groups have been assigned liaisons as well. Also which groups within the communities they choose to liaison with and how they decide what types of outreach to be done. There is much investigative work to be done!! Maybe we can meet at 1voice for a brainstorming session ... They have free coffee, a lounge area w/ a computer lab, and a reference library... And ready access to many community groups and volunteers.
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