A majority of the jurors who convicted the Occupy Wall Street activist Cecily McMillan of assaulting a New York police officer have asked the judge in her case to not send her to prison. Join them.
Cecily McMillan was found guilty of deliberately elbowing officer Grantley Bovell in the face as he led her out of a protest in March 2012. She has maintained that hers was a reaction to having her breast grabbed from behind by the officer. Cecily is well known among her Occupy peers as one of their staunchest advocates of non-violent protest. Convicted of second-degree assault, a felony, Cecily faces up to seven years in prison. She was denied bail and is being detained at Riker’s Island jail.
Nine of the twelve jurors who reached the guilty verdict have since taken the unusual step of writing to Judge Ronald Zweibel to request that he not give her a prison sentence. Sentencing is May 19th.
We are joining with OWS and the #Justice4Cecily team in asking for support for Cecily. Join us in sending your letter of support. A long prison sentence for this intelligent and inspiring young activist, who is deeply committed to non-violent action as a means to social progress, serves no one.
Go here to send your own letter.