Black Lives Matter Prosecution — One Bogus Charge Dropped; Atty Calls Remaining Charge "Shockingly Thin"

State Sen Tim Carpenter performs his collapse in front of a
WKOW-TV crew to dramatize a confrontation with
Black Lives Matter protesters.

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin — "Kerida O’Reilly and Samantha Hamer were arrested on charges of substantial battery and robbery with use of force," reported The Hill this week.

The arrest was a rush to judgement by Madison Police working against a political movement held in disdain by law enforcement.

Police and one rash, drug-warrior, state senator want these and other Black Lives Matter protesters behind bars.

One problem, though not for police, is the two young women are innocent. The case is a political prosecution.

Exemplifying a widely held view among local police, in 2017, Police Chief Mike Koval (ret) said he canceled his NFL subscription amid "taking a knee" protests because this protest is "self-absorbed ... diatribe."

And the police are not too hot on mass protests this Summer, much less taking a knee.

The Madison Police Union this week issued a vote of "no confidence" in the new progressive mayor for her temerity to publicly acclaim the First Amendment and express admiration for the protesters.

Wisconsin media and rightwing political operations have already found the two Black Lives Matter protesters guilty.

But facts can be stubborn things.

Dane County District Attorney Ismael R. Ozanne dropped the robbery with use of force charge yesterday, raising questions why this canard was included in the arrest warrant. But you won't find such questions in the local corporate media.

The two defendants' attorneys — Ms. O’Reilly's attorney, Nathan Otis, and Ms. Hamer's attorney, Adam Welch — made a motion to dismiss the remaining charge — substantial battery.

Reports the Associated Press:

O’Reilly’s attorney, Nathan Otis, said in an email to The Associated Press that it will become clear that she didn’t commit any crime, and that the lack of evidence will become clear as the case progresses.

In a separate email to the AP, Hamer’s attorney, Adam Welch, said his client is 'absolutely not guilty' and that prosecutors’ case against her 'is shockingly thin.'

District Attorney Ozanne can't tell you when, where, how and by whom Carpenter was allegedly battered. Neither can Carpenter. According to reports, Carpenter manage to incite some eight to 10 people during the chaotic melee.

No matter, Ozanne refused to drop the remaining charge. Court Commissioner Brian Asmus refused to dismiss it.

The alleged victim, Wisconsin State Sen Tim Carpenter (D), is a Milwaukee legislator who has worked to build the carceral state for decades, always busily working to imprisoning and demonizing black and brown folk.

Just this month Carpenter was reprimanded by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the State Senate Minority leader for online bullying and harassment of a black legislative candidate who dared criticize Carpenter's proposed expansion of the Wisconsin Criminal Code.

The Wisconsin Criminal Code. As a local Madison jurist is fond of saying, "Read the [fracking] statutes."

I did. The crime of which two women stand accused are not sustained by the weakest standard of evidence, (WKOW-TV, Pittman/WORT News).

Available audio and video of the confrontation that Carpenter began show a deceitful man who feigned a collapse in front of a WKOW-TV crew.

Carpenter wants blood. He wants as many Black Lives Matter protesters behind bars, and is not choosy who that is.

Two women protesters supporting Black Lives Matter are out on signature bonds.

This case should not see the light of a courtroom. But facts are not the only stubborn things in Dane County.