Today, six defendants facing up to fifty years in prison were cleared of all charges connected with their protest on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration. Over 230 people were initially charged under a dragnet conspiracy theory that prosecutors alleged made attending a protest, or lending support to protesters, criminal conduct. Greenpeace USA Attorney Maggie Ellinger-Locke said in response:
“The jury’s decision clearing all six defendants on 42 charges for exercising constitutional rights is a tremendous victory for free speech. This verdict is inspiring in times when protest and public advocacy are under attack. The outcome is proof that people can win when organized to resist the crackdown on dissent. We remain confident that today’s decision will be echoed in the remainder of the 188 cases and ultimately demonstrate that the voices of the people cannot be silenced.”
Media contact:
Rodrigo Estrada, [email protected]
