California man faces 13 years in jail for scribbling anti-bank messages in chalk

Copyright Desert Rose Creations / Family  Survival Protocol  2013

One  would  wonder  why the  courts have  not  been  as  ruthless with the  interpretation of the  many  laws  broken  by   Banks and  Wall Street, as  they  looted the  American  People  of  their hard  earned  money? 

 It is  clear that   justice  serves  those  who can  afford to buy  it.  It  gives new  the term "greasing the   wheels  of  Justice" perspective .

Does it  not ?

Interesting how the  fact that the messages  were  written  not  only  on the  sidewalks, but also  written in washable   chalk.  Would the  same  charges  apply  to  children marking the  sidewalk so they  can  play   Hop Scotch,  if it   were done on a  sidewalk adjacent to  a  bank and  said  Bank  was  offended?

It seems  that State  Statutes now trump The  American Constitution and  the  Bill of  Rights.  Where  was  that  distinction made apparent, save  in this Justices courtroom?  Or  do lawyers  and   Judges  now  dictate what  rights can and  will  be  applied  to   Citizens at their  leisure? 

That  concept  somewhat nullifies  the   entire reason  for the  existence of  the  Constitution and  the  Bill of  Rights  does  it  not?

  Now  our  rights  are  determined  by the  Justice  System rather  than  being interpreted by the  same.  Our rights are  no longer protected  by the documents we  were all  under the   impression to  be  the  "Law  of  The  Land", it seems.

~Desert Rose~
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Published time: June 26, 2013 04:07
Edited time: June 27, 2013 08:59

Reuters / Fred Prouser

Jeff Olson, the 40-year-old man who is being prosecuted for scrawling anti-megabank messages on sidewalks in water-soluble chalk last year now faces a 13-year jail sentence. A judge has barred his attorney from mentioning freedom of speech during trial.
According to the San Diego Reader, which reported on Tuesday that a judge had opted to prevent Olson’s attorney from "mentioning the First Amendment, free speech, free expression, public forum, expressive conduct, or political speech during the trial,” Olson must now stand trial for on 13 counts of vandalism.
In addition to possibly spending years in jail, Olson will also be held liable for fines of up to $13,000 over the anti-big-bank slogans that were left using washable children's chalk on a sidewalk outside of three San Diego, California branches of Bank of America, the massive conglomerate that received $45 billion in interest-free loans from the US government in 2008-2009 in a bid to keep it solvent after bad bets went south.
The Reader reports that Olson’s hearing had gone as poorly as his attorney might have expected, with Judge Howard Shore, who is presiding over the case, granting Deputy City Attorney Paige Hazard's motion to prohibit attorney Tom Tosdal from mentioning the United States' fundamental First Amendment rights.

"The State's Vandalism Statute does not mention First Amendment rights," ruled Judge Shore on Tuesday.
Upon exiting the courtroom Olson seemed to be in disbelief.

"Oh my gosh," he said. "I can't believe this is happening."
Tosdal, who exited the courtroom shortly after his client, seemed equally bewildered.

"I've never heard that before, that a court can prohibit an argument of First Amendment rights," said Tosdal.

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