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Support Jesse James Forrey, RNC Arrestee- Sentencing Sept 17th, Facing One Year In Jail
Jesse James Forrey, 27, RNC Arrestee, was convicted of a felony charge of damage to property in the first degree on August 7th, 2009. He maintains his innocence, and bravely continues to fight the verdict. Even after little and conflicting evidence from the prosecutor, the Minnesota jury still convicted him. He faces 1 year, and up to 5 years in jail. Jesse is from Santa Cruz, and has been kept from his home for a year already. This is not over yet. Jesse’s lawyer is looking into grounds for appeal. And there are things you can do right now to try and effect Jesse’s sentencing. We cannot change what has happened, but we can support Jesse and let him know that he is cared about. Here are some ways you can take immediate action before September 17th.
Jesse James Forrey, 27, RNC Arrestee, was convicted of a felony charge of damage to property in the first degree on August 7th, 2009. He maintains his innocence, and bravely continues to fight the verdict. Even after little and conflicting evidence from the prosecutor, the Minnesota jury still convicted him. He faces a possibility of 1 year, and up to 5 years in jail.
Jesse is from Santa Cruz and eagerly waits to return to his home and family. The whole process has been hard on Jesse who has been kept away from his home for a year already. In Jesse’s words, "If I was guilty I would have plead guilty, and I would have been home a long time ago”, but “why would I plead guilty to something I didn’t do?"
He continues, “Though I have been isolated and intimidated, I am not giving up. I maintain my innocence and will fight for it, just as I hope you would. I meet people face to face and treat them as I would my brother. Who we are is defined by how we act and react to the world, just as the world is defined by how we act. I chose one of health and compassion.”
This is not over yet. Jesse’s lawyer is looking into grounds for appeal. And there are things you can do right now to try and affect Jesse’s sentencing. We cannot change what has happened, but we can support Jesse and let him know that he is cared about. Show your support - Here are some ways you can take action immediately to affect Jesse’s sentencing before September 17th.
Here are ways to help:
* Write a letter — before September 17 asking the judge to not assign jail time. Jesse has already had the past year of his life controlled by the court system as he waited on trial call. In this letter please describe your relationship to Jesse, what you know of the changes in his life, whether you consider him to be an asset to the community and anything else you feel is appropriate. This letter should be addressed to The Honorable Judge Paulette K. Flynn, Ramsey County Court. Send the letter to Jesse at 3924 Elliot Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN, 55407. You also could email it as an attachment to supportjesse [at] riseup.net. Remember, the letters need to get to Jesse’s lawyer BEFORE September 17.
* Sign the support petition– it will be presented to the judge at Jesse’s sentencing. Every small sign of support helps, even this petition. Click here to sign.
* Donate money — Jesse is expected to pay around $18,000 in legal fees and restitution. Since his arrest in the Twin Cities, Jesse has spent his time volunteering with different schools. Because he has been on trial call for the past year in an unfamiliar city, he has been unable to hold a steady job and has very little money. No amount is too small. Click here to donate online via PayPal.
* Throw a benefit for Jesse — holding an event is a great way to raise money for Jesse and also educate people about the RNC and the police state. If you need help getting started, contact supportjesse [at] riseup.net.
We in Santa Cruz, as a community, all feel Jesse’s absence from our lives. He is deeply loved and needed here at home. Some of us went through trial with him. This is an incredibly dehumanizing experience, and I hope that everybody who is sympathetic to his situation both personally and politically reaches out to us, in our last moments of hope before his sentencing.
Visit our Support Website at:
http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com
For more information on the trial, and a detailed account of court notes, go to: http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/notes-from-jesses-trial/
Previous IndyMedia posting on Jesse Forrey:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/29/18591761.php
Jesse is from Santa Cruz and eagerly waits to return to his home and family. The whole process has been hard on Jesse who has been kept away from his home for a year already. In Jesse’s words, "If I was guilty I would have plead guilty, and I would have been home a long time ago”, but “why would I plead guilty to something I didn’t do?"
He continues, “Though I have been isolated and intimidated, I am not giving up. I maintain my innocence and will fight for it, just as I hope you would. I meet people face to face and treat them as I would my brother. Who we are is defined by how we act and react to the world, just as the world is defined by how we act. I chose one of health and compassion.”
This is not over yet. Jesse’s lawyer is looking into grounds for appeal. And there are things you can do right now to try and affect Jesse’s sentencing. We cannot change what has happened, but we can support Jesse and let him know that he is cared about. Show your support - Here are some ways you can take action immediately to affect Jesse’s sentencing before September 17th.
Here are ways to help:
* Write a letter — before September 17 asking the judge to not assign jail time. Jesse has already had the past year of his life controlled by the court system as he waited on trial call. In this letter please describe your relationship to Jesse, what you know of the changes in his life, whether you consider him to be an asset to the community and anything else you feel is appropriate. This letter should be addressed to The Honorable Judge Paulette K. Flynn, Ramsey County Court. Send the letter to Jesse at 3924 Elliot Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN, 55407. You also could email it as an attachment to supportjesse [at] riseup.net. Remember, the letters need to get to Jesse’s lawyer BEFORE September 17.
* Sign the support petition– it will be presented to the judge at Jesse’s sentencing. Every small sign of support helps, even this petition. Click here to sign.
* Donate money — Jesse is expected to pay around $18,000 in legal fees and restitution. Since his arrest in the Twin Cities, Jesse has spent his time volunteering with different schools. Because he has been on trial call for the past year in an unfamiliar city, he has been unable to hold a steady job and has very little money. No amount is too small. Click here to donate online via PayPal.
* Throw a benefit for Jesse — holding an event is a great way to raise money for Jesse and also educate people about the RNC and the police state. If you need help getting started, contact supportjesse [at] riseup.net.
We in Santa Cruz, as a community, all feel Jesse’s absence from our lives. He is deeply loved and needed here at home. Some of us went through trial with him. This is an incredibly dehumanizing experience, and I hope that everybody who is sympathetic to his situation both personally and politically reaches out to us, in our last moments of hope before his sentencing.
Visit our Support Website at:
http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com
For more information on the trial, and a detailed account of court notes, go to: http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/notes-from-jesses-trial/
Previous IndyMedia posting on Jesse Forrey:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/29/18591761.php
For more information:
http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com
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I would like to support Jesse, but I am not lemming. Facts are facts. Why do none of these articles or web sites detail the charge which Jesse denies? What was supposedly damaged, to what extent, and if Jesse didnt do it then who are the most likely suspects?
This makes me suspicious. If he was clearly innocent, I'm sure the details would be waved high and clear. All this avoidance makes me feel like Jesse's definition of innocence may be very subjective. If Jesse did it be proud man! Be a leader, not a submissive victim. If he didnt do it, what is his defense?
I like Santa Cruz but let's be realistic. Even our friends are known to lie. The truth empowers me to think for myself. Hiding the truth from me, is trying to control me.
This makes me suspicious. If he was clearly innocent, I'm sure the details would be waved high and clear. All this avoidance makes me feel like Jesse's definition of innocence may be very subjective. If Jesse did it be proud man! Be a leader, not a submissive victim. If he didnt do it, what is his defense?
I like Santa Cruz but let's be realistic. Even our friends are known to lie. The truth empowers me to think for myself. Hiding the truth from me, is trying to control me.
It isn't hard to find what Jesse is accused of: breaking the windows of a bank during the convention, causing around 17,000 in damages. Another person confessed to the crime and was sentenced, yet Jesse has maintained his innocence throughout.
Also, this is a pretty fair summary of the trial that discusses both sides:
http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/notes-from-jesses-trial/
Also, this is a pretty fair summary of the trial that discusses both sides:
http://supportjessejames.wordpress.com/notes-from-jesses-trial/
Indybay eds, can you please delete and further suspend comments on this article? Debate about the case is not what was intended with this post, and as this site is closely watched by police and federal agents, can only hurt the accused. Thanks
I'm assuming this is the same anonymous who asks the same thing on the AETA 4 posts. Essentially "Let me post my statements of support, but don't allow anyone to post their statements if they aren't in agreement with mine.
To which I say: B.S. If you want to control the message, stick to the webpages you produce and control.
It's perfectly fair to ask what Jesse was charged with when you are asking someone to support him.
To which I say: B.S. If you want to control the message, stick to the webpages you produce and control.
It's perfectly fair to ask what Jesse was charged with when you are asking someone to support him.
Um, I posted that comment on the AETA4 post because it was full of name calling and outright slander about firebombings and other nonsense they aren't even charged with. I did NOT post the comment on this article, which strangely enough, has IDENTICAL wording. Very strange. Something is up on Indybay. Possible COINTELPRO tactics?
Another protester making a plea bargain doesnt make Jesse innocent. More than one person is usually smashing windows at a major protest and $17,000 is a lot of windows for one person. I'll support the destruction of property when it's justified, but I won't lie and say someone didn't do something if they did it. You know the rule. If you want to throw stuff at a protest, get in front. Dont hide behind others. We should take pride in our actions, not act like we're ashamed.
Jesse isn't "hiding" behind anything. He says he is innocent. The person convicted of the crime says Jesse didn't do it. Read the notes from the trial I posted above. The prosecution doesn't have any TANGIBLE evidence like videotape or fingerprints, just the eyewitness testimony of 3-4 cops who SAY they saw him do it. Eyewitness testimony is often unreliable, and cops often lie.
There were probably dozens of protestors who match the "tall guy with red hair" description in the immediate vicinity of the window-smashing. How do we know the cops got the right one?
There were probably dozens of protestors who match the "tall guy with red hair" description in the immediate vicinity of the window-smashing. How do we know the cops got the right one?
"He says he's innocent"....is supposed to convince me of his status? Turn that around to to "the cops say he's guilty", and tell me if you don't see the irony of expecting me to accept that statement on its own merit. No thanks.
What I do see is a lot of circumstantial evidence that makes him look like he's involved and potentially guilty.
-Goes all the way from Santa Cruz to Minnesota to protest.
-Travels with a companion who admits to breaking the bank windows that Jesse is also charge with breaking.
-Has a witness stating he's 100% certain Jesse is the person he saw breaking the window.
-Has a backpack that contain gasmask, goggles, decontamination towelettes, and bioshield. But he went to engage in "peaceful, non-violent protest"?
You've convinced yourself....but I'm not feelin it. Sounds to me like Jesse got impassioned, got activated, got caught, and now got busted. More power to him. But doing it and then claiming innocence and it's all a setup? A distressing trend that seems to be permeating the activists of SubRosa. First the treesitters, then Jesse, then AETA4. All wanting to be radical till they get caught, then they turn around and squeal setup. Hard for me to swallow that they're all innocent and all being setup by COINTERPOL.
What I do see is a lot of circumstantial evidence that makes him look like he's involved and potentially guilty.
-Goes all the way from Santa Cruz to Minnesota to protest.
-Travels with a companion who admits to breaking the bank windows that Jesse is also charge with breaking.
-Has a witness stating he's 100% certain Jesse is the person he saw breaking the window.
-Has a backpack that contain gasmask, goggles, decontamination towelettes, and bioshield. But he went to engage in "peaceful, non-violent protest"?
You've convinced yourself....but I'm not feelin it. Sounds to me like Jesse got impassioned, got activated, got caught, and now got busted. More power to him. But doing it and then claiming innocence and it's all a setup? A distressing trend that seems to be permeating the activists of SubRosa. First the treesitters, then Jesse, then AETA4. All wanting to be radical till they get caught, then they turn around and squeal setup. Hard for me to swallow that they're all innocent and all being setup by COINTERPOL.
I don't think the goggles, gasmask et al necessarily mean he was there for anything other than peaceful protest---all of the buildup for the RNC was based around the cops more or less declaring war on outside agitators, peaceful or otherwise, and if I'd had the time and means to be in St Paul I probably would have loaded up on similar provisions (provided I could get them) because getting teargassed is pretty effin' unpleasant. I am in full agreement with the "radical til they are caught" statement, but I don't think everyone can get lumped into that category just by being from SCruz and pleading innocent. I personally remain unswayed either way on Jesse's guilt or innocence, until I see something concrete beyond him saying he didn't do it or the cops saying he did. If someone has already plead out for the charges, and they are still pushing to lock him up, that does look suspiciously similar to "railroading" to me. From what I've heard from folks who were in St Paul, the police were pretty thorough with videotaping standoffs with protesters, so it seems kinda fishy that they are unable to prove his guilt beyond their testimony.
Thank you for the link, it helps to be informed on what the charges are and what the evedence is. From what is put forth in the trial it is hard to believe that Jesse could be innocent. You state that 3-4 cops were the witnesses, I think you should re-read your link. The trial included two non-police eye-witnesses, one of which is 100% sure that Jesse is the person he saw destroy the windows. Whether you want to discredit this person's testimony or not, it is hard to look past it. I'm wondering, what motivation would these bystanders have to lie?
I found it interesting as well, that in the prsecutor's closing statements he mentions that Jesse has been arrested for a felony in the past and did not obey the terms of his probation (i.e. leaving the state w/o permission more than once). He also stated that Jesse lied about that case to police as well, but I'll take that one with a grain of salt since I don't know what it is regards to.
At any rate, those are my two cents. I just have a hard time believing Jesse is being honeset.
I found it interesting as well, that in the prsecutor's closing statements he mentions that Jesse has been arrested for a felony in the past and did not obey the terms of his probation (i.e. leaving the state w/o permission more than once). He also stated that Jesse lied about that case to police as well, but I'll take that one with a grain of salt since I don't know what it is regards to.
At any rate, those are my two cents. I just have a hard time believing Jesse is being honeset.
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