Some anti-war protesters do not know trespass is a crime. Unlike the days of Jim Crow, trespass is neither required nor an essential part of speaking out against bad policies. The people who were arrested in Grassley's office and the Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse got what they deserved. They were not arrested for "speaking truth to power," or any other mythological reason. They were arrested for the incredibly common and mundane crime of trespass. ... Today's criminals were arrested for disobeying sensible laws that were unrelated to the policies they protested. That is why they are common criminals whereas the brave black men and women who were arrested in their protests were heroes.

Labels: Charles Grassley, Iraq