Elected Officials And Activists Call For Leniency In Occupy Wall Street Protester Case

photoMs. McMillan Faces Up to 7 Years in Jail, Electeds and Advocates Call for Leniency and Sentence of Community Service for Young Protester

Advocates and New York City elected officials will held a rally yesterday calling for justice in the case of Cecily McMillan, a 25 year old protester convicted of second degree assault following her role in the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011-12. On March 17th, 2012, Ms. McMillan took part in a 6th month celebration marking half a year since the start of the Occupy Wall Street protests. When the NYPD moved in to clear out the park, Ms. McMillian alleges that her breasts were grabbed from behind in what she believed to be an act of sexual assault. In a reflexive action, she swung her elbow back and connected with an NYPD officer. She was then allegedly beaten and subsequently arrested.

Ms. McMillan one of very few protesters to be convicted of a crime, as many of the others had their charges dropped. She currently faces up to 7 years in jail for her actions, yet 9 of the 12 jury members in her case have written a letter to the presiding judge requesting leniency and a sentence of community service rather than jail time. On Monday, this call will be echoed by city leaders and activists, who share the belief that such a sentence fits the crime much more appropriately than a prolonged jail sentence.

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Author: Ralph White