…and this is a 
Gregory Koger is an ex-con and a revolutionary communist…and none of that should matter in the slightest. He's also a person who was beat up, handcuffed, maced, arrested, and now faces the prospect of a three year jail sentence for the crime of holding up his iPhone to take pictures of police harrassment. Koger is the young man who was documenting Sunsara Taylor's protest of the behavior of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago (which, by the way, ought to change their name to drop the first word), and who, oddly, was manhandled and arrested for taking videos of the event, while Taylor herself, who was doing all the talking, got away relatively unhassled.
Koger has now been convicted of trespassing, and will be sentenced on Wednesday. The whole thing has been Kafkaesque — it's the most hysterical, overblown response to a guy taking a picture of a public event that I've ever heard of, and it's a slap against everyone's personal freedoms.
Here is the statement from Sunsara Taylor:
There is no justice in the outrageous conviction of Gregory Koger on charges of trespass, resisting arrest, and battery for the "crime" of videotaping a statement I gave at the "Ethical" Humanist Society of Chicago after they dis-invited me from a long scheduled presentation I was to give on November 1st, 2009. Gregory Koger is not only innocent of all charges he has now been convicted of, he is a righteous and beautiful human being who all people seeking to live an ethical life should support as well as learn deeply from.
How is it that Gregory Koger came to be my videographer last November at the "Ethical" Humanist Society of Chicago?
Gregory's struggle to understand the source of his own long and bitter experiences of injustice and dehumanization as a young man led him to conclusions that were about much more than himself.
How many young men these days put their bodies on the line to defend the doctors who provide the right to abortion women need to even have a chance at a decent and equal life?
Gregory traveled to Kansas to defend Dr. Leroy Carhart when Carhart was declared "Enemy #1" by the same forces who had long-persecuted the recently murdered Dr. George Tiller.
How many Americans these days take responsibility for stopping the torture committed by the U.S. government in our names, not only under Bush, but also under Obama? How many who claim to oppose the wars and occupations by the U.S. government of Iraq and Afghanistan do more than complain under their breath and then change the channel or turn the page?
Gregory donned the orange jumpsuit of Guantanamo detainees in public protests and he marched against these wars, determined to make his opposition felt by people everywhere, including our sisters and brothers across the globe.
How many white people even notice, let alone stand up against, the systematic police terror and brutality that is a fact of life for youth, especially Black and Latino youth, in the inner cities everywhere?
Gregory went to the Southside of Chicago to speak out against a spate of police shootings of young Black men. He has consistently exposed the disproportionate incarceration and violence experienced by Black people in the criminal justice system.
It is through his activity in these realms, as well as his work with the Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund to get revolutionary literature into the U.S. prison system that now holds more than 2.3 million human beings, that I came to know Gregory. It was his interest in morality and ethics, in philosophy and revolution, as well as his passion for film that led him to volunteer for me the weekend I was scheduled to give a talk titled, "Morality Without Gods," at the "Ethical" Humanist Society of Chicago.
The themes of my talk, which drew on the theoretical framework developed by Bob Avakian in his book, AWAY WITH ALL GODS! Unchaining the Mind and Radically Changing the World, examined the basis for a morality that is rooted neither in the brutality and ignorance of Biblical times nor the narrow-minded individualism and relativism of modern U.S. capitalism. I posed the need for a morality that both reflects and serves the struggle to bring into being a world free of all forms of exploitation and oppression, a communist world, a world where everyone contributes whatever they can to society and gets back what they need to live a life worthy of human beings.
The irony is bitter; when it comes to "morality without gods," it is difficult to think of a starker living contrast than that between Gregory Koger and the conduct of the "Ethical" Humanist Society of Chicago.
I recount all this not only to demonstrate how deeply immoral it is that the "Ethical" Humanist Society of Chicago, spearheaded by their president Matt Cole, has viciously and vengefully persecuted Gregory Koger. I recount this to make clear that it is not only Gregory who will suffer due to this outrageous and unjust verdict, but that all those who are victims of the many injustices and oppression that Gregory fought against will also suffer.
It is incumbent upon all who care about the truth, who care about justice and the human spirit, who care about freedom and rights of the most oppressed and exploited in this country and worldwide, to not only join in insisting that Gregory be immediately released on bail and his conviction overturned, but to learn from Gregory's example and step up their own involvement in the struggle for human emancipation.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Immediately send statements of support for Gregory to the defense committee AdHoc4Reason@gmail.com
Donate money for the appeal. Go to the defense committee website for more information
Show your support at the sentencing hearing on September 8.
More information will be coming; keep in touch with the Ad Hoc Committee at AdHoc4Reason@gmail.com
The conviction was insane to begin with, but imprisoning a social activist for the crime of photography is simply beyond the pale.
Politics
Comments
Posted by: maggotpunk
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September 6, 2010 12:12 PM
Dr. Carhart is actually in Nebraska, so his traveling to Kansas wouldn't help much, but the point is taken nonetheless. Why is it that those who fight against domestic terrorist groups like Operation Rescue/Crades of Love/Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, or whatever they are calling themselves these days are treated like criminals while the murderers are given the key to the city?
Posted by: KennyG
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September 6, 2010 12:38 PM
Posted by: CodyS
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September 6, 2010 12:43 PM
So, is he "Gregory Kroger" as P.Z. is calling him, or is he "Gregory Koger", as Sunsara Taylor is calling him?
Posted by: Tom
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September 6, 2010 12:47 PM
OT but does anyone know how we can get the Vatican demoted from a state to 'HQ of a religious organisation'?
It seems some guilt-ridden UK politician invited popey over for a state visit and now the UK police are trying to line their pockets by saying security is going to cost more than estimated.
It seems that cos the pope is a head of state the UK taxpayer has to pay for their propaganda...
Posted by: BlueIndependent
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September 6, 2010 12:52 PM
"What the hell's going on with humanist societies? First we have the CFI coming down on the mosque/community center near ground zero, now we have one pushing for charges against a guy who was just taking pictures. I thought most secular humanists were civil libertarians. I guess I was wrong.
It shows how pervasive non-critical thinking still can be. Also don't forget about some of the light undercurrents of climate change denialism that have been quietly milling about certain skeptic groups. We are by no means immune from the unfortunately common limitations of perspective and critical faculty. We tend to have lower amounts of it compared with other groups, but ignorance is a virus that affects everyone.
I must say that Kroger's incarceration is another troubling sign that this society is going to come to loggerheads over privacy and what is and is not permissible on an individual level. There was a guy who got pulled over by an off-duty cop for speeding on his bike. The off-duty officer was not in uniform, did not identify himself, and immediately pulled a gun on the biker. This biker was at one point facing 10 years in jail for not only speeding, but taking video of the officer stopping him. The cops are hanging their hat on the biker's video, saying that he wasn't legally allowed to do that. To which I say, bullcrap. Since the arrest I think the biker is now no longer facing so much jail time; but it must be said that any such consideration for that kind of time, when the guy committed no offense other than speeding, is raising my eyebrows as to how draconian things seem like they're about to start getting around here.
And this is the problem. Technology is starting to impact everything, and now enforcement agencies are coming out against some technology because it's being turned on them.
From the description of Kroger I can see he and I would disagree on a lot of things, but putting him in jail without cause is a horrible precedent, and the EHSC, assuming the events described are accurate, should be ashamed it's been a party to this.
Posted by: Matt "Nora" Penfold
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September 6, 2010 12:52 PM
Well in the case of the UK we just need the Government to cease recognising the Vatican as a sovereign country.
I do not hold out much hope, but you could start be pointing out that the Vatican only became a separate legal entity from Italy during under Mussolini and they do not see why we should honour any agreement made between two fascist dictators.
Posted by: rocketboy
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September 6, 2010 1:02 PM
I thought we already realized that there was a lot more going on in this story than we were hearing from the Taylor camp, or did I miss some new infomration?
Posted by: BlueIndependent
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September 6, 2010 1:04 PM
"It seems that cos the pope is a head of state the UK taxpayer has to pay for their propaganda...
OT RESPONSE: As do we here in the US, although most of our populace thinks things like giving tax handouts to religious groups is a good thing. Which I think is the deciding factor between our two nations (assuming you are in fact a British citizen).
Posted by: eleusis
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September 6, 2010 1:05 PM
The link to the the "defense committee website" needs to be fixed.
Also, it appears that he's facing a maximum of 3 years, because each misdemeanor conviction carries a maximum possible sentence of 1 year. They could run those sentences consecutively to give him 3 years, or concurrently to give him 1 year, or they may give him less time overall. He may even get probation. It's unclear.
However, since he has a criminal history, that will work against him. Also, the fact that he took it to trial will work against him. I guarantee you he was offered a plea agreement, and if he had taken it, he would not be looking at the maximum sentence.
And before you say, "Why should he fold to the Man and sign a plea agreement? He was right to fight the case!", consider the reality that many people sign plea agreements for charges that they could beat, for charges that we would consider unethical, because they are afraid of losing and spending 2-3X as much time in prison.
Posted by: Ray Moscow
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September 6, 2010 1:15 PM
The verdict and potential punishment doesn't seem to make any sense. Did he harm anyone? Did he harm any property? I haven't seen any claim that he did.
Was he an ex-con in front of a Chicago jury? Yes.
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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September 6, 2010 1:18 PM
This is utter madness. A supposedly 'ethical' Humanist Society should be the last organization to seek the arrest and prosecution of someone for taking a video. It is doubly disturbing that this vastly disproportionate response appears to be at least in part due to the fact that he was exposing police harrassment. It appears that bullies in uniform don't like it when their abuse of power is exposed.
I think of myself as a Secular Humanist, and the last time I checked we were supposed to the ones defending civil liberties against the creeping authoratarianism that seems to be so in vogue these days.
It was bad enough that he was physically and chemically assaulted and arrested, but a three year prison sentence? It is downright Orwellian.
As a Brit I am no position to be sanctimonious about this. You need look no further than the death of Ian Tomlinson, where police (allegedly with their badge numbers deliberately obscured in a bid to prevent identification) seemingly launched an unprovoked attack on a member of the public that resulted in his death. There were also a number of other ethically questionable incidents during the 2009 G20 protests in London involving the police, including the extensive deployment of the controversial tactic of Kettling.
These are hardly actions that I associate with a truly free society.
Posted by: dahduh
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September 6, 2010 1:22 PM
BlueIndependent's right; the response to what happened is utterly disproportionate. It would appear both Gregory Koger and Sunsara Taylor may be prickly and self-righteous personalities, and that both Taylor and Koger ignored the EHSC's request to leave; but they were attending a nominally public venue to express a view in a discussion forum for crying out loud. Even the dimmest organizer would have had the sense to politely hear Taylor out and wait for them to leave, and that would be that. Instead, EHSC created a bad situation and then pressed charges, and someone is now facing prison time.
Ethical? Hell no.
Posted by: First Approximation, L'esprit de l'escalier
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September 6, 2010 1:26 PM
Gregory Greenwood,
QFT!
Posted by: Katharine
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September 6, 2010 1:26 PM
Probably the same way Bill Maher can be an atheist and an antivaxxer.
People believe things for all sorts of different reasons. There are we who are civil libertarians and rational types and atheists; then there's the secular right wing who as far as I'm concerned doesn't have the excuse of the rank stupidity of the religious right wing so who I just think is kind of sociopathic for the most part except for a handful of members.
Posted by: Ken
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September 6, 2010 1:30 PM
I haven't seen the transcripts, but this story states that Koger was only asked to stop filming and not asked to leave until after the cops showed up.
http://www.ucimc.org/content/greg-koger-found-guilty-and-currently-being-held-cook-county-jail
This sounds pretty typical for Illinois prosecutors. Remember, we are the only state in the US that has a specific law making it illegal to record police in public. Prosecutors here are very aggressive about this sort of thing. The fact that they were "commies" couldn't have helped them amongst the local idiots (police officers) either.
Posted by: Evomonkey
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September 6, 2010 1:36 PM
They should drop the second word as well. This group is neither ethical nor humanist. They sound like thugs.Posted by: Orac
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September 6, 2010 1:37 PM
Quite honestly, I'm not sure that it's true that we tend to have lower amounts of it compared with other groups. We keep telling ourselves that, but it's times like this that our self-reassurance just strikes me as hubris. The longer I try to do this whole skeptic thing, the more I realize that our irrationality tends to manifest itself in other areas besides the pseudoscience and quackery that we rightfully castigate. Global warming denialism is one area very common in the skeptic movement, as is an almost Ayn Randian-style libertarianism. As much as we might wish to deny it, there's also a disturbing amount of support for alt-med; I've run into it at TAM, even, and I've encountered a disturbing number of borderline to full-on anti-vaxers at skeptical events. Then there are people like Sam Harris, who embraces "Eastern" mysticism (because, you know, it's so much more rational than that nasty, "Western" Judeo-Christianity and Islam) and not at all woo-ey. Except that it is.
No, we have to be very careful before we declare ourselves superior in rationality to fundies and woo-meisters.
Posted by: Orac
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September 6, 2010 1:39 PM
Indeed.
Posted by: Marco
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September 6, 2010 1:43 PM
P.Z. wrote:
Not to mention that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects against precisely this kind of governmental abuse.
But it seems that, in actual practice, just about the whole Bill of Rights has been made into so much toilet paper. The only "protests" you hear are over the Second Amendment and the "individual right" to have guns (which is written nowhere in it).
So, the Second Amendment has become a farce for the benefit of the willfully stupid and armed, and the rest of the Bill of Rights might as well not be there, given how it's being roundly ignored and routinely violated.
Posted by: Glenn G
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September 6, 2010 1:58 PM
What did you guys expect? He was in America, and the only right you have there is "right this way"(/gc)
Posted by: BlueIndependent
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September 6, 2010 2:03 PM
"...No, we have to be very careful before we declare ourselves superior in rationality to fundies and woo-meisters.
Umm, I don't think we're in disagreement, although I would say that you should consider that plenty of people believe in all of the things you listed, *while* also believing in a religion. If we treat it as a numbers game and we strike religion from our own list of problems, well we're at least ahead on some level. My statement wasn't in any way scientific but to focus on the key difference vis a vis religion. And I'm fully aware of the other problems in the skeptical community like anti-vax and Ayn Randism. I've met a few skeptics/atheists/humanists that weren't quite that. Plus, many of the things you list are openly challenged by many skeptics/atheists/humanists I know or have heard, so I still think we're not dealing with the same levels of "thought pancea" that tend to be more aligned and consistent in religious circles.
Posted by: Marco
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September 6, 2010 2:19 PM
In post #20, Glenn G wrote:
Glib, pointless, and not even very funny, methinks.
Whether or not Her Ironic Highness agrees or not, we do have a Bill of Rights, and we should expect and demand a whole lot better.
Such cynical and overbroad dismissals are an invitation to stand aside, not get involved and be sheep eager for the slaughter.
Posted by: mmelliott01
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September 6, 2010 2:19 PM
My experience with the Ethical Society in two other locations (i.e. not Chicago) would lead to me to claim that the behavior described in this article is simply impossible. Either the Ethical Society has changed dramatically in the 20 years since I attended one of their events, or the Chicago society is dysfunctional in some way I cannot conceive.
Posted by: Glenn G
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September 6, 2010 2:28 PM
@Marco: >>Implying you can stop the Patriot Act
Posted by: MJP
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September 6, 2010 2:31 PM
20 years is certainly long enough for such a change to happen.
Posted by: Aquaria
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September 6, 2010 2:33 PM
You know, I seem to remember one of the douchebags from this supposedly humanist band of thugs nearly wetting his pants in glee at learning Mr. Koger was an ex-con with a history of violence.
As if that "proved" that Koger had acted violently in that particular instance.
So much for ethics or humanism.
Posted by: mwsletten
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September 6, 2010 2:46 PM
As someone who wasn't there, I can't speak to the specifics of the events that transpired last November, but I can tell you Illinois is the only state in the union in which it is illegal -- by statute -- for a citizen to make an electronic recording (video or audio) of an on-duty police officer. If Ms. Taylor's videographer refused a police request to turn off the recording device, then he gave them probable cause to arrest, and evidence (if he actually recorded his refusal) to convict him.
In a country that prizes individual freedom and liberty, this law is an abomination. A video or audio recording is often the only way a citizen can effectively oppose the testimony of police officers in cases where the officers have been accused of abusing their power.
Further, while IL is the only state that specifically prohibits recording on-duty police officers, many states' Attorneys General interpret their state's laws to make prosecution of those who do possible.
I would love to see a grass-roots effort to change such laws here in America similar to the successful effort of Simon Singh to change the libel laws in the UK.
Click here if you want to read more about filming police (and other officials) in 'free' America.
Posted by: j-brisby
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September 6, 2010 2:49 PM
My instinct is to side with the cops in these sort of cases, and nothing in Sunsara Taylor's statement does anything to change my mind. These people always play the innocent victim once they successfully provoke the police into a reaction.
Frankly, I kind of like to see the cops step over the line once in a while and get away with it. It makes the assholes think twice.
Posted by: theswede
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September 6, 2010 2:57 PM
j-brisby, I kind of like it when people like you end up in jail, accidental or not, and find out what drilling means. It makes the assholes think twice.
Posted by: MJP
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September 6, 2010 3:09 PM
North Korea sounds like a great place for you.
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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September 6, 2010 3:22 PM
j-brisby @ 28;
What sort of 'cases' are those? Cases where the police are clearly undermining a citizen's civil liberties, as here? How exactly can you side with a law that makes taking a video of a public function illegal? Do you not see how unreasonable and dangerous such an arbitraty and unjustified exercise of power is?
Citation needed.
What, exactly, is it that you find so gratifying about the abuse of police power? How would you propose that the extra-judicial use of force without justification against a suspect helps reinforce the legitimate rule of law?
Would you be so quick to laud such police behaviour if you found yourself the target of the unjustified use of force in pursuit of an unconstitutional law? Perhaps as an example to make the other innocent 'assholes' think twice about... what? Standing up for their civil liberties? Opposing a manifestly unjust law? Engaging in civil activism? Owning a camera?
I find myself very glad that you are not in a position of power or authority. A society run by the likes of you would be a very unpleasant place to live indeed.
Posted by: Lina
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September 6, 2010 3:23 PM
I was at the trial the entire 3 days. Not only did one of these supposedly "ethical" humanists lie about Gregory trespassing at their public event (you must be told to leave for it to be trespassing) but he even lied about whether Sunsara Taylor had ever been invited in the first place. The irony is that the cop witness directly contradicted that, saying the president of the EHS told him she had been invited then dis-invited... and then directly contradicted the other "ethical humanist" who testified he could see Gregory resisting arrest from behind a wall and around a corner. The cops were directly contradicted by the photos and videos that showed Gregory being dragged and beaten. He was even maced *while in handcuffs!*
He is due to be sentenced on Wednesday. We need as many signatures as possible immediately - sending him to prison after all this is absolutely unthinkable.
Sign petition here!
Posted by: No One
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September 6, 2010 3:31 PM
What's your physical address? I'll send them right over.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 6, 2010 3:38 PM
I've had to give this matter a good deal of thought. I absolutely detest Bob Avakian, who is a Maoist authoritarian, which prejudices me against his followers. However upon reflection it's obvious Koger is being railroaded because the Ethical Humanist Society fucked up royally and the Skokie police are bullies. So I've donated to Koger's defense.
Posted by: Grahame
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September 6, 2010 3:54 PM
This is not the only place where someone is facing jail time for filming the cops in public.
Look up this case:
v=RK5bMSyJCsg
While it's a bloody disgrace, I can't help also thinking that Sunsara Taylor probably thinks it's the best thing to happen to the cause in forever. The end of the Life of Brian springs to mind.
Posted by: j-brisby
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September 6, 2010 3:56 PM
Oh please. This twit wanted to be arrested. And anyone who believes his version of events should turn in their critical thinker card.
Posted by: Robert H
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September 6, 2010 3:58 PM
Can I be first to tell j-brisby to fuck himself? Please?
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 6, 2010 3:59 PM
Damn, j-bisby, you're not too swift in the thinking department if you believe an ex-con wanted to be arrested.
Posted by: Lina
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September 6, 2010 4:00 PM
Anyone else here having their faith in humanity tested by "j-brisby" and the rest of the ethical humanists who are enjoying the spectacle of a young man's life being ruined?
Posted by: Robert H
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September 6, 2010 4:12 PM
Actually, what I wanted to say, before being redirected by the aforementioned j-brisby, is that it seems that carrying a camera is becoming more of a concern to the powers-that-be than carrying a gun. Documentation of a speech is becoming more of an issue than the speech itself. Of course, there is a long history in our kultur of shooting the messenger, or in this case of shooting the videographer, so we ought not to be overly surprised by this particular travesty. At the same time we have to come to grips with the perversion of power as this nation methodically lumbers to the right. It should prove to be an interesting next few decades.
Know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Film the truth and (at least in Chicago) face three years in prison.
Posted by: Robert H
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September 6, 2010 4:15 PM
Lina,
I'm having no luck with your link to the petition; at least from this end it is a blind link. Could you resubmit it or post the actual URL?
Posted by: abb3w
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September 6, 2010 4:22 PM
Katherine: People believe things for all sorts of different reasons. There are we who are civil libertarians and rational types and atheists; then there's the secular right wing who as far as I'm concerned doesn't have the excuse of the rank stupidity of the religious right wing so who I just think is kind of sociopathic for the most part except for a handful of members.
AKA, correlation is not causation. Merely because atheists tend to have a lower amount of authoritarian tendencies (see Hunsberger & Altemeyer) doesn't mean atheism causes lower authoritarian tendencies. In Stenner's terms, atheists still have social norms, and still can perceive activity as normative threat. If the impulse to authoritarian expression is in part genetic (currently somewhat suggested), increasing numbers of atheists might result in an increased authoritarian inclination. Social Dominance Orientation may play a similar and non-trivial role.
The sad thing about the Christians harping on about the evil authoritarian atheists is the "boy who cried wolf" character of their warnings. They may be right that the menace of increasing authoritarian tendencies among atheists, but because fundamentalist theists have so long harped on bogus-to-trivial incidents, it's going to be hard to get most atheists to pay attention to the hazard before it becomes a real menace.
After all, when the theists point to the great evils of Communism and Nazism, they may be wrong to claim that these imply atheism is inherently evil; however, Communism and Nazism do serve as valid examples that atheism does not per se preclude authoritarian tyranny, nor the evils associated thereto.
Posted by: Ing: PhD Trollologist
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September 6, 2010 4:34 PM
@17
And this is why we all love Orac
Posted by: Lina
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September 6, 2010 4:52 PM
Weird about the link to the petition. Try this:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/action/gregory-koger
Thanks for signing!
Posted by: ApeRider
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September 6, 2010 4:53 PM
@5 & 27
Took me a while to find it again, but the motorcyclist in question had a helmet camera going. Seems it is illegal in Maryland to audibly record someone without their permission, even if they're pointing a gun at you. link
Posted by: Ing: PhD Trollologist
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September 6, 2010 4:55 PM
@45
Why do we get this insane moral dissonance that it's the reporting of a rights abuse that is a crime/the problem and not the crime itself. We get this all the fucking time someone whisleblows a government abuse.
Posted by: MJP
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September 6, 2010 4:58 PM
Well, the Nazis weren't atheists. Their religious views were some odd pagan-Christian hybrid.
Posted by: ApeRider
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September 6, 2010 4:58 PM
Need to learn how to do those HTML commands better. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/19/motorcyclist-arrested-for-recording-cop-brandishing-gun-with-hel/
Posted by: Jadehawk, cascadeuse féministe
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September 6, 2010 5:02 PM
j-brisby is such a glorious example of why America is going to hell. When Authority is automatically more trusted than citizens, you're only one step from a police state. The correct response from a democracy should be greater distrust of those endowed with greater power, not the other way round.
Posted by: abb3w
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September 6, 2010 5:09 PM
MJP: Well, the Nazis weren't atheists. Their religious views were some odd pagan-Christian hybrid.
True; sloppy of me. Bormann seems the only atheist of prominence; the rest were a bag of mixed nuts.
The validity of the prior point remains, however, even with only the example of Communism: atheism does not grant automatic immunity to authoritarian impulses.
Posted by: Rorschach
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September 6, 2010 5:15 PM
IIRC we spent a day in the original thread about this, dissecting every move of every person involved.
And I seem to remember that most people felt it was a dick move of her to go back, and an even bigger super dick move of those assclowns to call police, let alone have anybody charged.
Posted by: Lina
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September 6, 2010 5:23 PM
OK, so will you sign the petition please, Rorschach?
People v Koger
To the Judge:
We the undersigned strongly urge that Gregory Koger not be given jail time for these misdemeanor convictions. The extremely unusual revocation of bond for a misdemeanor conviction should be reversed so he can be free to work on his appeal. Far from a “menace to society,” Gregory has overcome his troubled youth, transformed his life, and become an inspiration for all those seeking justice and a better world.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1170/action/gregory-koger
Posted by: hyperdeath
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September 6, 2010 5:40 PM
Gregory Greenwood to j-brisby:
People like j-brisby don't think like that. In his mind, he is in a totally separate category from potential victims of police brutality. He's a fine upstanding citizen, whilst they're all grubby, loud-mouthed troublemakers. If he voices an unpopular opinion, then he's simply exercising his right to free speech; if they voice unpopular opinions, then they're stirring up trouble. If he joins a protest, then he's simply exercising his right to free assembly; if they join protests, then they're forming dangerous mobs. If he gets arrested and demands to know the reason, then he's simply exercising his right to freedom from arbitrary detention; if they demand to know the reason, then they're just getting cocky.
The cases are completely different. Any decent violent police officer can clearly tell the difference.
Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnG39uMFt69kwCKZ8DoxtmMCvmzr5chx94
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September 6, 2010 6:14 PM
So somebody is going to prison. OK.
Your concern has been noted.
Posted by: MadScientist
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September 6, 2010 6:44 PM
I stand by my assertions last year that the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago is neither ethical nor humanist. Threatened with 3 years' prison for "trespassing"? WTF is that? The gods must be smiling.
Posted by: doctorlogic
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September 6, 2010 6:46 PM
Most of the people commenting here (including PZ) don't seem to know the facts of the case. Hell, even I don't know all of the facts, but I do know that the Chicago EHS are not "thugs", and that Taylor's group intimidated them. (FWIW, I am not a member of EHS.)
From what I hear, EHS took several steps to try to avoid a confrontation with Taylor in the days leading up to the event. I heard that Taylor's entourage of heavies was intercepted in the EHS parking lot, and asked not to enter, but they did so anyway. So, based on what I have heard, Taylor's objective was to intimidate, make a scene and create some sort of incident.
Now, I don't think that EHS handled this very well, and that's probably because they've not had much experience in dealing with intimidation by authoritarian political cults. But please, the EHS are not thugs. The EHS folk I've met are friendly, and, to put it bluntly, rather docile in temperament. From what I have seen, the EHS is primarily a community center focused on religion-free family activities. Taylor's group is quite sinister by comparison.
I wouldn't rush to judgment on whether the arrest and the charges were technically merited. It is possible that the police were too heavy-handed, or that the EHS response wasn't modulated well. However, I suggest people unfamiliar with the case take what Taylor and her entourage have to say with a grain of salt.
I assume Koger had a jury trial, and that a jury found him guilty. He had his day in court, and he lost. He wasn't convicted of "filming", but of trespass. Do the folks who are angry about the conviction know better than the jury? If so, they should file an appeal. Or are jury trials just not good enough anymore?
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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September 6, 2010 6:48 PM
hyperdeath @ 53;
It is a terrifying thought, but not only are you right on this, j-brisby is far from alone. There are millions of people just like him/her; so self-righteous and utterly convinced that they could never be the victims of police brutality, because the cops only rough up and railroad bad people.
For some, this misapprehension continues throughout their privileged lives. For others, the illusion lasts right up until they get a closeup view of police brutality from the wrong end of a truncheon or tazer. However, all of them share an insufficient degree of empathy to place themselves in the shoes of a victim of extra-judicial violence unless they experience it themselves.
Even worse, in America, the j-brisbys of the world get to vote in the next police chief or local judge. Now that is scary...
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 6, 2010 6:52 PM
doctorlogic #56
You assume incorrectly. Misdemeanor charges are heard by a judge alone.
Posted by: bolingbrookbabbler
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September 6, 2010 6:53 PM
I'm still trying to figure out why Sunsara Taylor why she was at the Ethical Humanist Society in the first place? They uninvited her to speak there. That's there right. I don't agree with that decision, but they have a right to invite or un-invite anyone they want.
It just seems to me like she was offended that they would dare to cancel her enlightened speech. Because she took offense, a man is going to jail.
If the world needs a revolution, like she claims, she should be focusing on bigger targets, not on the Ethical Humanist Society.
William Brinkman
www.bolingbrookbabbler.com
Posted by: doctorlogic
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September 6, 2010 6:56 PM
Thank you for the correction, 'Tis Himself, OM
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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September 6, 2010 6:58 PM
doctorlogic @ 56;
Tell me you are not seriously asserting that juries are infallible? Especially when it comes to politically sensitive cases?
Newsflash; juries are not sky fairy-guided. They can and do make mistakes and pass judgements based on personal prejudice rather than the evidence. Just because it is the best system we have does not make it perfect.
Jury verdicts are most categorically not above criticism. If a responsible citizen sees an injustice, then it is their ethical obligation to oppose it, whether it is endorsed by twelve of their fellow citizens or twelve million.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 6, 2010 6:58 PM
doctorlogic,
You're welcome.
Posted by: Gregory Greenwood
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September 6, 2010 7:05 PM
I got that wrong. Juries determine guilt or innocence, they do not pass judgements.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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September 6, 2010 7:07 PM
googlemess aka William Brinkman #59
There were a couple of lengthy discussions of Taylor and the EHSC last year: here and here.
In the second thread I made the following comment:
Posted by: Marco
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September 6, 2010 7:23 PM
In post #24, Glenn G wasted our time by writing:
If that were left up to people of your superior and gratuitously cynical bent, there would certainly be not a chance in heck.
What's your motto? "Roll over and play dead"?
Luckily, many are far better than that, like Mr. Koger.
Posted by: Lina
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September 6, 2010 7:28 PM
This is not a "win" in any sense of the word for Gregory or anyone on the side of critical thought, ethics, or reason.
Read Gregory's statement (written before he was taken into custody):
http://dropthecharges.net/?p=223
Posted by: Glenn G
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September 6, 2010 7:34 PM
@Marco: Okay, what do you suggest we do?
Posted by: j-brisby
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September 6, 2010 9:40 PM
Ha! The day I get arrested for no reason is the day I'll admit you're right. I don't think that day is coming anytime soon, because no matter how much you may not be able to see the difference, we're not actually living in N. Korea. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to go through life without ever getting arrested or beaten by cops.
Posted by: Ken
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September 6, 2010 10:02 PM
j-brisby:
He's right. All you have to do is be white and rich.
Posted by: Aaron Baker
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September 6, 2010 11:37 PM
Thank you, 'Tis Himself, for making the right decision about Gregory.
I know I should refrain from criticism while you're being so thoughtful and decent, but ("It's my nature," said the scorpion) . . . misdemeanors can be, and often are, tried by juries--and that's what happened here.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM
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September 6, 2010 11:51 PM
Why on earth would we trust pig/thug/cops?
Posted by: Jadehawk, cascadeuse féministe
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September 7, 2010 12:11 AM
QFTPosted by: Rey Fox, Bird Caller Guy
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September 7, 2010 1:10 AM
"Frankly, I kind of like to see the cops step over the line once in a while and get away with it. It makes the assholes think twice."
Fuck off, fascist.
Posted by: Markita Lynda: Healthcare is a damn right
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September 7, 2010 4:04 AM
Yeah, j-brisby, but you might be in downtown Toronto observing the G-20 security precautions to make sure the police don't overreach themselves... and you might get arrested, beaten up, threatened with rape if female, handcuffed held without charges or more than a few ounces of water or privacy or room to lie down or being unhandcuffed for 23 hours...
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD
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September 7, 2010 4:45 AM
Monado, or he might have been in London during a similar summit, innocently walking home from work when, without any provocation or reason, a police thug wearing riot gear with obscured ID, just up and hit him in the stomach with his baton and killed him.
Posted by: hyperdeath
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September 7, 2010 5:16 AM
I don't think anyone's suggesting that the likelihood of you becoming the victim of police brutality is high. (Indeed, the probability of any particular person becoming a victim is relatively low.) However, you're certainly not immune, and if abuse is tolerated, the probability of you becoming a victim will rise.
It is disturbing that only you being unfairly arrested would convince you that police abuse is a problem. It seems that you're an infantile narcissist, as well as an authoritarian crackpot.
Reading comprehension doesn't seem to be your strong point either. No one suggested that America is like North Korea. It was your attitude of "arbitrary violence gets the job done" being compared to that of the North Korean regime.
By the way, have you thought of posting at The Intersection?
Posted by: Katharine
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September 7, 2010 8:06 AM
I suspect j-brisby is some middle-aged white guy/woman. Whom, of course, the police all too happily leave alone.
Were j-brisby black or Middle Eastern I suspect she/he would have said different.
Posted by: Katharine
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September 7, 2010 8:10 AM
Also, if this was an act of stupid-ass agitprop by Crazy Commie Taylor (Maoists look almost surprisingly similar to fascists in their authoritarianism. It's as if the political spectrum stops being flat and goes 3D! THE NON-EUCLIDEAN HUMANITY!), Koger ought to go to prison.
But if it wasn't, then no.
Posted by: ButchKitties
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September 7, 2010 9:42 AM
Yeah, they don't always arrest or beat you. Sometimes they just drive with a .19 BAC, plow into your motorcycle, kill you, and then have the DUI charges dropped because their cop buddies made sure the blood draw was inadmissible.
Posted by: chassoto
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September 7, 2010 10:44 AM
Quote can be described as "TLDR." Just what the hell happened and why should I care? Looks more like Taylor is trying to gain voice for her cause, not so much Koger's.
Posted by: MAJeff, OM
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September 7, 2010 11:05 AM
You'd be amazed at how easy it is to go through life without ever getting arrested or beaten by cops
As ButchKitties noted, they don't always arrest or beat you. Sometimes they tase you for not going to the hospital.
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=96483
Posted by: Thomathy
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September 7, 2010 12:07 PM
MonadoYeah, j-brisby, but you might be in downtown Toronto observing the G-20 security precautions to make sure the police don't overreach themselves... and you might get arrested, beaten up, threatened with rape if female, handcuffed held without charges or more than a few ounces of water or privacy or room to lie down or being unhandcuffed for 23 hours...
Toronto g20 Tweet; Lisan Jutras
Or you could be a credentialed member of the press, a woman walking her dog, a professional leaving work or an elderly person and get pressed by police shouting unreasonable or impossible to follow orders, be held in the rain, subsequently arrested and let go as though nothing had just happened.
Of course, a Truly Law-Abiding Citizen™ would never have had even that innocent of a confrontation with police.
Posted by: Robert H
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September 7, 2010 12:10 PM
Katharine @78
Whether or not it was agitprop is totally immaterial. The issue is whether or not a potential three year sentence is an appropriate consequence for the "crime". There doesn't seem to be much of a crime committed in the first place, unless filming a meeting open and free to the general public is unlawful. We live at a time when a trillion dollars and more of the public purse went down a black hole and/or into the pockets of the plutocracy. Collectively the persons responsible are facing less time than Gregory for using the camera on his cell phone.
Posted by: Paul
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September 7, 2010 1:18 PM
Not interested to get too deep into the argument again, but this is one of my posts from the EHSC: You're Doing it Wrong thread that still seems relevant:
Seriously, read some of the original entries from "proud members" of the Chicago EHS. Those threads were sickening. It seems like that same dissembling dishonesty was presented under oath at a jury trial. Some "ethics".
And if people are taking the "it was agitprop, therefore police action is legitimate" angle, please explain why only the cameraman was arrested, maced, and beaten, when the person actually doing the agitating (Ms. Taylor) was left alone. Thoroughly unethical behavior.
Posted by: Ken
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September 8, 2010 6:07 PM
He just got sentenced to 300 days in jail:
http://triblocal.com/Skokie/detail/217236.html
Posted by: ivo
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September 8, 2010 9:06 PM
Orac at #17:
He does not. As I understand it, his position is that eastern contemplative practices like meditation appear to have real effects on short and long term brain activity (which, really, should be no surprise), but unfortunately the practice has always been muddled by the mystique of the oriental religions where they were originally practiced, and even nowadays the whole field is so much mixed up with new age woo that real research gets hindered and the picture remains unclear.
Harris simply proposes that the effects of meditation become a serious field of study, because if there is something to it, we should definitely know objectively and beyond the anecdotic.
I don't see how this can be read as an embracing of eastern mystique, and it pisses me off that people consistently fail to see his point. Yes, he has practiced meditation for a long while and his view is informed by his own (obviously anecdotic) experience (he finds it highly beneficient), but he's not going around preaching "meditation is good for you! everybody should do it!". No, he's just saying that we should start having a serious look at it and the first step is to divorce the practice and its psychological effects from the mystic claims. No embracing of mysticism here (read it here in his own words.).
How is this different from advocating that ethics be studied objectively and independently from the religious ideologies where it was traditionally thought to belong? Most secular skeptics would surely argue that.
Or how is it so different from Dan Dennett's advocating the objective study of religion as a real natural phenomenon, independently of their truth claims?
Just think: much of Yoga can be practiced as a form of physical training, without having to believe the bullshit. Would you oppose the study of the possible real effects of such practice, because of the mystical nonsense it often comes wrapped up in?
(/rant)
Posted by: jessie davis
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September 9, 2010 3:40 PM
Thanks Ken for posting the update on Gregory Koger's sentencing and the article from the Chicago Tribune. I wanted to add a few thoughts and recommend that people check out the article on revcom.us
Yesterday, September 8, 2010, in Skokie IL, the judge sentenced Gregory Koger to 300 days in Cook County jail. She did this in the face of 7 character witnesses (including a college professor, a former assistant state's attorney, a Catholic priest, a University of Chicago student Gregory mentored, and his employer, an attorney) and 25 written personal testimonials from a wide array of people, including former Ethical Humanist Society members. These were all moving tributes to Gregory's character, his transformation from a troubled youth, his morality and his devotion to bettering humanity. These statements painted a picture of a human being who had touched many lives and inspired people. They and the almost 1,000 signatories and comments on a petition called on the judge to not give Gregory jail time.
Supporters who overflowed the courtroom were outraged when the judge threw the book at Gregory for misdemeanor convictions for taking pictures with an iPhone. Probation is the default sentence for all misdemeanors.
Please read the following article posted on revcom.us. http://revcom.us/a/211/grave_injustice-en.html.