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Judge orders World Can't Wait activist to jail psyche unit; Carol Fisher remains strong and unapologetic
by World Cant Wait, Cleveland
May 15, 2006

May 9: Judge Timothy McGinty forcibly incarcerated Carol Fisher in the pyche unit of the Cuyahoga Country Jail in downtown Cleveland, where she now sits for an indefinate period of time.

In a hastily called hearing yesterday, Judge McGinty made a highly unusual and outrageous decision to force Carol to undergo a state pyschological exam as part of her pre-sentencing investigation. From the very start of Carol's case, the judge has openly said that she must have mental problems for resisting an unlawful and brutal encounter with Cleveland Heights police. He went even further in yesterday's hearing, saying that her opposition to the Bush regime makes her "dillusional."

The small courtroom on the 21st floor of the Justice Center was ringed with 5 armed court baliffs. McGinty started off the hearing by making Carol stand up and had one of her attorneys read her t-shirt, which said:

"Wanted for Illegally Crossing Borders: The Bush Regime

"If you are going to insist that crossing borders illegally is a crime which cannot be tolerated, how about George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice (and yes, Colin Powell) and the rest of that gang, with their highly illegal, and violent, 'crossing of the border'-into Iraq, among other places?!"

McGinty then said this was proof of her dillusion! He also kept saying that Carol "wants" to go to jail, and that she has a "martyr complex." When Carol tried to explain why she wouldn't take this test, the judge's only response was, "I do not negotiate with felons."

Does Carol really want to go to jail? No! But she is not willing to comply with a vindictive court ordered test to "prove" her sanity. And more than that, she is taking a stand for everyone who is angry and fearful of a government that, under the rubrick of "national security and the war on terror," willfully and unapologetically tramples on the most basic rights of privacy. Think about this in light of the NSA spying scandal, and now Bush wants to install the head of the notorious NSA to be CIA chief! As Carol said before she went to jail, "I'd be crazy to go along with this shit! That which you will not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn- or be forced- to accept."

Just look at this whole case: a woman posts a "Bush Step Down" poster on a telephone pole, being brutalized by the police in the process, and now not only faces 3 years in prison but also a mandatory pyche exam. As Terry Gilbert, one of Carol's attorneys said, "This is Gulag stuff. Saying that people who are dissidents are crazy." He further added that in his 33 years of practicing law, he has never seen anything like this.

Is this the kind of country you want to live in?

On the phone this morning, Carol Fisher stated that, in addition to sending her to the psyche unit, McGinty has also put her on "suicide watch!" They have taken away her eyeglasses. And if she refuses the psyche exam, she will be forcibly sent to North Coast Mental Institue for a 20 day evaluation.

Legal challenges are continuing, including issuing a writ of habeas corpus.

Transcripts of the hearing will be available to the public as soon as they are available.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

*Donate to Carol's legal defense. It costs a lot of money to get transcripts, file appeals, etc. Make checks payable to “Carol Fisher Defense Fund” and mail to “NION/WCW PO Box 609034 Cleveland oh 44109

*Call Judge Timothy McGinty and express your outrage: 216-443-8758

*Join us at a Speak Out! for Carol Fisher Saturday, May 13 at 7pm at the corner of Coventry and Euclid Heights Blvd in Cleveland Heights

*Get your legal organization to be part of Carol's defense; statements, friend of the court briefs, etc.

*Have your church, school group, organization or club join this battle by sending statements of support, donating funds, etc.

*Reguest that radio stations play Tom Petty's "I won't backdown" and dedicate it to Carol Fisher

*Join the World Can't Wait- Drive Out the Bush Regime!

contact: World Cant Wait, Cleveland 216-633-6200
PO Box 609034 Cleveland OH 44109
Cleveland@worldcantwait.org
www.worldcantwait.org

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