jail
2006
Political activist Carolyn Fisher stood before a Cuyahoga
County judge and remained defiant even as she faced jail
time for attacking two police officers.
Fisher told Common Pleas Judge Timothy J. McGinty that she
was wrongfully arrested and accused McGinty of attempting to
silence political dissent and intimidate her.
“Let’s get real,” McGinty said, pointing a
pen at Fisher. “You’re here because you’ve
been convicted. . . . I’m not here to listen to your
political diatribe.”
McGinty ended Friday’s quarrelsome, two-part
sentencing hearing by sending Fisher to County Jail for 60
days and putting her on probation for two years. Adding to
the tense atmosphere were more than 20 of Fisher’s
supporters, three of whom were kicked out of the courtroom
for making political statements or exclamations.
A jury found Fisher, 54, of Cleveland, guilty in April of
assaulting two Cleveland Heights patrolmen. The
confrontation occurred in January after the officers ordered
Fisher to take down anti-Bush fliers she had placed on
utility poles. Posting fliers is against city ordinances.
McGinty warned Fisher then that she should be prepared to
apologize to the officers at her sentencing, or “bring
your toothbrush,” indicating that she would be sent to
prison.
The bespectacled, silver-haired woman’s reply
Friday: “You wanted an apology, you wanted remorse —
forget about it.”
Friday’s drama was the end of a contentious five
months. From the start, Fisher and her supporters claimed
that police had political motivations for arresting her, and
that the officers abused her.
Last month, McGinty sent Fisher to jail because she
refused to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and did not show
up for a hearing and probation interview. McGinty freed her
after she complied.
The tension continued Friday when McGinty angrily
postponed a morning hearing because Fisher wore a T-shirt
bearing a mock “wanted” poster that included the
faces of President George W. Bush and members of his
administration. McGinty chastised Fisher and ordered her to
come back in different attire.
“We are not here about her protest,” McGinty
said. “This is not about the war.”
While Fisher’s lawyer, Terry Gilbert, said he thought
McGinty acted inappropriately when he demanded that Fisher
change clothes, the court’s presiding judge, Nancy
McDonnell, said a judge can dictate what is worn in the
courtroom to maintain decorum.
Fisher and several of her supporters returned for the
afternoon hearing wearing the anti-Bush shirts, but McGinty
did not make an issue of it.
Gilbert said Fisher plans to appeal the conviction.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
dguevara@plaind.com, 216-999-4334