Adam Kokesh, Organizer of Armed March into D.C., arrested and charged

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer.  Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th.  As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away.  He is the one with the microphone.  They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer.  He is being held without bail.  There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.  In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting.  This is disturbing.  I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America.  He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record.  This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July.  Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer. Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th. As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away. He is the one with the microphone. They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer. He is being held without bail. There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video. In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting. This is disturbing. I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America. He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record. This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July. Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

hartsickdiscipl

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

I don't know kind of look like he tried to resist the way he was moving and then putting his hands up was just to play the crowd.

Fully support the police on this one.

 

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

frannkzappa

Heh I'm not so sure about that. From one idiot, 2 will spawn, and so on.

[QUOTE="frannkzappa"]

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

tagyhag

Heh I'm not so sure about that. From one idiot, 2 will spawn, and so on.

better then doing nothing...

He's clearly resisting in the second video.

He's clearly resisting in the second video.

Aljosa23

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer.  Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th.  As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away.  He is the one with the microphone.  They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer.  He is being held without bail.  There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.  In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting.  This is disturbing.  I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America.  He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record.  This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July.  Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

hartsickdiscipl

Why do I get the feeling there is more to this than what the Pro-Kokesh people are suggesting?

NOTHING is ever 100% one-sided beyond any doubt.

I think the rally he was planning to hold is stupid, but the video doesn't show any actual assault on an officer of any sort. If the evidence is just some oficers' testimony and those videos then I doubt a conviction will stick unless the jury is stupid (which admitedly does happen)

There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.hartsickdiscipl

He's clearly resisting in the second video.

Aljosa23

He was clearly resisting in BOTH videos.

Love the scumbag move of throwing his hands up AFTER her tried resisting and failed...

I don't know kind of look like he tried to resist the way he was moving and then putting his hands up was just to play the crowd.

TwistedShade

Kokesh is a pretty big and powerful guy.  I don't know if you know much about his background.  He was a Marine, and spends a lot of time in the gym.  He was complying with the police.  He may not have allowed himself to be thrown onto the ground, but he went with them and certainly didn't assault anyone.  

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.chessmaster1989

The arrest affidavit only describes the events in the video, but says that he grabbed an officers arm at what would have between 0:27 and 0:40 which doesn't clearly happen.

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"][QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.Guybrush_3

The arrest affidavit only describes the events in the video, but says that he grabbed an officers arm at what would have between 0:27 and 0:40 which doesn't clearly happen.

Exactly.  

He does look like he is kind of resisting but why is he even being detained in the first place?

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

He's clearly resisting in the second video.

LostProphetFLCL

He was clearly resisting in BOTH videos.

Love the scumbag move of throwing his hands up AFTER her tried resisting and failed...

Do you know what "assaulting an officer" looks like?  Clearly not.  

He does look like he is kind of resisting but why is he even being detained in the first place?

DanteSuikoden

That is the question, and the real issue that most people are just ignoring.  

I think the rally he was planning to hold is stupid, but the video doesn't show any actual assault on an officer of any sort. If the evidence is just some oficers' testimony and those videos then I doubt a conviction will stick unless the jury is stupid (which admitedly does happen)

Guybrush_3

Agreed.  I think his rally is dumb, but I really don't like to see police abusing power.  If that's all it takes for resisting arrest then that's pretty weak.  Still, why were they arresting him in the first place?  

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.chessmaster1989

Did you watch both videos?  Did you bother to look up the other videos of the whole event that are on youtube and other sites?  He clearly didn't assault a cop before they showed up.  You can see their arrival.  The arrest affidavit says that he assaulted an officer during these events.  That didn't happen as far as I can tell.  

Don't let your dislike for the guy cloud your vision.  That's the problem that people here are having.  They aren't staying objective.  

[QUOTE="Guybrush_3"]

I think the rally he was planning to hold is stupid, but the video doesn't show any actual assault on an officer of any sort. If the evidence is just some oficers' testimony and those videos then I doubt a conviction will stick unless the jury is stupid (which admitedly does happen)

TacticalDesire

Agreed.  I think his rally is dumb, but I really don't like to see police abusing power.  If that's all it takes for resisting arrest then that's pretty weak.  Still, why were they arresting him in the first place?  

Good question.

[QUOTE="Guybrush_3"]

I think the rally he was planning to hold is stupid, but the video doesn't show any actual assault on an officer of any sort. If the evidence is just some oficers' testimony and those videos then I doubt a conviction will stick unless the jury is stupid (which admitedly does happen)

TacticalDesire

Agreed.  I think his rally is dumb, but I really don't like to see police abusing power.  If that's all it takes for resisting arrest then that's pretty weak.  Still, why were they arresting him in the first place?  

Damn good question.  I'd like to know what reason they give for arresting him.  

Don't let your dislike for the guy cloud your vision. hartsickdiscipl

That would be difficult seeing as I have no clue who this guy is.

And it sounds like there's more information about this (e.g. in the arrest affadavit) that you didn't give us...

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]Don't let your dislike for the guy cloud your vision. chessmaster1989

That would be difficult seeing as I have no clue who this guy is.

And it sounds like there's more information about this (e.g. in the arrest affadavit) that you didn't give us...

You saw the video.  You saw him exercising his 1st Amendment rights.  You saw the police show up and drag him away.  You didn't see him hit, kick, or bite an officer.  Do you disagree with any of those statements?

[QUOTE="LostProphetFLCL"]

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

He's clearly resisting in the second video.

hartsickdiscipl

He was clearly resisting in BOTH videos.

Love the scumbag move of throwing his hands up AFTER her tried resisting and failed...

Do you know what "assaulting an officer" looks like?  Clearly not.  

And of course I am sure you were there the entire time to witness this event, right?

And for those questioning why he was arrested he was arrested in the first place, I am guessing perhaps disturbing the peace? The man is sitting there screaming into a microphone "**** the law, smoke it anyways" and he was actively telling people to smoke an illegal substance. Pretty sure actively trying to get people to break the law could be considered disturbing the peace...

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer. Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th. As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away. He is the one with the microphone. They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer. He is being held without bail. There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video. In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting. This is disturbing. I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America. He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record. This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July. Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

frannkzappa

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

[QUOTE="frannkzappa"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer. Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th. As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away. He is the one with the microphone. They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer. He is being held without bail. There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video. In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting. This is disturbing. I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America. He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record. This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July. Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

MacBoomStick

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

[QUOTE="frannkzappa"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer. Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th. As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away. He is the one with the microphone. They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer. He is being held without bail. There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video. In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting. This is disturbing. I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America. He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record. This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July. Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

MacBoomStick

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

So much for those 1st amendment rights you people like so much.

The question of why he was being arrested in the first place is the most pressing issue to me, as well. As others have already stated, he wasn't charged with anything other than resisting arrest. However, he did seem to be resisting. True, he was not aggressive, but his footwork and leg movements appear to be be resisting the direction in which the officers were escorting him, at least to an extent. As cops are taught to use force in a "plus-one" manner, their actions would be justifiable under these circumstances, as would the resisting arrest charges. Personally, I hope the charges are dropped, even though I have little use for his politics, and totally oppose the idea of his armed pro-gun rally.Chemistian

He's being charged with assaulting an officer, not resisting arrest.  

[QUOTE="Chemistian"]The question of why he was being arrested in the first place is the most pressing issue to me, as well. As others have already stated, he wasn't charged with anything other than resisting arrest. However, he did seem to be resisting. True, he was not aggressive, but his footwork and leg movements appear to be be resisting the direction in which the officers were escorting him, at least to an extent. As cops are taught to use force in a "plus-one" manner, their actions would be justifiable under these circumstances, as would the resisting arrest charges. Personally, I hope the charges are dropped, even though I have little use for his politics, and totally oppose the idea of his armed pro-gun rally.hartsickdiscipl

He's being charged with assaulting an officer, not resisting arrest.  

 

He's being charged with assaulting an officer, not resisting arrest.  

hartsickdiscipl

Indeed. Resisting arrest sounds like the more appropriate charge; however, that creates the question, "Why was he being arrested?" I guess disturbing the peace makes sense, but he was exercising his 1st Amendment right.

I don't like the guy. I think the armed march he is orchestrating is a poor idea that has much potential to turn out really badly. 

wait... there is a pot AND guns spokesperson?

how the hell does that even happen?

wait... there is a pot AND guns spokesperson?

how the hell does that even happen?

Riverwolf007

There are more of us than you think.  

[QUOTE="chessmaster1989"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]Don't let your dislike for the guy cloud your vision. hartsickdiscipl

That would be difficult seeing as I have no clue who this guy is.

And it sounds like there's more information about this (e.g. in the arrest affadavit) that you didn't give us...

You saw the video.  You saw him exercising his 1st Amendment rights.  You saw the police show up and drag him away.  You didn't see him hit, kick, or bite an officer.  Do you disagree with any of those statements?

I don't know why this man was arrested, because he told people to toke up? What a flimsy arguement that is, I'm the last person that is pro gun, but I think they should have more on this man to arrest him in this case. Seems like an abuse of power to me...

wait... there is a pot AND guns spokesperson?

how the hell does that even happen?

Riverwolf007

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]

[QUOTE="frannkzappa"]

Fully support the police on this one.

Either way thank god this idiot and menace to society was dealt with.

frannkzappa

Heh I'm not so sure about that. From one idiot, 2 will spawn, and so on.

better then doing nothing...

[QUOTE="frannkzappa"]

[QUOTE="tagyhag"]

Heh I'm not so sure about that. From one idiot, 2 will spawn, and so on.

LOXO7

better then doing nothing...

i would say incompetents rather then idiots (democracy at work), that being said America is still leagues ahead of the rest of the world (only China can really compare)

Kokesh has been charged with Felony Assault on an officer.  Adam was attending and speaking at the "Smoke-down" pro-marijuana gathering in Philadelphia on the 18th.  As you can see in the video, the police enter the event and drag him away.  He is the one with the microphone.  They then charge him with Felony Assault on an officer.  He is being held without bail.  There is no evidence of him assaulting anyone in the video.  In fact, he puts his hands up to show that he is not resisting.  This is disturbing.  I don't agree with the way that Mr. Kokesh goes about his protests, but he should have the right to speak his mind in America.  He was not smoking marijuana at the gathering, for the record.  This looks like an intimidation tactic, and possibly an attempt to keep him in custody so that his planned march into Washington D.C. can't happen in July.  Mr. Kokesh was exercising his 1st amendment rights, and was assaulted, detained, and falsely charged by the police.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhUokieDlNQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKanxgLjmFA

hartsickdiscipl

Assault isn't physical... If I look at you and say I am going to kill you, that is assault.  Physical harm to someone is battery.  Two different crimes.  Just because he put his hands up doesn't mean anything.

Video doesn't show everything that happened....LJS9502_basic

Who cares whether or not he was resisting ? dkdk999

[QUOTE="dkdk999"]Who cares whether or not he was resisting ? Ace6301

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]Video doesn't show everything that happened....dkdk999

[QUOTE="Ace6301"][QUOTE="dkdk999"]Who cares whether or not he was resisting ? dkdk999

Given that this is Kokesh; a professional provocateur, I have faith that the officers had good reason to take him down.

Of course, no one knows for sure, except for Kokesh himself. But this is a guy who believes that marching up to his house of government, with loaded guns, is an act of agorism, or peaceful protest.