A weekend of rallies, protests, arrests, negotiations. More than 200 people were arrested at four pro-Palestinian campus protests on Saturday. The New York Times About 100 people were arrested at Northeastern University in Boston. NBC News Prosecutors in Austin, Texas, dismissed charges brought against 57 protesters arrested last week. The Texas Tribune Police in Washington, D.C. refused George Washington University’s request to scatter protesters. The Washington Post Denver police arrested about 40 protesters on Friday. Colorado Sun Where are campus protests taking place? USA Today School and police officials have tried different tactics to ease tensions and disband protests. The New York Times
Fact-checking Donald Trump’s claims during the first week of his “hush money” election interference trial in New York. The New York Times New polls suggest that a criminal conviction won’t necessarily doom Trump’s presidential aspirations. The Washington Post An upcoming trial will feature Christina Bobb, senior counsel to the Republican National Committee's “election integrity” team, who is charged with illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Arizona. The Washington Post More: John Sullivan, a Capitol rioter who federal prosecutors say sought to “incite violence,” was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison. NBC News
A final sentence in the Elijah McClain case. A Colorado paramedic convicted of criminal negligent homicide for his role in McClain’s death in 2019 was sentenced to probation on Friday. Colorado Sun/The Associated Press McClain, a young, unarmed, Black man, died after being forcibly restrained by police while walking home one night in 2019. A second paramedic who treated him received a five-year prison sentence last month. The New York Times Related: Dozens more died after they were sedated during forcible arrests. The Associated Press TMP Context: When should first responders be held criminally liable? The Marshall Project
The politics over the sentences for people who have been abused. Oklahoma, the state with the highest rate of domestic violence in the U.S., is working on a measure that would allow judges to reduce sentences for some abuse survivors whose history was a “substantial contributing factor” to their crime. Other states are considering similar reform legislation but there’s been pushback from prosecutors and other officials who argue that such laws could be used by domestic violence victims to avoid the consequences of their crimes. TMP’s Christie Thompson and Cary Aspinwall bring us the latest “Closing Argument,” our weekly newsletter. The Marshall Project
A Colorado jury found a former sheriff’s deputy guilty of reckless endangerment for his role in the police shooting death of Christian Glass in 2022. Glass called 911 seeking help when his car got stuck on a mountain road. He was shot to death by the responding officers. Colorado Public Radio
Don’t expect a retrial of Harvey Weinstein anytime soon following the reversal of his sex assault conviction in New York. The disgraced movie mogul is serving a 16-year prison sentence in California. The Associated Press More: Weinstein was hospitalized upon his return to New York City. The Associated Press
Last month, a Texas appeals court threw out Crystal Mason’s five-year prison sentence for voting in the 2016 election even though she was ineligible to do so. Mason did not know she was ineligible. Last week, Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells, a Republican prosecutor, said he would appeal the ruling dismissing Mason’s conviction. The Guardian
Police officials in Canton, Ohio, released body camera video last week that shows the death of Frank Tyson, a 53-year-old man who told the police “I can’t breathe” after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground with his hands tied behind his back. The two police officers who took down Tyson are on paid administrative leave while the case is investigated. NBC News
In Oregon, the race for secretary of state includes a discussion about whether prisoners should be allowed to vote. Such a dramatic change in the state’s voting procedures would have to be approved by state lawmakers. Bolts TMP Contest: Only two states allow all prisoners to vote. But many incarcerated people don’t cast a ballot. The Marshall Project
Learning the bitter lessons of Kent State University, May 1970. “The goal of university and college administrators should be to guarantee the safety of all students while fostering civil engagement over passionately held views.” The Washington Post
Coming soon to a 2024 campaign ad. After complaining for years about a “cancel culture” on campuses,” suddenly Republicans want to restrict the free speech rights of pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses as a major threat to law and order.” New York Magazine
The choice not to decide, or to decide late, is itself a decision. Every day the U.S. Supreme Court fails to permit the federal Trump prosecutions to proceed is a day closer to precluding the public from more details about the January 6 insurrection. The New Republic More: “The justices seem certain to send the case back to either the court of appeals or, more likely, the district court for further proceedings.” Lawfare
Ripple effects of the #MeToo reversal in New York. The new appeals court ruling in the Harvey Weinstein case gives Donald Trump’s lawyers new arguments in the “hush money” election interference case. The New Yorker
“The status quo is not sustainable.” Alabama will never solve its prison safety crisis so long as it cannot adequately staff its prisons. There’s a staff vacancy rate of 70% at some facilities. AL.com
William Barr fears regulations more than insurrection. Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr says he supports the candidacy of former President Donald Trump despite having previously said Trump is too dangerous to ever be near the Oval Office again. CNN
The charged language of immigration. Republican officials continue to use the word “invasion” to describe border crossings by asylum-seekers and other migrants. The New York Times More: Republican-led states far from the border are giving local police broad enforcement power over asylum-seekers and other migrants. The Associated Press
Profit motive. Add Gretna, Louisiana, to the list of jurisdictions that use the excessive fines and fees from traffic violations meted out in a “mayor’s court” to fund operations, raising more money each year than larger cities in the state. ProPublica TMP Context: How a wealthy Cleveland suburb profits from ticking Black motorists. The Marshall Project
The road to recidivism. Last year, about 3,000 of the 18,000 people released from North Carolina prisons were homeless. NC Newsline TMP Context: The misleading math of recidivism. The Marshall Project
Deal them in. A “crime stoppers” group in Mississippi has produced and is distributing 2,500 decks of “cold case” playing cards to prisoners in the state. The cards have information about missing persons and unsolved murders going back decades. The New York Times
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