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I recommend watching this brief video from the PF leader published yesterday as a response to the convictions if you want to get a sense... they are true believers in Americana and they are betting on the average Joe rather than a Judge. I've wondered the same thing, as a Judge would be sticking his or her neck out there with a guilty verdict without a Jury to provide for cover.
But the Judge didn't dismiss the charges, and sentenced them to jail. Although the prosecutors were calling for the max 1-year sentence and mandatory volunteering at a Civil Rights NGO, and the judge actually provided a much lighter sentence than that.
Did the prosecution really ask firm mandatory civil rights NGO time?
That’s re education.
https://cdapress.com/news/2023/jul/21/patriot-front-members-jailed-banned-cd/
I find that entirely repugnant. It is one thing to do community service by say picking up garbage. That seems hard to argue it isn’t community service. But forcing people to basically engage in political action is to me beyond the pale and the lawyer should face discipline.
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I don't really like to watch videos.
Given that you are posting this story, and they are protesting a pride parade I just figured they were thinly veiled neo Nazis. Probably not very sympathetic to a jury.
They are, and don't do much veiling. Their logo is literally a fasces copied from Mussolini's original fascist party logo with the same distinctive orientation and blade type, and leaks show they reject applicants whose idea of American nationalism is based on adherence to cultural/ideological positions rather than based on someone's racial ancestry.
When they recently attempted to crash a MAGA rally they got their asses kicked by the attendees. Not a particularly popular bunch even among the demographic they're trying to target for recruiting and persuasion.
Having read that link, I’m not impressed by the quality of the research here. It’s a bunch of statements by random, unidentified people, none of the details being double checked, no person has attempted to contact the group under cover to see if any of these random stories check out, or if the people they’re using as witnesses were actually trying to get into the group. HI12345 might be a real recruit. Or he might be someone pretending to have been a real recruit. It’s not clear.
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Well, that's not Patriot Front in that video...
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They were arrested for trying to protest a drag event, which has become popular in conservative circles. I'm not sure that a judge would be more sympathetic than an average person.
Wait are you saying drag is popular in conservative circles or protesting drag events are popular?
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