NYPD Testifies In Trial of Cecily McMillan, Occupy Wall Street Protester Accused of Assaulting Cop

[hrmjustin]

Anna Merlan

On Friday, the trial of Occupy Wall Street protester Cecily McMillan began, more than two years after she's accused of assaulting NYPD officer Grantley Bovell during a March 17, 2012 demonstration at Zuccotti Park. Jury selection took the better part of a week, as both sides had difficulty finding jurors who didn't have opinions about the Occupy movement. Testimony began late Friday; this morning, court was almost immediately interrupted when supporters of McMillan entered the courtroom wearing pink paper hearts on their lapels. After the hearts were confiscated by court security, Officer Bovell finally took the stand for the first part of his testimony, telling the jury that McMillan deliberately elbowed him in the face as he was trying to escort her from the park.

McMillan and her attorneys, Martin Stolar and Rebecca Heinegg, don't disagree that she elbowed Bovell, but say she was doing so instinctively, in self-defense, not knowing he was a police officer. During opening statements, Heinegg told the jury of of 10 women and five men that McMillan, now 25, is known by other activists "for her commitment to non-violence." The incident occurred, Heinegg said, as McMillan was stopping by Zucotti Park during a night out celebrating St. Patrick's Day with out-of-town friends. She only elbowed Bovell after he suddenly grabbed her from behind by her right breast and yanked her backwards, "leaving the shape of a handprint" on her body.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2014/04/cecily_mcmillan_grantley_bovell_joseph_diaz_occupy_wall_street_zucotti_nypd.php

[peace13]

1. Thanks for posting this.

It will be interesting to see the outcome.

[hrmjustin]

2. Your welcome.

[peace13]

3. OWS....those folks showed us what needed to be done.

Maybe next time people will get up and join them. It is court actions like this that keep people off the streets. I can't believe how long this has been dragging on!

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. That's nothing.

NYC didn't settle w. 2004 illegally-arrested Republican Convention demonstrators 'til 2014.

>>> I can't believe how long this has been dragging on!>>>>