Is the CAMERON D'AMBROSIO case an issue of avoiding a crisis, or overzealous prosecution regarding freedom of speech and expression?
FROM FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE:
This blog post from the Centre for Research on Globalisation puts the prosecution of Cameron D'Ambrosio into a broader political context where dissent and free speech are more and more frequently being characterized as :terrorism."
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-criminalization-of-political-dissent-in-america/5334999
TechDirt has more background and analysis on how Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon intentionally paraphrased Cameron D'Ambrosio's rap lyrics to the media to make them sound far more threatening than they actually were. We'd like to see the local and national papers that printed these inaccuracies make retractions and acknowledge the error. Perhaps they'd even look further into why a law enforcement official would intentionally misrepresent a case to the media...
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130525/18020923213/judge-deems-facebook-posting-rapper-cameron-dambrosio-threat-denies-bail.shtml
After you read this kid's story, you'll think twice about what you post on Facebook. (And that's the problem.)
Meet Cameron D'Ambrosio. He's 18 and lives in a small town outside Boston. He's an aspiring rapper and calls himself "Cammy Dee" in his YouTube videos. He likes music, video games, and is planning to go to college.
Oh, and he's been locked up without bail for weeks -- facingterrorism charges and 20 years in prison -- all for something he posted on Facebook.
On May 1st, Cam posted some lyrics to his Facebook that included a reference to the Boston Marathon Bombing and called the Whitehouse a "federal house of horror." Shortly after that he was arrested and charged with Communicating a Terrorist Threat, a felony that carries 20 years in prison.
The post contained no specific threat of violence against any person or group of people, and in the context of the rest of the lyrics and Cams' rap persona, it was clearly nothing more than a metaphor and rap braggadocio -- Cam wasn't saying he would "outdo" the Marathon bombing, as the media has frequently reported, he's saying he's going to be famous rapping, more famous than the marathon bombing. A la Biggie Smalls "blowing up like the World Trade." It may be a distasteful line, but it's free speech and it's protected by the Constitution.
Cam has been sitting in a cell for almost a month awaiting trial after a judge ordered him held without bail and declared him a "danger to the community," despite the fact that the police testified that he was very polite, remorseful, and co-operative when arrested and a search of his person and home found ZERO evidence that he was planning anything other than becoming the next Eminem.
At an initial bail hearing, the prosecution was clearly grasping at straws and brought up incidents from Cam's past -- like the fact that he allegedly bit another student during a fight in 8th grade and the fact that the police were called after a fight he had with his sister several years ago.
Even if you think that a history of getting into petty fights is evidence of Cam being a terrorist mastermind, it's worth noting that his sister was in the court room to support him at his bail review hearing on May 23, and she is prepared to testify that he is a threat to no one. She's outraged that what she characterizes as a "normal fight between a brother and sister" is now being used to hold her little brother in a jail cell indefinitely when he should be home with his family.
Remember, this isn't about whether or not you like Cam, his music, or anything he has to say. Protecting free speech is about protecting everyone's rights for the future. It's a very slippery slope once we start deeming certain types of speech to be "too extreme." If people were concerned about Cam's lyrics, a simple check in from a school administrator or caring teacher would have been a great alternative to a month in jail without bail facing 20 years in prison for a split second decision of posting lyrics online.
Cam is locked up right now and he needs your help. Civil liberties groups haven't jumped in to help. The judge has shown severe bias already. Cam's best shot at justice is to make sure that Authorities in this small town know that the rest of the country is watching, and that we won't let them set a precedent of arresting teenagers for angsty lyrics.
http://cms.fightforthefuture.org/teenager/
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-
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