Federal Assault Charges for Pie Throwing

Michigan

(Young Spartacus pages)

The Partisan Defense Committee—a class-struggle, non-sectarian legal and social defense organization associated with the Spartacist League—sent the following letter to Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Frank on 3 May 2011.

The Partisan Defense Committee vigorously protests the prosecution of Ahlam Mohsen and Max Kantar for the “crime” of throwing an apple pie in the face of Michigan Democratic Senator Carl Levin. It is outrageous that Mohsen spent even one night in jail for what was obviously a harmless prank as a form of political protest.

On August 16, 2010, Mohsen pied Levin at an event in Big Rapids, Michigan after Kantar read a statement protesting Levin’s continued support of the U.S.’s occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and U.S. support to Israel. They were arrested and Mohsen was held for over a week in Mecosta County Jail. Mohsen was not released until her exorbitant bond of $250,000 was reduced. Then in December, both activists were indicted on federal assault charges. Ludicrously, one of these charges made reference to a U.S. Code section prohibiting the attempted murder of public officials while the official is engaged in his “official duties.” What’s next, declaring Soupy Sales to have been a terrorist, or charging Sara Lee with material support to terrorism? This is nothing but an attempt to squelch political dissent and send a chilling message to anyone who protests U.S. imperialism and the carnage it has visited on the peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Under the pressure of facing these extreme charges, both Mohsen and Kantar pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault of a public official with their sentencing scheduled for June 20th. They could spend up to a year in jail and face up to $100,000 in fines. We demand that all of the charges against these two activists be dropped!