8th Amendment protest in Waco

I read a local report on the eighth amendment protest in Waco . The bikers have gathered for their brothers who even I believe are being unfairly held . You will recall 170 odd bikers were rounded up after the Twin Peaks shoot out 143 of them still remain in jail on what in my opinion is excessive bond many of them $1 million each .

The eighth amendment protects you from excessive bond. I think what's happening in Waco is a clear violation. Under Texas law they can be held on those bonds for 30 days before being entitled to a bail reduction hearing and then held 60 more without being indicted .

I haven't seen anything about the situation on the mainstream media. I might've missed it, but this should be talked because to me this looks like pre-judicial punishment .

WACO, Texas (AP) - Several hundred bikers protested Sunday outside a courthouse in Waco over the continued jailing of more than 100 bikers, friends and family members three weeks after a deadly shootout at a restaurant.

Bikers proclaimed their constitutional rights and held signs outside the McLennan County courthouse. Before they parked in front of the court building, they circled the jail and detention center twice.

"We wanted to let the boys know we were here," Sons of Liberty motorcycle club member Mel Robins said.

Adam Valdez, 66, defied the COC's request to steer clear of the demonstration, riding about 175 miles from Yoakum, Texas, to attend.

"'Bikers lives matter' may be a cliche but it's true," he said, referring to the words on a sign taped to the front of his motorcycle. "We're no different."

I know I I have a odd sense of humor. But I couldn't help but chuckle at the bold ?

source

Textofficials confirm Of the 177 people arrested in connection with the violence, 143 remain jailed, many on $1-million bond. Attorneys say it’s unlikely their clients can afford to post bail, and some face a monthlong wait for bond-reduction hearing.

After the shooting and stabbings and beatings were over, police began rounding up bikers who had gathered that day at the Twin Peaks restaurant here in central Texas. A fight had erupted between rival motorcycle gangs, police said, and in the end, nine bikers were killed and 18 injured.



two days after the May 17 incident, a jail magistrate set bond for him and others at $1 million each.



Of the 177 people arrested in connection with the violence, 143 remain jailed, many on $1-million bond. Attorneys say it’s unlikely their clients can afford to post bail, and some face a monthlong wait for bond-reduction hearings.

The accused have been arraigned but not formally charged. Under Texas law, a grand jury has 90 days to indict those in custody before they are entitled to reduced bonds.



“It’s unprecedented, this wholesale roundup of people,” said Clendennen’s Dallas-based attorney, F. Clinton Broden. “It seems like something out of ‘Casablanca’ — just round everybody up. You’re arresting people for being at the scene of a crime. It’s scary that this can happen in America.”


David Kairys, a longtime civil rights lawyer in Philadelphia who successfully challenged police arrest sweeps there, said the Twin Peaks cases raised concerns about rights violations.

“It’s like saying, ‘Let’s arrest them all and sort it out later,’” he said, recalling roundups of communists and socialists in the “red scares” of the 1920's and 1950's

source


I've said this before and I will say it again " it's going to be a long hot summer " !

a reply to: Greathouse

So, they arrested 177 people, for 9 killed and 18 injured? What were the charges, to cause bail to be set that high? It can't be for murder for all of them. Fighting alone wouldn't warrant that high an amount.

Something is off here.

a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Your statement covered about everything I don't like about the situation. They just arrested everybody they could grab . Charged them with whatever they felt like. Then locked them up on large bails to get time to figure it out .

I don't know which law school the prosecutor in Waco attended. But that's not the way things are supposed to work in the United States .

25th

a reply to: Greathouse

Wonder if they got them all for conspiracy or accessory.

With that said it still sounds excessive.

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes


I don't know which law school the prosecutor in Waco attended. But that's not the way things are supposed to work in the United States .

History repeats itself in ironic ways, Waco...should be changed to wake up, get out, and never come back.

a reply to: Sremmos80

From what I've read about it the police claim to still be conducting a investigation . That in itself is wrong if they don't know what happened how in the hell can I charge them ?


The law of averages tells you not every one of them is guilty . But they are still being held like they are guilty with no reasonable chance to get out.

Some of them have been charged with Rico. If the Agency that charged them cannot show previous evidence of an investigation into Rico . It would be a clear-cut civil rights violation for being charged with no evidence and held under excessive bail . Prosecutable Rico cases take years to build.

originally posted by: Vector99

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes


I don't know which law school the prosecutor in Waco attended. But that's not the way things are supposed to work in the United States .

History repeats itself in ironic ways, Waco...should be changed to wake up, get out, and never come back.

They appear to be caught between a rock and a hard place . The feds at the Waco siege now the state boys at the biker gunfight . I'm still waiting on the ballistics to see who killed who , but I got a feeling the cops did most the killing .

a reply to: Greathouse

I agree the amount is ludicrous.. Our laws and judicial system is getting more and more like
it is not based upon law...oxymoron if you think about it....

The state wants to make an example out of the biker boys IMO.. not prosecute as per the law, which should dictate the matter.

a reply to: 727Sky

I have always considered this right as our second most important protection from the judicial system.

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."


I would hate to see this right weakened because it is also central in the death penalty debate. This should be a much larger issue than it is.

Hey JV are you listening alert RT ?

a reply to: Greathouse

What this is, is disturbing.

It sets, or reinforces, a really bad precedence. I'm wondering where all the civil liberties groups are???

a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Something is off here.

Very off.

I would really like to know the thinking behind these outrageous bail amounts.

a reply to: seagull

I'm wondering where all the civil liberties groups are???

The silence is both deafening and scary .

a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Not unless the media gets wind of it.

Then they are all criminals, (domestic terrorists is the word of the day, folks)

Sincerely, rico

a reply to: rockintitz

Ah, RICO...

To be used against all enemies, real or imagined... One size fits all...

originally posted by: seagull
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes

Something is off here.

Very off.

I would really like to know the thinking behind these outrageous bail amounts.

Flight risks. Obviously the bikers aren't from Waco, and the chances of them appearing in court are slim to slimmer. That's their reasoning behind the high bails. Now if it were a property owner in Waco who was being charged, he could pawn his property to a bail bondsman and get out with a lot less bail because his track record would show that he would be likely to show up for any court hearing. If any of the criminals who did any of the murders, assuming it was done by bikers, got out, don't forget these are biker gangs who don't have appearing for court at the top of their priority lists.

originally posted by: Greathouse

originally posted by: Vector99

originally posted by: Greathouse
a reply to: LadyGreenEyes


I don't know which law school the prosecutor in Waco attended. But that's not the way things are supposed to work in the United States .

History repeats itself in ironic ways, Waco...should be changed to wake up, get out, and never come back.

They appear to be caught between a rock and a hard place . The feds at the Waco siege now the state boys at the biker gunfight . I'm still waiting on the ballistics to see who killed who , but I got a feeling the cops did most the killing .

I have the feeling you are right.

a reply to: Greathouse

Personally, i despise bikers.

Get off the road, for effs sake.

There is a sidewalk right there!

Oh, no sidewalk? There is grass, where you are less likely to be hit by a car. I fel deep deep deep despair for bikers on the road.

Considering that some of the eye witness testimony I've read off site's like Aging Rebel's seems to wholly contradict the police version of events, I reckon this extortionate bail amount is a useful way of stopping over 100 people from calling out the official story re the shootings.

a reply to: AreUKiddingMe

Agree that the state views them as flight risks, thus the high bail amount. I would also think that they arrested as many as they did to try and prevent further violence. My guess is these are leaders and agitators involved in the actual shooting and brawl.