MY FRIEND GOT THEIR CRIMINAL CHARGES DROPPED!!! They put themselves between police and a tent encampment and got arrested for it, the prospect of prison had been looming for almost two years. NOT ANYMORE!!
I can't contain how ecstatic I am for this. I am driving over to give them a huge in 10 minutes.
This friend of mine is the coolest person I know. They are, literally, a social justice warrior. They put their life and livelihood on the line for their community daily and I can not speak highly enough of them.
Late 2024 they were arrested as part of a sweep of tent encampments in the endless war on homeless people my city has been conducting. They had a choice between accepting a plea deal (community service and a fine), or standing by their principles and fighting this in court, risking prison time, up to 18 months.
Accepting the plea deal would mean putting it in the courts "The city was right and I was wrong".
So, of course, they fought it in court, risking the eighteen months.
Even if it were a year or even six months, that means finding someone to take their beloved dog, finding somewhere to put their stuff, selling their car, losing their rental. It's a lot of starting-over in terms of the progression of material goods and career and human connections which make up life.
Discussion in the ATmosphere