Current Events > American man acquitted of the crime of being a basically decent human being

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/20/arizona-activist-migrants-trial-scott-warren

It took two trials but eventually it was decided that stopping a human being from dying by giving them food and water is actually not something a person should go to jail for in America

Well done everyone
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pinky0926 posted...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/20/arizona-activist-migrants-trial-scott-warren

It took two trials but eventually it was decided that stopping a human being from dying by giving them food and water is actually not something a person should go to jail for in America

Well done everyone

The prosecution, Republicans obviously, said they'll continue to go after people who help migrants.

You can get arrested and hefty fines here for leaving water on the side of the road for them.

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Man fuck this stupid country, sometimes
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you know shit is fucked up when its considered illegal to help out people in need...

He was aiding illegals.

The prosecution's and the administration's goal in this was to establish that these people Scott Warren and others are helping deserve to die.

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CyricZ posted...

The prosecution's and the administration's goal in this was to establish that these people Scott Warren and others are helping deserve to die.

That's Republicans for you.

coh posted...

He was aiding illegals.

With food and water.

I live in Arizona. You can literally go to jail for leaving water on the side of highways.

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coh posted...

He was aiding illegals.

Not that you'll reply, but he was only keeping them from starvation and dehydration. Would you rather they have died?

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Be horrible to people especially those in need. The right wing in a nutshell, really. It's the rich using idiots' bigotry against them. Keep the morons more scared of Mexicans than the people really fucking them over.
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Guide posted...

coh posted...

He was aiding illegals.

Not that you'll reply, but he was only keeping them from starvation and dehydration. Would you rather they have died?

This is ce mate. You know how some here will answer
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Bluebomber182 posted...

This is ce mate. You know how some here will answer

That's the point, yes.

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That's messed up

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Reminder that right-wingers have never read a Bible and actually worship the reverse of God.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

40 The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
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Guide posted...

Not that you'll reply, but he was only keeping them from starvation and dehydration. Would you rather they have died?

I can't reply for him, but for myself, I can say both are true. No this man shouldn't be sent to jail for helping another human being. But what he did was illegal and therefore he is responsible for the consequences of his choice. Compartmentalizing is a thing some people can do.

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thanosibe posted...

Compartmentalizing is a thing some people can do.

Indeed, and some will do so to justify anything.

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coh posted...

He was aiding illegals.

I suppose you're right, yes. The crime of being an illegal immigrant is no American water for you.
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Guide posted...

coh posted...

He was aiding illegals.

Not that you'll reply, but he was only keeping them from starvation and dehydration. Would you rather they have died?

probably does
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Don't need any compartmentalization keeping people alive in this context has already been legally recognized as him being innocent. And of course he's responsible for the consequences of his choice, that's how choices work for mentally able adults. You're not really saying anything.

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CyricZ posted...

Indeed, and some will do so to justify anything.

In other words, you can't feel empathy and at that the same time realize the reality of a situation?

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thanosibe posted...

But what he did was illegal

Being black and being a free man was illegal too.
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thanosibe posted...

In other words, you can't feel empathy and at that the same time realize the reality of a situation?

"Realizing the reality" in this context is the same as resignation.

A jury of his peers determined that the "reality" of his breaking the law was incorrect, and they rectified that.

Compartmentalizing runs the risk of missing the big picture.

In other words, I truly hope your ass isn't sore from sitting on that fence.

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CyricZ posted...

"Realizing the reality" in this context is the same as resignation.

A jury of his peers determined that the "reality" of his breaking the law was incorrect, and they rectified that.

Compartmentalizing runs the risk of missing the big picture.

In other words, I truly hope your ass isn't sore from sitting on that fence.

I don't know why you think that the court finding the law was incorrect is something I am denying. The premise of the OP seems to say "oh this shouldn't have happened at all" and I am saying he did something illegal and this reality happened. Thankfully in the end he was a free man and it isn't a good thing that it had to come to this for him to be acquitted.

In other words, don't fall off your soapbox and hurt yourself.

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thanosibe posted...

he did something illegal and this reality happened

It was determined to be not illegal, so...

Guide posted...

You're not really saying anything.

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Seriously, what in the absolute fuck is the point of any of your posts in this topic?

Hey the Holocaust shouldnt have happened, but it did! Ha! Im a compartmentalizing genius, you idiots!
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Guide posted...

Don't need any compartmentalization keeping people alive in this context has already been legally recognized as him being innocent. And of course he's responsible for the consequences of his choice, that's how choices work for mentally able adults. You're not really saying anything.

I believe the case went to jury nullification, so not exactly legally recognised
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Never ever outsource your moral reasoning to the law. And never ever decide who deserves basic human empathy based on arbitrary things like which side of an imaginary line you were born on. Otherwise you end up like @coh

You give dying people water, period. Laws that say otherwise are state enforced cruelty and are illegitimate.
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thanosibe posted...

CyricZ posted...

"Realizing the reality" in this context is the same as resignation.

A jury of his peers determined that the "reality" of his breaking the law was incorrect, and they rectified that.

Compartmentalizing runs the risk of missing the big picture.

In other words, I truly hope your ass isn't sore from sitting on that fence.

I don't know why you think that the court finding the law was incorrect is something I am denying. The premise of the OP seems to say "oh this shouldn't have happened at all" and I am saying he did something illegal and this reality happened. Thankfully in the end he was a free man and it isn't a good thing that it had to come to this for him to be acquitted.

In other words, don't fall off your soapbox and hurt yourself.

pointless argument

no one cares about semantics in cases like this. its morally repugnant
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thanosibe posted...

Guide posted...

Not that you'll reply, but he was only keeping them from starvation and dehydration. Would you rather they have died?

I can't reply for him, but for myself, I can say both are true. No this man shouldn't be sent to jail for helping another human being. But what he did was illegal and therefore he is responsible for the consequences of his choice. Compartmentalizing is a thing some people can do.

You're not wrong, but thats a shitty mindset and is part of the problem with law enforcement. By arresting someone for a victimless crime they are simply following the letter of the law and ignoring their humanity. Obviously he is still responsible for his consequences, but no one should be criminalized for doing the right thing. The fact that laws allow this to happen shows how deeply flawed our system is.

ZevLoveDOOM posted...

you know shit is fucked up when its considered illegal to help out people in need...

Yeah. No two ways about this.

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Let us also be reminded that this event cost Mr. Warren two years of his life and a considerable amount of resources that he's not getting back.

In the end, this was as much about punishing Warren as it was about discouraging anyone else who might wish to do something similar.

"If you try to save these people, you will be punished." In other words, "They are meant to die."

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CyricZ posted...

Let us also be reminded that this event cost Mr. Warren two years of his life and a considerable amount of resources that he's not getting back.

In the end, this was as much about punishing Warren as it was about discouraging anyone else who might wish to do something similar.

"If you try to save these people, you will be punished." In other words, "They are meant to die."

Holy fuck I was reading through the topic before actually going to the article link, I didnt realize he was in prison for 2 years.

Did you know this, @thanosibe ???

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the intimidation of legal threat is all it really takes for corruption to flourish in our legal systems.

You don't actually need to be found guilty. All we need to do is completely demolish your entire life. That'll teach you!
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Amazing that the party that pushes this is the same party evangelicala have latched onto.
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pres_madagascar posted...

CyricZ posted...

The prosecution's and the administration's goal in this was to establish that these people Scott Warren and others are helping deserve to die.

That's leftists for you.

Fixed.

Annihilated posted...

pres_madagascar posted...

CyricZ posted...

The prosecution's and the administration's goal in this was to establish that these people Scott Warren and others are helping deserve to die.

That's leftists for you.

Fixed.

Oh boy I can't wait to read how this hot take works
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thanosibe posted...

In other words, you can't feel empathy and at that the same time realize the reality of a situation?

As someone residing in Arizona, empathy among Republicans here is only reserved for white people.

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I have literally seen the parcels of food and water bottles left for migrants with my own eyes. I've also seen border patrol stop and pick them up.

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EzeDoesIt posted...

Holy fuck I was reading through the topic before actually going to the article link, I didnt realize he was in prison for 2 years.

Did you know this, @thanosibe ???

same here

I assumed it was just a fine, not actual prison time

With that fact in mind, I'm not sure what I would do if faced with the same situation. Help someone starving and go to prison, or just be a terrible person and go on with my life.

I'm thinking I'd like to stay out of prison, and it's fucked that you'd have to make a scummy decision in order to do so, but I have my own family to think about.

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pres_madagascar posted...

I have literally seen the parcels of food and water bottles left for migrants with my own eyes. I've also seen border patrol stop and pick them up.

I don't think I would want to live there. You'd either have to harden your heart and turn a blind eye, or try to help and have the threat of prison always looming over you.

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wow. imagine being charged for being a literal "good samaritan"

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Dyinglegacy posted...

I don't think I would want to live there. You'd either have to harden your heart and turn a blind eye, or try to help and have the threat of prison always looming over you.

It's only out in the desert along the highways. Phoenix, where I live, has a shit load of diversity, especially these days.

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There's a fairly simple solution to all of this...
https://image.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/wood-box-trap-on-white-260nw-691196668.jpg

Shablagoo posted...

Reminder that right-wingers have never read a Bible and actually worship the reverse of God.

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?

40 The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

legendary_zell posted...

Never ever outsource your moral reasoning to the law. And never ever decide who deserves basic human empathy based on arbitrary things like which side of an imaginary line you were born on. Otherwise you end up like @coh

You give dying people water, period. Laws that say otherwise are state enforced cruelty and are illegitimate.

Loving it. You guys are doing great here. It's a good day.

To any legal experts, if the guy quoted scripture as a reason/requirement for his religion.......couldn't this have been avoided?

I mean the Bible does state it. And what Republican would charge someone for following doctrine right?

Or no...? >_>

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Kastrada posted...

To any legal experts, if the guy quoted scripture as a reason/requirement for his religion.......couldn't this have been avoided?

I mean the Bible does state it. And what Republican would charge someone for following doctrine right?

Or no...? >_>

Good question. I'm not sure, but I think there are limits on what you can and cannot do in the name of religious freedom. Sometimes very arbitrary limits.

thanosibe posted...

But what he did was illegal and therefore he is responsible for the consequences of his choice. Compartmentalizing is a thing some people can do.

evil laws should neither be followed, nor enforced, and their architects should be punished.

Dyinglegacy posted...

I'm thinking I'd like to stay out of prison, and it's f***ed that you'd have to make a scummy decision in order to do so, but I have my own family to think about.

this is the motivation of the authors of this law

pinky0926 posted...

I believe the case went to jury nullification, so not exactly legally recognised

thank god the jury watched CGP grey

https://youtu.be/uqH_Y1TupoQ

ps jury nullification is 100% legal and you should know about it and not mention that you know about it if you get jury duty

it is legitimately a way to fight back against these evil laws.
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Today I learned they call jury nullification "perverse verdict" in the UK and I'm all about that. :D

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