CODEPINK's statement on the Department of Justice Dropping the charges against Desiree Fairooz:Â
CODEPINK celebrates the Justice Department's decision to drop the charges against Desiree Fairooz. It was absurd that Desiree was arrested for laughing when she heard Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama say that Mr. Session's record of “treating all Americans equally under the law is clear and well-documented.” The prosecution of Desiree, including one jury trial, was a waste of time and tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars. It was part the larger effort currently being made to crack down on activists. From the January 20th inauguration protests, the Department of Justice is prosecuting 200 people on multiple felony charges. We hope they will scale back this massive overreach and that the success we just saw in Desiree's case will encourage more people to protest in the halls of congress and on the streets.Â
