Resistance Radio: Defending the Protestors

Jason Flores Williams is a Denver attorney who is in Washington DC this week representing clients who are facing felony riot charges over actions that happened during the inauguration in DC.

Arraignments are set for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14 for those charged with felony rioting during the inauguration.

More than 200 people are facing felony riot charges as a result of the protests on inauguration day in Washington DC. Flores Williams says that charging such a large group with felony riot because of the actions of a handful of people is absurd and unconstitutional.

“It says that if you were part of any group in which property damage occurred and anyone who they can even remotely relate to that group can be charged with felony rioting.”

Amy Goodman had faced felony riot charges over her coverage of Standing Rock. Those charges were subsequently dropped but Flores Williams says threatening people with a felony and up to 10 years in prison, will have a chilling effect of free speech.

“Right now, what’s in the air amongst the people who care enough about this democracy to fight for it, is if they go to a protest they may walk away with a felony charge.”