Charges against Don Bryant & Jason Lynn
Dismissed!

Thus far, 3 dismissals, one not-guilty and one guilty (being appealed)

Below are the communications announcing the recent two desisions:

7/21/03

This is another good day for the First Amendment.

This morning the Portage County Prosecutor dismissed all charges against Don Bryant.

Bryant was one of 13 people arrested May 4, 2003 when a peaceful protest rally and march at Kent State University was met by a massive police show of force.

Bryant, 47, a letter carrier in North Royalton and KSU graduate, is a board member of Peace Action, the Blue Triangle Network and the Cleveland Non-Violence Network. On May 4, he joined the demonstration at 4:45 p.m. when people were reciting poetry at the memorial site marking the locations where Kent State students were felled by National Guard bullets during the May 1970 protest against the expansion of war into Cambodia. Bryant assisted others in carrying a banner which said "Wage Peace" as the group marched across campus to Main Street, marched approximately one block along Main Street, and crossed the street onto the grass at Rockwell Hall on campus. Bryant was arrested after he spoke to a police officer and offered to take the Earth flag which had been held by another person arrested. When the officer pushed him, Bryant said, "We are here in peace," and continued walking in the direction indicated by the officer. He was then arrested.

Dismissal of this charge demonstrates that the Prosecutor recognizes that arrests were made without cause. The Prosecutor previously dismissed charges against Kent resident Mike Pacifico on May 21, and a jury acquitted Cleveland resident Art McCoy on June 17.

July 22, 2003

Another good day for the First Amendment in Portage County

Today the Portage County Prosecutor dismissed all charges against yet another of the people arrested during a peaceful demonstration in Kent on May 4, 2003.

Jason Lynn, 25, is a graduate of Malone College in North Canton. He was arrested on May 4, 2003 while assembled with a group of antiwar protesters on the front campus area of Kent State University. Earlier in the day there was a commemorative rally on the KSU Commons in which President Cartwright welcomed the president of Jackson State University of Mississippi. That was followed by an antiwar rally at Manchester Field, in which speakers spoke out in protest of the occupation of Iraq by U.S. troops, followed by poetry readings at the May 4 memorial. Participants then marched across the KSU campus carrying banners, chanting political statements and drumming, while an Ohio State Patrol helicopter buzzed overhead. When the march reached Main Street at the front of campus, police had blocked vehicle traffic from travelling on the road. Marchers travelled along Main Street for approximately one block, when they were met by a 150-200 police who emerged from vans parked nearby. Lynn and the other marchers then turned and walked onto the sidewalk and grassy area on the KSU front campus, where there was confusion as to whether it was permissible to continue marching on the sidewalk. After a few minutes, Lynn was arrested by police and dragged from the grass into the street.

Dismissal of this charge demonstrates that the Prosecutor recognizes that arrests were made without cause. Previously, the Prosecutor dismissed charges against Don Bryant on July 21, dismissed charges against Kent resident Michael Pacifico on May 21, and a jury acquitted Cleveland resident Art McCoy on June 17.

The remaining cases are expected to be re-set for trial the week of August 18-22, 2003

Charges against Don Bryant & Jason Lynn Dismissed!

Thus far, 3 dismissals, one not-guilty and one guilty (being appealed)

Charges against Don Bryant & Jason Lynn
Dismissed!