Cecily McMillan is supposed to go on trial soon for her alleged assault on a police officer in 2012 during the Occupy Wall Street protests. But it seems the court is having a more difficult than expected time finding people in New York City who aren’t biased against the protest movement.
The Guardian reported Thursday on the court proceedings. McMillian’s attorneys had hoped that jury selection would take only one day, but it ended its second day with only seven of the 12 jury spots filled.
McMillan, who is 25, faces up to seven years in prison. Here are three explanations, according to The Guardian, from New Yorkers who effectively said they couldn’t give an Occupy Wall Street protester a fair trial.
George Yih, prospective juror:
I’m involved in Wall Street things. I’m on the Wall Street side, not their side. They can protest all they want, but they can’t brainwash my mind.
Jason McLean, who said he and his wife are equity traders:
For 20 years, my occupation has been, in some fashion, on Wall Street. Everything I believe – my morals – are kind of the antithesis of what they represent. … I don’t know that I could be completely objective.
Alan Moore, who said his wife worked on Wall Street as a bond strategist:
I like to think of myself as fair. But in terms of Occupy Wall Street in general, I would give less credibility to that group than average. … They seem to be people moving a little outside regular social norms and regular behavior. Therefore I don’t give them the same level of respect as people who follow the line.
