Donated $25.
Defense Fund
Brooke faces criminal charges for breaking no law. She requires legal counsel for her criminal case, and may require further representation as the media attention increases. Other costs may come to bear in the future. We ask that you please give what you can via PayPal to the Free the Jefferson 1 Defense Fund to cover her various expenses.
We do not wish to discredit or in any way degrade the U.S. Park Police or any other police officer in the nation. But this is a clear-cut case of wrongful arrest and Brooke needs your help to clear her name. Please give what you can.
This fund is in Brooke’s name and will be used initially to retain the services of a criminal attorney; after legal and other expenses are covered, remaining funds will be distributed at Brooke’s discretion to worthwhile causes that defend civil liberties. All accounting of the fund will be transparent, and stewardship of the fund will be at the discretion of Brooke and her attorneys.
Contributions are not tax-deductible and are essentially treated under the law as gifts.
Responses
By: Berin Szoka on April 16, 2008
at 11:43 am
Donated $15.
regards from germany
By: Thomas Graf on April 16, 2008
at 12:15 pm
Donated 25 too…
By: Matthew Sullivan on April 16, 2008
at 12:18 pm
$25
By: Anonymous on April 16, 2008
at 12:28 pm
Has this person even been charged with anything yet? Call me paranoid, but this smells funny. A group of people have a “silent dance party” on the Jefferson Memorial, which is weird enough to attract police attention, but within their rights enough to get internet people pissed off at the police. A blog with high-quality graphics design work goes online within hours, and now is collecting hundreds (if not thousands?) of dollars for a “defense fund”. Time out. Defense against what? She’s already been released, were there any charges?
By: Alex on April 16, 2008
at 4:37 pm
Alex:
The charge: “interfering with an agency function.”
Lawyers: cost money.
It wasn’t fishy, it was something goofy to do on a Saturday night. (we’re certainly not the most exciting people in DC, let me tell you.)
And when you have a person whose friends make a living writing about government abuse, you’d be surprised how fast things mobilize.
Trust me, we didn’t want the TJDP to go down like this.
By: blanksslate on April 16, 2008
at 4:43 pm
Fair enough… don’t tase me, bro.
By: Alex on April 16, 2008
at 4:45 pm
[...] Update: There’s now a legal defense fund for Brooke (aka The Jefferson 1). Donate here. [...]
By: DC Park Police: no friends of mine* at Punditry by the Pint on April 16, 2008
at 6:17 pm
There was something very enjoyable about donating my tiny tax “Refund”.
By: Josh on April 16, 2008
at 6:53 pm
Done!
By: AH on April 16, 2008
at 8:28 pm
$25 from Australia, and a thought for the day…
“A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles.” - Thomas Jefferson
By: Dean Carruthers on April 16, 2008
at 8:57 pm
[...] But in the meantime, since we don’t know if the charges will be dropped, and Brooke still faces an April 29 appearance on the charge of “interfering with an agency function,” attorneys have to be hired. Those cost money. So we’ve set up a little defense fund to try to help with the costs. If you were moved by her story, and want to help, please visit [here]. [...]
By: Third Party Watch » Blog Archive » All my rowdy friends (are getting busted) on April 16, 2008
at 10:20 pm
I’ve anonymously donated $26, because I care a little more than everyone who’s posted an amount so far.
By: Greg Newburn on April 16, 2008
at 11:47 pm
[...] Defense Fund Posted by: raylehmann | April 17, 2008 [...]
By: latest link round-up « Free the Jefferson 1! on April 17, 2008
at 1:17 am
[...] to a miscarriage of justice that occurred at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC. There is a defence fund and a Facebook group to get people together on the [...]
By: Dodgeblogium » Free the Jefferson 1 on April 17, 2008
at 4:04 am
To Greg Newburn: $27 LOL
By: Imaginativeone on April 17, 2008
at 6:12 am
I donated $200.
I like Music. I like Dancing. I like Freedom to assemble and celebrate someone’s birthday.
If you hate the state - DONATE!
By: tronrex on April 17, 2008
at 7:14 am
OK, so you’re raising money. But when you click on the How to Help link you get a blank page ?
Where’s the links to congresmen’s email ? The president’s email, phone numbers of congress and other partied who might be interested ? Too many people don’t have these things in their links.
There should be other ways to defend freedom than throwing cash at it.
By: Bob on April 17, 2008
at 8:03 am
Imaginative One: I don’t know how you found out I was the anonymous $26 donor, but I’d prefer the focus to stay on Brooke, not on me. Unlike everyone else who’s donated, I don’t need or want recognition for my selfless act. I’m happy just to be helping the cause.
And while I’m also happy that you followed my lead, and I’m hoping that others will follow in my footsteps as well, please don’t remind people that I–Greg Newburn–led this charge to donate more than $25. It’s just not the kind of person I am.
By: Greg Newburn on April 17, 2008
at 9:46 am
[...] News has a longish piece on Luther and Meredith Ricks, the Lima, Ohio couple from whom the federal government is trying to [...]
By: The Agitator » Blog Archive » ABC News on the Luther Ricks Case on April 17, 2008
at 10:22 am
[...] date set for April 29th and lawyers are expensive. Please take a minute and consider giving to the defense fund. There has been alot of debate, and, thankfully, press coverage, of the event which helps raise [...]
By: Defense Fund: Free The Jefferson 1! « Get Fixxed! on April 17, 2008
at 11:30 am
$25 from NYC. I LOVE THAT SONG!
By: Matt K on April 17, 2008
at 2:14 pm
[...] Defense Fund [...]
By: Alcohol Liberation Front 5: Free the Jefferson 1 « Free the Jefferson 1! on April 17, 2008
at 4:16 pm
Isn’t a significant legal defense likely to cost more than the fine she faces? I don’t see the benefit.
I’m also puzzled by the fact that on this site I can’t find any mention of the fact that the Oberwetter is not in custody. Did I miss it?
She doesn’t seem likely to go to jail. So what does “Free The Jefferson 1″ mean?
By: John T. Kennedy on April 17, 2008
at 4:59 pm
It was a meme that one blogger used to describe the situation during the time she was in custody. Fark ran with it, so we did too.
There have been numerous updates that explain she is out, but I’ll add it to the FAQ.
And the point is clearing her name. She did nothing wrong. And we want the U.S. Park Police to publicly acknowledge that fact in the hope that they take measures so that something so absurd and potentially damaging doesn’t happen again.
By: blanksslate on April 17, 2008
at 5:06 pm
In honor of frothiness, I kicked in $10.
By: Matt on April 17, 2008
at 6:11 pm
“There have been numerous updates that explain she is out, …”
On this site?
It’s nice that you put it in the FAQ. Otherwise folks donating might get the impression that their money was going to help, you know, Free The Jefferson 1 and stuff.
By: John T. Kennedy on April 17, 2008
at 6:18 pm
I think people know she’s not in custody. But at the heart of it, that’s not the point.
We can’t let the authorities overreach their boundaries, and the only way to stop it is to set a precedent that people won’t stand for tyranny - especially at the Jefferson Memorial.
If you can’t stand the state - DONATE!
Free the Jefferson1 and you will Free the Jefferson Many to Come!
By: tronrex on April 17, 2008
at 7:39 pm
“I think people know she’s not in custody.”
They wouldn’t from the name of this site.
“We can’t let the authorities overreach their boundaries, and the only way to stop it is to set a precedent that people won’t stand for tyranny…”
A month or so ago I got popped for around $200 for driving without a seat belt. People won’t stand for tyranny? Give me a break.
The crime I was charged with was no less ludicrous or unjust than what happened here, but frankly it didn’t occur to me that friends should have set up a legal defense fund.
I knew what was what when the cop pulled me over: I could have attempted to politely discuss the merits of the charge with him but I knew that would increase my chances of being late for dinner.
*Of course* what happened was unjust, but it’s been blown out of all proportion. The equivalent happens 24/7/365.
By: John T. Kennedy on April 17, 2008
at 8:13 pm
while I agree your ticket is unjust…
you were aware of the law. Brooke was plainly asking the officer what she was doing wrong. He failed — several times — to inform her what she was doing wrong.
Disagree if you will. But the fact of the matter is, everyone has a different opinion about what injustice to tackle. There are too many to count, but that doesn’t make any one of them unimportant to the individual. Someone always has it worse — does it not make sense to fix the ones you have power to fix? Its not like we can end the war with this website, you know.
This affects our friend, so we’re taking it on. Like it, hate it, resent it. That’s what we’re doing.
By: blanksslate on April 17, 2008
at 9:23 pm
“you were aware of the law. Brooke was plainly asking the officer what she was doing wrong. He failed — several times — to inform her what she was doing wrong.”
How is that relevant? Are you saying you would not be campaigning to “Free” your friend if she’d been aware she was breaking some stupid, trivial, unjust law at the Jefferson bop?
By: John T. Kennedy on April 18, 2008
at 2:57 am
Dude. If you won’t want to help, move on.
By: Greg Newburn on April 18, 2008
at 7:02 am
*don’t, obviously.
By: Greg Newburn on April 18, 2008
at 12:28 pm
Donated $10.
This is good stuff and thank you. However, if you want such protests to be more successful, you should look into doing them in New Hampshire where the American freedom movement is headquartered.
By: Keith Carlsen on April 18, 2008
at 12:55 pm
i agree, this sounds like a scam. you stage this thing probably with the intention of getting arrested or at least causing some shit, tape record getting arrested, have a tech-savvy website posted IMMEDIATELY afterward, then ask for donations even though you’ve already been released from prison? Scam. Pay the fine and move on to real issues of injustice and quit being so annoyingly narcissistic.
By: tyrannyoftheselfrighteous on April 18, 2008
at 1:17 pm
Greg…what are you up to nowadays?
By: etobyo on April 18, 2008
at 6:39 pm
Email me: gnewburn@gmail.com
By: Greg Newburn on April 18, 2008
at 9:59 pm
To john: You weren’t detained for 5 hours for not wearing your seatbelt. That’s the difference.
By: Sean on April 18, 2008
at 10:53 pm
[...] Defense Fund [...]
By: Concerned DC Citizen Writes the U.S. Park Police « Free the Jefferson 1! on April 19, 2008
at 12:22 am
Go J1! I’ve involved a few of my Pounds Sterling, which we all know are worth 100s of ga-jillions of USD.
By: Rea Mackay on April 19, 2008
at 4:22 am
this screams of a bullshit arrest. the only reason i could see arrest ing this person if she was loud and profane. but the officer is not required to quate the violation and statute. but is arppears that she was not a threat to national security or disorderly. this officer should be required to take history classes at a local college.
By: Retired Police on April 19, 2008
at 8:04 am
i’d be willing to donate - do you have her mug shot?
By: ted nugent on April 19, 2008
at 8:21 am
Change we can believe in. And obviously need.
Donated $25
By: Peter on April 19, 2008
at 4:20 pm
Over lunch on Friday, a co-worker asked me to explain the “Free the Jefferson 1″ join on my FaceBook profile.
I explained it, and another co-worker exclaimed “Isn’t dancing disrespectful at a memorial?”
“Have you ever read any Jefferson? He was one of the founding fathers most skeptical of the imposition of State will against free people.”
“What does that matter? Doesn’t it disrespect the dead?”
“They were dancing in CELEBRATION of his memory and his ideals.”
“It’s still disrespectful”
This argument went on and on. Are people this lost? In America? It’s enough to make me want to retreat to New Hampshire and go live with the “crazy” Free Staters.
By: Richard DeYoung on April 20, 2008
at 1:43 am
[...] Defense Fund [...]
By: NBC4 Covers the JEfferson 1 « Free the Jefferson 1! on April 20, 2008
at 4:07 pm
[...] is now a legal defense fund set up for Ms. Oberwetter. [...]
By: NationalEconomist.com » Blog Archive » Daughter of Bush Insider Arrested on April 21, 2008
at 9:22 am
“agree, this sounds like a scam. you stage this thing probably with the intention of getting arrested or at least causing some shit, tape record getting arrested, have a tech-savvy website posted IMMEDIATELY afterward, then ask for donations even though you’ve already been released from prison? Scam. Pay the fine and move on to real issues of injustice and quit being so annoyingly narcissistic.”
I can appreciate your skepticism, tyrannyoftheselfrighteous, but in this case, it’s not called for. It may seem hard to imagine that this really was just a bunch of libertarians making complete dorks by dancing silently to their own iPods AND wanting to get that on digital “tape”, but I can assure you that’s exactly what happened. Everyone there–including the folks with cameras–was surprised that the guards cared about our silent celebration. (My partner and I can be seen waltzing very clumsily, sans iPod, in the background of the video.) But we were all shocked when we saw Brooke being arrested. As for “hav[ing] a tech-savvy website posted IMMEDIATELY afterward,” I’m no web expert, but even I could set up the kind of site that was set up in fairly short order.
In short, there’s no scam here: just a bunch of very dorky people (myself included) wanting to honor T.J. on his birthday, seeing the police totally over-react and using fairly simple web tools to publicize the incident as an abuse of power.
The point of the legal defense fund is that charges like this should not be allowed to stand and that we can help to stop abuse of police discretion in such circumstances by offering a legal challenge.
For Brooke’s sake, being charged with an offense like this will (I imagine from a friend’s recent experience with a similar charge) go on her permanent record FOREVER unless expunged by legal process. If nothing is done, she would likely have to explain the incident to every future employer. God help her if she ever applies for a security clearance! That’s a far cry from being fined for not wearing your seatbelt–which, I agree, is outrageously silly.
By: Berin Szoka on April 21, 2008
at 9:58 am
“What country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.” - Thomas Jefferson
By: Neil Evangelista on April 21, 2008
at 10:45 am
[...] If you haven’t yet, please consider donating to the Free The Jefferson 1! Defense Fund. [...]
By: Jefferson 1 Update « Get Fixxed! on April 21, 2008
at 4:42 pm
seriously, score me her mug shot and i will donate some cash yo
By: ted nugent on April 21, 2008
at 9:45 pm
again, score me her mug shot and i will donate some cash yo
By: ted nugent on April 21, 2008
at 9:47 pm
Mr. Kennedy,
There were two differences obvious to me between your situation and this one. One has already been addressed (your knowledge of the law), so we’ll move on to the next one.
You chose not to do anything… Set up a defense fund, engage in political activism, stand for rights that the founders of the nation granted you. These people (which I am not one of, though, honestly, it would be something I’d do) chose to defend their rights. Why stand in their way? It seems that all that your “argument” comes down to is a bit of pessimistic cynicism. So you’re not much better than the police. Trying to find something to down the cause. Sound familiar?
Besides, your pessimism is ill-founded, anyways. Wasn’t Brown V. Board of Education one court case?
By: Rik on April 22, 2008
at 9:46 am
Oh, and ted nugent, are you sure you’re in this for the right reasons?
=P
By: Rik on April 22, 2008
at 9:49 am
[...] to celebrate TJ’s birthday. If you think that bopping is not a crime, do what I just did and donate some cash for Brooke’s legal defense. This ought to be a slam-dunk case, but unfortunately she will [...]
By: Free the Jefferson 1! update at Punditry by the Pint on April 22, 2008
at 3:19 pm
[...] Defense Fund [...]
By: Defense Fund Update: Halfway to the Goal « Free the Jefferson 1 on April 23, 2008
at 10:27 am
Yes, Rik, I’m in it for the right reason, just like Brooke was dancing at midnight in the Jefferson Memorial for the right reason.
Again, e-mail me her mug shot and we’ll talk cash!
By: ted nugent on April 23, 2008
at 9:37 pm
Couldn’t Brooke at least have been naked or something? 
Donated $250 (in Mexican Pesos)
By: David Schiller on April 25, 2008
at 2:08 pm
Charming, David. I will take your pesos nonetheless.
By: brooke on April 25, 2008
at 5:11 pm
So, am I going to get the mug shot or not?
Tell you what, you can send it to me at my new e-mail address: freethelincoln1@yahoo.com.
Again: mug shot = donation.
By: ted nugent on April 28, 2008
at 1:58 pm
[...] A defense fund was set up to help cover the costs and a target of $5,000 set. She’s more than half way there, but until she’s there, more money is needed. [...]
By: Special guest(s) and cause with new rules for the May 2nd First Friday. « First Friday Collective on April 29, 2008
at 12:20 pm
[...] not “disorderly conduct” as originally reported. The group has also set up a donation page to aid the girl’s legal defense. Lastly you can watch the videos of the incident on [...]
By: A Second Hand Conjecture » Jefferson Memorial Follow Up on April 29, 2008
at 9:25 pm
[...] being Brooke, it was reported in the Washington Post. And this being America, friends have created a web site to proclaim the injustice of the thing and to raise money for her defense. Knowing the [...]
By: FrontBurner » Blog Archive » An Oberwetter Stands Up For America on May 2, 2008
at 3:14 pm
[...] Defense Fund [...]
By: Defense Fund and Court Date Update « Free the Jefferson 1 on May 8, 2008
at 9:41 am
jdtalley
raylehmann
peteeyre