Last month ESPN the Magazine ran an interesting article about the MMA fighter Jeff Monson, who calls himself an anarchist and has been involved in various protest movements.That article got Monson the publicity he wanted, but an accompanying photo got him some publicity he didn't want: He's been charged with first-degree malicious mischief, a felony, because of a photo showing him spray-painting an anarchist symbol on the Washington State Capitol.
The Olympian reports:
Reached by telephone today, Monson, who is out of state, took responsibility for the graffiti at the Capitol. He said that it had a point: to protest the war in Iraq and economic inequality at home and abroad.The ESPN article certainly wasn't an attempt to make Monson look bad; it portrayed him mostly as a man with strong convictions. (It also overstated how good a fighter he is, referring to him as a Top 10 heavyweight.) But the article could end up costing Monson his freedom. He faces 10 years in prison.
"Every great movement in the United States, from civil rights, women's rights, the labor movement, has been the result of people standing up and breaking the law, refusing to stand at the back of the bus, refusing to stand aside when the government asks you to get off their property," Monson said. "And now, these people are seen as pioneers. But at the time, they were criminals - they were literally criminals. I'm not here to advocate for myself; at some point you have to stand up."
UPDATE: MMA Fighter Jeff Monson Arrested, Jailed on Assault Charge.
Via MMA Junkie.
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Eric Schafer from Wisconsin, USA, foreground, reacts after defeating Brazil's Antonio Mendes, bottom center, in the Light Heavyweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship event, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Solidarity, your bravery and openness are commendable
While not the most serious of crimes, it is annoying even though he feels the cause is just. If everyone spray painted for some cause or other, we as a nation would suffer. There are other ways people can feel free to protest and he should have done one or more of them. I say give him jail time. If 10 years is what the sentence calls for, that what he should get.
I agree he was defacing public property in the middle of the night like a common criminal, there are ways of making a point and i dont believe the spray nozzle of a can of paint is an acceptable argument or forum
Hmm an Anarchist, wasn't that the thing for the losers to say back in High School? So this tool is for no rules and no law? MORON. So rape will be ok in your world dummy? Theft Murder everything goes? Wake up idiot you have been punched in the head to many times.
hes a real jackoff!
jeez what is it lately with martial artists and graffiti. The world has just found out that BANKSY is actually a swindon guy fron the UK called KADEN of Kaden.co.uk, so why are so many fighters turning their hand to spraying art f****g everywhere.
Couldn't he just have said, "things SUCK in the US?" That would have avoided the charges. MORE people would have HEARD his remarks than would have SEEN his "art work!" What a dweeb!
I have no problem with him voicing his opinion and using his freedom of speech to declare he is not happy with our Government. That is totally fine with me however defacing the Washington State Capital? That belongs to all of us. He chose to deface Public property with his opiniion. He has decided that it's okay to do that. I don't agree with him and he has broken the law and he should be arrested and if he goes to jail than he goes to jail knowing that he has erred in his ways. This is a crime committed against every U.S Citizen for one man's opinion. He shows no respect for others and this is an oppurtunity to learn some respect. He should face his mistake and take his punishment and apologizing to the American People would be a good start. He thinks he has made a point against the Government when actually he has disrepected his fellow Citizens. He should apologize and fix his mistake and maybe a year in jail and comunity service would bring him some respect for his fellow Citizens.
Lord Jamey you are a loser!
BAN HIM FROM MMA FIGHTING FOR LIFE.HE IS NOTHING BUT A PUNK. I HOPE HE GETS 5 YEARS IN JAIL
White trash!
give him a couple months of cleaning up eyesore grafitti
He just became a punk in my book ...
MDS, I have watched very closely this last year and I have watched you make decent stride's with your writing and knowledge. I have also seen you say some pretty crazy thing's that made me wonder just how big of a fan you were and how much you really knew about the sport.
Monson may not be in your top ten but I can assure you he is every bit as good as what ESPN says. No he may not be as exciting of a fighter as some would like but he'd as skilled as they come.
Seriously, he's a two time world champion and has many more accolades. You should really research his career before you say he's overrated. I'll leave it at that.
As for the rest of you fool idiots who believe that a man who spray-painted a freaking symbol on the wall of a building should spend 10 years in prison, well I can only say this...
In this country I listen to people, everyday, talk about how much better they are than anyone else on the planet. It make's me sick, the level of pure narcissism here. If it seriously cost's 19k to remove that, we should all know better, then make him pay for it. What kind of society put's a man in prison for ten years for this?
( before anyone starts, I'm refering to the people who say he should get this. I understand that it's the maximum penalty only )
They don't give hardcore criminals that kind of jail time on a whole list of crimes you self-richeous people would be horrified to find people commit on a daily basis. Punishment, yes, but seriously let's get off the horse and be reasonable as well as truly understanding of what's really happened to us in the last 8 year's. If you still support it you're the one's who deserve to be in jail.
all that prose for a a$$hole who deserves the
old saying, do the crime do the time...
yep .... after reading your banter,.. he's still a scumbag. hope they give 'em the electric hair for this evil crime against concrete structures everywhere.
He disrespected My country
He disrespects My god
He disrespects My military that keeps us free
Dont give him 10 years for this
Give him a choice of life or leave the country
ugh
so what hes an anarchist???
and so what if he graffited?
he was illustrating a point for a article being written.
this is being blown out of proportion!
i understand that its against the law but i think he should have the rite to be like that.
if anything i give him props for doing that!
i would if i had the guts!
You're an idiot if you really beleive that!
KellyClarsonfan: PLEASE do NOT get out of your play pen until you reach the age of 30 at least! You sound like an idiot. Um, I do have the "RITE" to say that to you, "RIGHT"?