An instance of abuse of power and suppression of speech

I read a story in the NY Times that was so shocking to me that I actually gasped and covered my mouth with my hands.

Harry Brown of Canton, Ohio, went to court for a routine hearing in which he would be the defendant. I wonder if as Mr. Brown walked into the courtroom, he imagined that he might at one point have his mouth taped shut – literally.

Read the article here.

Talk about a violation of the 1^st amendment right to free speech… and the 14^th Amendment right to due process… and the 4^th Amendment right to be free from the use of excessive force.  An arm of the government, Canton Municipal Court Judge Stephen Belden literally prohibited Brown from speaking, denied him due process by prohibiting his participation in his own hearing, and responded to interruptions by taping his mouth shut. As I read through the article, I slowly lowered my hands from my mouth, thankful that I didn’t have to tear tape off of it that was put there by a judge.