Police
It seems there are some peculiarities to the judicial system in Virginia which police exploit to repress dissent.[1]
I’m not at all sure these peculiarities are unique to Virginia; in fact, I suspect something like this or perhaps even worse operates in Pittsburgh:
As for [Matthew] Cartier [who was arrested by undercover officers using an undercover van for refusing to cooperate with police at a protest], Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala released a statement saying his arrest should “be a summary offense at best” and should be handled by police in a summary hearing.[2]
Wait. What? Police conduct “summary hearings?”
Alex Pareene, “The Police Are Pretty Sure They’re Going to Get Away With It,” New Republic, August 28, 2020, https://newrepublic.com/article/159142/portsmouth-virginia-police-louise-lucas-lisa-lucas-burke
- [1]Alex Pareene, “The Police Are Pretty Sure They’re Going to Get Away With It,” New Republic, August 28, 2020, https://newrepublic.com/article/159142/portsmouth-virginia-police-louise-lucas-lisa-lucas-burke↩
- [2]Lindsay Ward, “Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Speaks Out After Putting An End To Tactics Used In Controversial Arrest At Oakland Protest,” KDKA, August 18, 2020, https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/08/18/pittsburgh-mayor-bill-peduto-arrest-oakland-tactics/↩