Thread by @JuddLegum

1. Alex Barnett, a college student, was sentenced to 10 DAYS IN JAIL for participating in a peaceful protest of anti-trans policies imposed by an Arkansas school board.

The school board would not allow public comment, so Barnett chanted "Trans lives matter!"

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2. Barnett and his classmates were there to protest the actions of the school board at their previous meeting in October.

At that meeting, the school board banned trans students from using restrooms that matched their gender identity and banned two books with trans characters.

3. The October 11 vote by the Conway School Board came after incendiary comments during the public comment period. One speaker said of LGBTQ people: "God gave them over to a depraved mind... let me remind you that those who do such things deserve death"

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4. None of the Arkansas school board members publicly objected to such comments. Later in the meeting, they unanimously approved the bathroom restrictions and book bans.

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5. In an interview with popular.info, Barnett said his original plan was to organize students to speak at the next meeting. But then the school board decided to not allow any public comment.

6. Barnett was not ready to give up. He and about 20 classmates came to the next school board meeting. They were told there wasn't enough room in the meeting room and they should listen to the proceedings from the lobby. They complied.

7. About 30 minutes into the meeting, Barnett and his group started chanting, "Trans lives matter!" A police officer in the lobby told them to leave

Most of the students did. Barnett and two classmates sat on the floor, linked arms, & continued chanting

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8. All three were handcuffed, taken to the police station, and charged with trespassing and failure to disburse.

According to the school board minutes, they interrupted the proceedings for a grand total of 8 MINUTES, from 6:31 to 6:39 PM

9. In Arkansas, trespassing and failure to disburse are both class C misdemeanors and carry a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. But jail time for a first-time non-violent misdemeanor is unusual

Barnett had no prior criminal record - not even a traffic violation

10. The prosecutors, according to Barnett, were not seeking jail time. But Barnett decided not to take a plea.

"[I[f I were to plead guilty and take a plea deal, then that's admitting I did something wrong... [and] "I did not do anything wrong."

11. Two police officers took the stand and, according to Barnett, testified that he was trying to intimidate the school board members.

According to the police report, Barnett did nothing other than sit on the floor OUTSIDE THE MEETING ROOM and chant "Trans lives matter!"

12. Barnett took the stand in his own defense. "I admitted to instigating the protests," Barnett testified. "And I said explicitly, what I did was morally correct, and I have no remorse for what I did whatsoever."

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13. District Judge Chris Carnahan, who presided over the bench trial, found Barnett guilty on both counts. The judge said that Barnett attended the school board meeting specifically to intimidate school board members. Carnahan sentenced Barnett to 10 days in jail and a $650 fine.

14. Carnahan is the former executive director of the Arkansas Republican Party.

During his unsuccessful run for the Arkansas Supreme Court, he used the slogan: "Finally, a conservative judge!"

15. Carnahan collected tens of thousands of dollars from Republican Party committees, even though the races are non-partisan and such contributions violate the Arkansas Judicial Code of Conduct. Carnahan said he was ignoring the rule because he believed it was unconstitutional.

16. Carnahan posted "Let's go Brandon!" code for a profane insult targeting President Joe Biden, and a tribute to Rush Limbaugh on his public Facebook page.

Among the groups Carnahan likes on Facebook is the Family Council Action Committee, an anti-LGBTQ advocacy organization.

17. During his campaign, Carnahan claimed to support "amnesty and community service instead of fines" for non-violent offenses.

But Carnahan apparently believes that Barnett's non-violent protest supporting trans people deserved a much harsher penalty.

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19. After Carnahan found Barnett guilty, he was immediately put into handcuffs and held at the courthouse until the court's business that day was completed.

Around 5:30 PM, he was transported to the jail.

20. Barnett described the conditions at the jail as "utterly inhumane." All of his clothes were confiscated, including his underwear and socks.

He received no food.

He slept on the floor with only a thin yoga mat for cushioning.

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21. Barnett also feared for his safety due to the nature of his arrest. "I told one of my cellmates why I got arrested, and his immediate response was, 'Do not tell anyone else in here why you got arrested,'" Barnett recalled.

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22. Barnett was never transferred to the main part of the jail because his attorney appealed the decision, and he was released at about 5 PM the next day.

In Arkansas, he has a right to a new trial in the circuit court. The trial date has not been scheduled.

23. But there is still a chance Barnett will have to return to jail and serve the remainder of his sentence.

Still, Barnett would not do anything differently.

"I have absolutely no regrets," he said.

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