General Discussion

Jilly_in_VA

(14,036 posts) Tue Jan 6, 2026, 01:54 PM Jan 6

214

Preschool Teacher, 22, Arrested on TV After Condemning Trump [View all]

A preschool teacher was arrested on camera as soon as she finished a TV interview criticizing Donald Trump, fueling the debate over protest policing and free speech.

Jessica Plichta, 22, said she was the only person arrested among roughly 200 demonstrators at an anti-war protest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, hours after Nicolas Maduro was detained in Caracas by the U.S. military.

In the broadcast footage, two officers could be seen approaching from behind as she wrapped her interview with WZZM, the city’s ABC affiliate, then escorted her away as she told them, “I am not resisting arrest.”

WZZM said an officer cited “obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful command,” and that Plichta had been charged with failure to obey a lawful command.

Plichta later told Zeteo: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-critic-arrested-on-camera-after-speaking-out-against-maduro-venezuela-capture/

Same excuses as the 1960s, only worse.

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Preschool Teacher, 22, Arrested on TV After Condemning Trump [View all] Jilly_in_VA Jan 6 OP

We are now like China and Russia. Irish_Dem Jan 6 #1

+1 dalton99a Jan 6 #2

We have let China police here to arrest Chinese people here for decades. Blue Full Moon Jan 6 #3

Yep. Irish_Dem Jan 6 #4

We are like the US Cirsium Jan 6 #8

Agree. And in a way, we're worse... ananda Jan 6 #25

That is key Cirsium Jan 6 #37

Currently. Doesn't mean we might not get better again. Even if it takes a long time. electric_blue68 Jan 6 #41

THe South really wanted the Confederacy back. ananda Jan 6 #42

I believe we have always been an oligarchy. Russia and China started as monarchies that evolved into oligarchy. LiberalArkie Jan 6 #12

Yes we have been an oligarchy for quite some time now. Irish_Dem Jan 6 #21

I looked at my kin folks that came to British Colonial America way back. LiberalArkie Jan 6 #24

Yes. Irish_Dem Jan 6 #38

The poor came much later...we have always been a country ruled by the rich JT45242 Jan 6 #39

Or in your case: oligArkie. Beartracks Jan 6 #40

Don't forget North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Hungary, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Vietnam, and many Martin68 Jan 7 #44

Speech targeted under cover of nondescript charges. UTUSN Jan 6 #5

Looks like Occupation. enough Jan 6 #6

Voman, you vill not open that filthy mouth no more! chouchou Jan 6 #7

To me it looked like she was on the sidewalk bc I saw cars driving by on what appeared to be the road. nt in2herbs Jan 6 #9

She was indeed on the sidewalk. But she was talking to news crews, unlike the other demonstrators. SunSeeker Jan 6 #13

I just mentioned it because the reports are that she was in the roadway, not on a sidewalk. nt in2herbs Jan 6 #16

Sidewalks are often in the Right of Way maxsolomon Jan 6 #22

No, the TV crew was not arrested, because they weren't on the roadway either. If you watch pnwmom Jan 6 #23

What I'm saying is that the sidewalk is PART of the "roadway" maxsolomon Jan 6 #28

Where do you see that in Michigan law? That would mean no pedestrian can ever stop pnwmom Jan 6 #29

I cannot say "I saw that in Michigan Law" because I don't have that kind of time. maxsolomon Jan 6 #33

But then no pedestrian could ever make a statement to the news from a sidewalk pnwmom Jan 6 #35

Right, they claim she was part of the group marching in the road. sl8 Jan 6 #30

This country is being illegally occupied. Initech Jan 6 #10

"she was the only person arrested" for "obstructing a roadway"?! She was on the sidewalk talking to news crews! SunSeeker Jan 6 #11

Hard to see the case going to court or her being convicted, but who knows LymphocyteLover Jan 6 #15

Anymore there goal is to scare others. I'm sure she hs a good lawsuit coming up BUT bluestarone Jan 6 #17

Of course their goal is to scare people. It sure as fuck isn't to keep roadways clear. SunSeeker Jan 6 #18

Insane. I don't even understand how she was obstructing anything, she was on the sidewalk. LymphocyteLover Jan 6 #14

REASONS?!!? GiqueCee Jan 6 #32

Seattle has/had laws restricting lying/sitting/camping on sidewalks maxsolomon Jan 6 #34

They claim she was part of the group marching in the roadway: sl8 Jan 6 #36

The pigs that arrested her have their faces clearly shown questionseverything Jan 6 #19

Upton Sinclair was arrested in 1923 for publicly reading the Bill of Rights DBoon Jan 6 #20

They have this young woman arrested, but they get on TV and say that the anti Maduro supporters deserve the freedom iluvtennis Jan 6 #26

And ESPECIALLY... GiqueCee Jan 6 #31

Too Many Police Believe That ANYTHING THEY TELL A PERSON TO DO..... ColoringFool Jan 6 #27

Land of the free Mysterian Jan 7 #43

And we're allowing it. Jilly_in_VA Jan 7 #45

Does anyone know what has happened to the Teacher? Her Status? Dan Jan 7 #46