NPR: Linkfest: Nooses on Sale

Linkfest: Nooses on Sale

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Milan Kohout, originally from the Czech Republic and now living in Boston, was arrested back in November when he tried selling nooses to the public outside of the Bank of America headquarters. Though Kohout believed he was simply making an artistic statement on the sub-prime mortgage crisis, police thought otherwise.

Kohout tried to clarify his intentions, saying, "To me, the noose is the symbol of suicide. The banking industry makes millions of people incredibly miserable. I was making the comment that their cynicism was so deep that they could include a noose as part of their loan package."

Kohout has a pretrial hearing today and fears that what he considered only to be performance art may land him in prison.

It's the BPP's Most.

Nooses on sale/ New York City Transit celebrates the semicolon/ Team ready to chase satellite's remnants/ Pythons could inhabit one-third of the USA/ Disney kids' spa to include Hanna Montana makeovers

Will Hoffman

6:23 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Check this out:

"He was arraigned on charges two weeks ago."

2 whole weeks, and technically his problems started back in January.

But the DA's office claimed NOBODY on the case knew it was a protest. In the 14 days (and more) that passed the office hadn't even checked the facts. Yet were still gungho about prosecuting him.

That's what happens in our area too. The DA's office just closes their eyes, and without even really looking at the facts of the case blindly does whatever the cops want no matter how inane.

Sent by Brian | 12:16 PM ET | 02-22-2008

Please don't give Eric Erikson so much air-time... he seems utterly incapable of supporting his opinions with facts, particularly during the broadcast. While it is interesting to hear the opinions of Republicans and Democrats alike, when those opinions come laced with unsupported and mean-spirited invective and condescension it is not only insulting to the targeted individual, but it insults the intelligence of your listeners.

Sent by Anna | 3:01 PM ET | 02-22-2008

The charges brought against him were basically the equivalent of vending without a permit. If charges were dropped against this guy, it would set a legal precedent, allowing any street vendor to set up shop anywhere they like, and then claim that they're not really selling anything, it's "performance art".

Sent by Greg | 3:26 PM ET | 02-22-2008

I don't think so Greg. If, like in this case, an artist doesn't accept money for their work, then it can't be proved that he's actually selling anything. The cops just picked an extremely outdated law to haul him in for whatever their reason. The silly thing now is that your tax dollars are being used to prosecute a guy who allegedly tried to sell nooses on the street. The truth of the matter is that what he was doing is no more illegal than holding up a sign.

Sent by SavageHenry | 2:19 PM ET | 02-27-2008

The case was dismissed on March 7, 2008. The case should have never been prosecuted. The US Constitution and Declaration of Independence were both "sold" on the street with fixed prices printed on the documents. Thomas Paine's Common Sense was also sold on the street and he donated some of the profits for the Revolutionary troops. The First Amendment must be economically viable or cease to effectively reach people.

Sent by Stephen Baird | 3:03 PM ET | 03-12-2008

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