CHICAGO’S  ’NATO 3′  found not guilty of terrorism charges

RT.COM  Published time: February 07, 2014 22:21

Brian Church (L), 20, Brent Vincent Betterly (C), 24 and Jared Chase, 24, are seen in these handout photos from the Chicago Police department released to Reuters May 19, 2012. (Reuters / Chicago Police)

Defendants in the ‘NATO 3’ trial were found not guilty of terrorism charges on Thursday. The three young men, accused by the state of Illinois of plotting violent acts at the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago, were found guilty on two counts of mob action.

Brian Jacob Church, Brent Betterly and Jared Chase were acquitted of charges including material support for terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of an incendiary device with intent to commit offense of terrorism.

The defendants were found guilty of two much lesser mob action charges.

After nearly three weeks of trial proceedings, the jury in the case deliberated for just under eight hours before the verdict was read at around 17:15 CST. Closing arguments lasted around five hours on Thursday.

Illinois state prosecutors and attorneys for the defense said the verdict in the trial would create a clear line between terrorism and violence. In addition, throughout the case, the defense showed how much the supposed plot to use molotov cocktails in Chicago during the 2012 NATO meeting was shepherded by law enforcement, highlighting increased counter-terrorism operations by police in the US that critics say border on entrapment.

“When your hatred boils over into plots of violence, you’ve crossed the line — the line that protects us all,” said Assistant State’s Attorney John Blakey before jurors on Thursday.

“Is this what the war on terror has come to?” asked attorney Molly Armour, who represents Betterly.

How NATO3 Trial Will Redefine Terrorism | Interview with Kevin Gosztola

Contributor’s Notes:   These guys that were protesting in Chicago’s NATO 3 Summit was busted as terrorist. Police were surprised when they encountered the homebrewing equipment.  They must of thought they had some real terrorist  to succumb.  I am an avid Homebrewer.  I Had shops selling the supplies for 10 years.  I am a certified homebrew beer judge in competitions.  When I saw the homebrewing equipment, I started laughing out loud.  Yes the equipment can look intimidating.  Possible the makings of a bomb or weapons of mass destruction.  The brewing equiptment was not even theirs.

The study and art of yeast and fermentation is called,  ’ZYMURGY’.  The last word in most dictionarys.

Overall I am glad these guys got off.  We almost forgot about them. 

Well Brian, Brent, and Jared, Have a Homebrew on me, and CHEERS.

The photo on the left shows beer in active fermentation.  On the Right, a standard Starter Homebrew Kit.