Trial is scheduled to start Thursday in the state case against Joseph “Joe Grits” Thompson, a hip-hop artist and activist, accused of threatening Bridgeport police officers following the fatal police shooting of Dyshan Best.
In March, the Connecticut Office of the Inspector General ruled that the 2025 shooting of Best was justified declaring a firearm was pointed at an officer during a foot chase.
Thompson, who is representing himself at trial, wrote on his Facebook page recently he was charged for “having a strong influence in the black community being a educated black man with a voice. That’s a threat to the power structure the powers that be objective is to silence me bekuz 99% of the community don’t speak.”
More from CT Post reporter Ethan Fry:
A trial is expected to begin in the case of a hip-hop artist and activist accused of posting threats against police on social media following the police shooting death of Dyshan Best in Bridgeport, and also jumping over barricades to post flyers on the Police Department that named two cops as “wanted for murder” in Best’s death and “dangerous fugitives” who were armed.
Thompson is scheduled to represent himself at a jury trial scheduled to begin Thursday, with the officers he’s accused of threatening on the state’s witness list. He is charged with inciting injury to a person, a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as well as second-degree threatening, a misdemeanor. He has been free after posting $50,000 bond following his arrest April 7, 2025.
…“I’m not taking any plea deal,” he said after his arraignment last year. “Full dismissal, no nolle, nothing like that. I’m absolutely innocent — protected speech as a citizen. They’re trying to use anything to silence me from speaking on my friend Dyshan Best.”
An arrest warrant affidavit said Thompson was charged after making posts on social media that included “somebody should die with a badge on” while showing photos of Bridgeport police Officer Yoon Heo, who was identified by officials as the officer who fatally shot Best.
A second post showed a tombstone over the officer’s face with a “smiley face” and repeated animation that said “R.I.P,” and a rap song titled “Die” was also included in the post the warrant said. The song suggests that “one will not be able to avoid the grave and that death is inescapable,” according to the warrant.
Full story here
Dude, not taking a deal or plea is one thing. Representing yourself is another thing, I’m sure you heard a person who reperents themself has a fool as a client.
While the case seems weak on its merits, vague and protected under the First Amendment. You’re not a constitutional lawyer. To rationalize these charges to a jury that they are retribution as a means to silence your voice in the community, a community you self-proclaim to sell drugs in and when to jail for, I believe to stated by you. Is not wise.
That being said, bring up the Ice-T cop killer song that was protected, and cops like Manuel Pardo, who confessed to murder and were put to death under the law, conspiracies in not law. JS
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NAyAPEVrv_0
You know who was innocent, self-repentant, and convinced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u81zp9xDJE&list=RD7u81zp9xDJE&start_radio=1
My bad, Self represented
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCzwVP_1YNg
IDK Joe, Free speech is not absolute. The way I see it, based on this write-up. You have two charges based on two posts.
One stems from the “second,” which showed a tombstone over the officer’s face with a “smiley face” and repeated animation that said “R.I.P,” and a rap song titled “Die” was also included in the post, the warrant said. The song suggests that “one will not be able to avoid the grave and that death is inescapable,” Which I would assume is a second-degree threatening, a misdemeanor charge.
That one can be argued to be a statement of fact more than a threat. All you have to do is ask the cop if he is immortal. 🙂
The other charge is more problematic. The charge of inciting to injury to a person is a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Inciting to injury to a person is not protected under the First Amendment. That’s why it’s a charge. That being said, it’s like libel, slander, or yelling fire in a crowded theater. You have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that what you posted was not inciting to cause injury to a person. Where the prosecution is going to try to prove it was and had incited, and if someone was incited by your post to cause or threaten injury your liable, I would think. Based on that, the cop had received that post of yours as incitement in some form.
This is not about free speech, per se. JS
I would consult a lawyer, dude. Particularly if you’re going to trial and your case rests on just a free speech argument. This is not a performance. It’s a trial with consequences. JS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR-PS9tYEnY&list=PL60uVpjTe88Ao3IosveSET6d4B3QrepeG&index=31