Like satanic abusers, and communists before them, children who molest were alleged to be legion; if we didn’t see them, it was because we were in denial. They “make all of us uncomfortable,” MacFarlane wrote in 1996—”so uncomfortable, we’ve had to deny their existence and/or minimize their behavior until now. We’ve called their behavior ‘exploration’… Continue reading Lena Dunham Wasn’t a Pedophile, and Neither Were You

“Is Cheit’s revisionism convincing? Much of his analysis, especially of the McMartin and Michaels cases—which take up more than a third of the book—relies on materials to which the reader does not have ready access, such as trial transcripts, investigation records, and author interviews. Thus, whether the book succeeds in making a dent in the… Continue reading The Return of Moral Panic–Ross Cheit’s book reviewed

“As a feminist, I’m not happy about the equation of masculinity with sexually tinged sadism or the stoicism to withstand it. But answering personal violence with state-sanctioned violence won’t make anyone any less violent. “For kids, it’s just as likely to make them angrier, less empathetic, and stripped of hope.” By Judith Levine, in Counterpunch… Continue reading The “Sex Offender” Regime is Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Globe file 2006/Boston Globe “Looking back at the case would serve a bigger purpose than score-settling. Wrongful convictions like that of Baran endanger trust in the whole judicial system. The Supreme Judicial Court, in its role as the general safeguard of the integrity of the courts, should launch a special inquiry into how justice failed… Continue reading When miscarriages of justice occur, prosecutors must answer for actions

“Yet as Baran was reportedly getting repeatedly sexually assaulted in prison, Downing was getting reelected and Ford was getting promoted. Just a few years after Baran’s conviction, Ford was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he presides over criminal cases. He has also served on a committee that determines state rules for criminal procedure.… Continue reading Why is Daniel Ford still a Massachusetts judge?

Associated press/Berkshire Eagle, Ben Garver/Associated Press “Convicted amidst the national panic over supposed sexual abuse of preschool children, Baran fell victim to homophobia, hysteria, and arguable prosecutorial misconduct. While many now recognize these prosecutions as modern-day witch hunts, those responsible for his incarceration remain unapologetic and unpunished.” http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/09/justice-system-failed-bernard-baran/5U8sPmGzbOjf0lHOgG7hGN/story.html

“Baran was not truly vindicated when he died. Not in the eyes of the law, represented here by the Democrats’ foul hope for governor, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. Coakley had a chance, in 2007, to acknowledge the state’s grievous wrong against Baran, call off the local prosecutor’s effort to throw him back behind bars,… Continue reading Liberals and Feminists, Stop Enabling the Police State

photo credit: jim d;entremont The Memorial Service for Bernard Baran will take place in Boston on October 11, 2014, at 3 p.m. A reception will follow the service. The location is the Staffordshire Room at the Hotel Westin Copley Place. All day parking is available for $30. All who love justice are welcome to attend.… Continue reading Bernard Baran’s Memorial Service

“Still, it’s inaccurate to say that prison killed Bernard Baran. Even healthy people have aneurysms. Rather, prison took his life. “Similarly, homophobia did not kill Baran — but it was the accomplice holding the gun.” http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/bernard-baran-rip/Content?oid=2434976

http://wrongfulconvictionsblog.org/2014/09/06/new-shaken-baby-syndrome-documentary-the-syndrome/ “Editorial Comment: Of course the promoters of this medical voodoo are not backing down. For them, SBS has been their source of livelihood, notoriety, and power.”