By Carol Tannenhauser
Usually it is rage that sends Karin Schall, 62, into the streets to chalk. The last time West Side Rag covered her in October, 2023, she had chalked the names of every town that has experienced a mass shooting in America on a crosswalk near Lincoln Center, following the Lewiston, Maine, massacre.
But on Thursday, May 30, 2024, Schall’s message next to the subway station at West 59th Street and Columbus Circle was not angry. She was just letting the Upper West Side know that former President Donald J. Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts in a hush-money scheme to silence porn star Stormy Daniels about her illicit encounter with Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump is the first U.S. president in history to be convicted on criminal charges.
(Thanks to Caitlin Hawke for the tip.)
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
Can we just refer to him as “Convict Trump” now?
You’ll be referring to him as President Trump again in a few months—this will just drive his polls up and he’s already ahead—UWSiders don’t seem to understand that this makes him a sympathetic figure
I know the “base” is fired up. But will significant numbers of lukewarm or undecided voters decide to vote for Trump BECAUSE he was convicted?
Will anyone really be shocked to learn in 2024 that Trump did pay a pornstar to remain quiet using his business bank account and entering the payments as legal expenses? Lets be serious here.
That says a lot about Republicans. I thought that they were the law and order party!
but that’s just it. Blue cities and states are far more likely to pass things like bail reform and decriminalizing certain thresholds of shoplifting and drug use, etc. but Trump the criminal is completely different? why?
We (not just Republicans) know what law and order looks like at the border – something Biden could have fixed with 2 paragraphs and a stroke of a pen.
And we’re living the “progressives'” idea of law and order in the streets of New York every day.
Actually, it was the Republicans that blocked the bipartisan bill that would have fixed, or at the very least, improved the situation. But, on Trumps orders, the bill was killed, so that he could sign it if/when he’s reelected. But, don’t let facts stand in the way of your narrative.
The Republicans followed Trump’s instructions to refuse to sign an immigration bill that would have addressed the border issue because it would have helped Biden’s re-election chances. So Republicans do not care about the country, the border issues or law and order. Read the news.
This is more about Independents and how they will see this and energizing people that don’t usually vote—people love an underdog
Underdog, perhaps. Convicted felon? That would be unlikely….
People couldn’t care less about someone becoming a convicted felon because of resurrected misdemeanor bookkeeping violations seven years after they occurred. People want Bragg to go after real crime but instead he’s downgrading felonies for real criminals and upgrading misdemeanors for political enemies.
EXACTLY!
Why grant him the dignity of using his name, just call him “the convicted felon,” everyone will know who you mean (felon insures the understanding the crime he was convicted of is punishable by more than one year in prison).
he went from TFG to TCF. love it!
Statistically, his chances of going to prison are incredibly low, as he is technically elderly, a first-time offender and not a violent felon
aui contraire. he IS a violent felon. just check some of the texts going out. he is trying to raise the rabel and is definitely dangerous. Technically elderly, too old for prison. Too old for the White House.
May I point out that Trump has not yet been sentenced? At that point, he may be called a convicted felon.
That’s not at all how it works.
FACT: He’s been convicted. He is now a FELON.
He may likely appeal, and if successful, it can be overturned, but at this time, he is in FACT a convicted FELON.
You really get off on stuff like this. I can understand people getting all exited if a real felon is convicted and is taken out of society where he can’t harm others again. What dangerous behavior are we now more protected from? Incorrect debits and credits?
He has been found guilty of 34 felony counts. His sentencing is not relevant to that. The judge has a number of options regarding the penalties but he is now guilty and a convicted felon.
that’s wrong. He’s a convicted felon awaiting sentencing.
Better to be vandalizing the sidewalk with graffiti than to be burning and looting like in the riots of 2020, I suppose.
There was zero looting on the UWS in 2020. Soho & Fordham Road were the two areas where that occurred. But nice whataboutism
It’s not hurting anyone and it will put a smile on (almost) everyone’s face when they pass by. ; )
I wouldn’t call in “vandalizing” because chalk isn’t permanent.
Neither are markers or spray paint; it’s been refreshing to see local organic graffiti proliferating around the city in the last few years. Makes the city look alive!
Neither is spray paint.
Chalk will wash away on its own without the need for human intervention. That is not the case with spray paint.
But spray paint is hard to remove and costly to remove. Chalk washes off with the rain.
On the brink of WWIII in Ukraine, ongoing genocide in Gaza, climate collapse imminent … but we mustn’t let Trump get elected because he’ll prosecute his political opponents. Healthy society.
In a healthy society Donald Trump would get less than 5% of the vote. But we live in an unhealthy society filled with people who think turning the United States into an autocracy is worth it to own the Libs. Anyone who thinks Trump will make the United States a better place to live in is living in a fantasy world. I seem to recall that last time Trump ran he claimed it would be “so easy” to lower heath care costs and improve health care. He did absolutely nothing. He also said it would be “so easy” to win a trade war with China. The trade deficit with China increased while he was president.
Trump would turn over Ukraine to Russia, turn over Gaza and the West Bank to Israel and turn over climate policy to oil companies. So there are those reasons not to elect him too.
prosecuting political opponents just because they won’t kowtow is a sure sign of spreading authoritarianism. But how could you be sympathetic to Trump, given his climate change denialism and promises to “drill drill drill” and end all of Biden’s climate initiatives? Not to mention his promise to round up 15-20 million undocumented workers and put them in mass detention camps. These are just the beginning of his destructive, neo-fascist policies.
Bruce – Actually DT will annihilate voting, the legal system, the federal government among other things.
That seems pretty major
Biden’s climate initiatives, lol?! China is laughing all the way to the coal furnaces that are working 24/7.
He’s a former U.S. President.. let’s all hope he remains former.
Indeed. He would prosecute his political opponents.
“would?” Guess you missed the entirety of the “LOCK HER UP!” movement :shrug:
But his Justice Dept didn’t go after Hillary after he was inaugurated. How were his electioneering chants different from what Letitia James and Alvin Bragg said in their electioneering? They both ran on a platform of going after Trump. They did just that whereas Trump didn’t go after Hillary.
The Justice Department is currently going after Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat. Hardly the action of a federal agency attempting to swing an election to the Democrats.
Forget about whether it’s legal to lie about the election results. Trump is happy to corrode democracy with his lies, and unfortunately there are a LOT of gullible people willing to believe his lies, or amplify them.
Comparing the prosecution of Menendez to Trump makes no sense. Menendez has been a thorn in the Dem’s side for a long time. One could argue that the Justice Dept wants to get rid of a problem by prosecuting Menendez who will more than likely be replaced by another Democrat in a deep blue state such as NJ. Nothing risked and they can claim the high road in that they even go after their own. That is exactly what you’re saying.
> his Justice Dept didn’t go after Hillary after he was inaugurated. uhhh, cus there was no crime, it wasn’t for a lack of his DOJ trying.
Puhlease. She had a personal server on which she stored classified information and emails.
LOL and yet, Trump is convicted and she is not. Puhlease
‘movement’?
you missed it too, eh?
Which is different from this trial….how exactly?
the Justice Department had nothing to do with this trial. And the prosecution’s charges proved to be accurate. Two differences.
DOJ had nothing to do with this trial??? You obviously have not been paying attention. Please research Matthew Colangelo when you have the time.
Well, considering this was a STATE trial (not federal), the Federal government had zero to do with his prosecution. Perhaps if he hadn’t been breaking laws since he was a lad, this wouldn’t be happening. But again, that doesn’t fit your narrative.
Again, what narrative?! I voted for Biden. I’ve only ever voted for Democrats. Which doesn’t mean I’ll vote for them again (or for Trump), or that this trial was not politically motivated (or “sponsored”). Don’t dilute the conversation with this state vs. federal nonsense. You should know better the influence a Democratic administration. can wield in NYC.
The real point is the absurd failure of both parties to nominate non–bumbling, more centrist, common-sense candidates who offer anything to the middle-of-the-road voted and don’t just play to the tune of their respective parties’ most extreme elements. The Republic everyone’s rejoicing about being “saved” yesterday is about to be bankrupt.
And I, personally, simply have no one to vote for. It’s the definition of corrupt banana republic.
Your implication that the Dems had some sort of illegal influence in the prosecution speaks to a narrative. The fact that you voted Democrat exclusively really has no bearing. You’re buying in to the bs story that the trial was rigged.
Every. Single. Time the former guy loses – whether it be an election or a criminal trial, he claims it’s rigged. You’re comment more than suggest you believe him. Sad.
precisely
Similar to when Harry Reid eliminated the filibuster, the decision to try and convict Trump on silly charges will backfire and be regretted. I wouldn’t be surprised to see right-leaning DAs and Attorneys General across the US initiate similar legal actions. There’s a trove of misinformation – hard facts – spewed by the Dems to influence the current elections.
Next week when Hunter Biden goes on trial, one of the first pieces of evidence to be entered will be the laptop that many government officials originally derided as Russian propaganda only to be confirmed as being real by the prosecutors.
silly charges? do you routinely falsify business records in order to cover up another crime?
Harry Reid didn’t “eliminate the filibuster.” Please get your facts straight.
Live your life such that people don’t celebrate when you go to prison. Love it!
The sheer cope!!
It’s a shame what this Nation’s Communist Party, Democrats have done to this country. It’s why I left the Party a few years ago. Promoting criminal activities, lying to the people, destabilizing the financial system and colluding with our adversaries to destroy our country inorder to enrich themselves is not The American Way. I challenge the President to produce the recordings made by Special Counsel Robert Hur as requested by Congress and to have his Mental Acuity tested!
You just described the GOP to a “t.” Trump is a white collar criminal and January 6 was an attempted coup d’etat. Trump left the largest national debt in history. Colluding with adversaries? LOL — Trump said he trusted Putin and North Korea more than our own intelligence community. He said it while on stage and I heard him. Enrich oneself? Trump and his clan illegally raked in $2-billion off the presidency in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, and so said the very right wing Forbes magazine: the capitalist tool. As for mental acuity, I just listened to Trump’s rambling, psychotic press conference. He literally cannot keep a coherent thought in his head for a split second.
Let’s be real. Both parties are a disaster.
Are we allowed to say we don’t like Karin Schall’s chalking? I had a comment last October and one today dumped —they were both respectful comments— I don’t like what she does and said so
No one is silencing your opinion. At least Ms. Schall is voicing hers and a good majority of the citizens of our city.
What have you done lately to further any cause?
And how was this furthering any cause? Oversharing an opinion?
Read more carefully Eric—I had two comments dumped before this one went thru so now I’m not being silenced—thx WSR—I just don’t like her chalking and that is my right—what ‘cause’ is graffitied sidewalk furthering?
Alvin Bragg might have just saved our republic. Just sayin’.
“The End of Democracy as we Know It”
How? By prosecuting a criminal? And please spare us the ‘soft on crime’ narrative. Bragg won. Trump lost. His lifetime of lawlessness is finally catching up with him.
What she did is brilliant, it just clearly states the enormity of the results of bad behavior
Bad behavior – maybe – but criminal I don’t think so
A jury of your peers begs to differ.
This is nothing short of a MASTERPIECE of art…👍🏻
Its interesting but there is nothing illegal about an “illicit” encounter with Stormy Daniels as your article states. As I understand it, through a convoluted argument that belies understanding, he was found guilty of an illegal campaign donation. This City is so left it is unable to separate politics from the law. I doubt the Gambinos were pursued with this much vigor. No good can come of this verdict
Illegal campaign donation? What are you talking about? That was not at all what he was convicted of.
My ‘reply’ function isn’t working! Help me WSR, some of these comments are begging for a response!
34 Convictions and NO time will be served???? Goes to show how much of a farce and waste of tax payer’s money this trial was. I have come to the conclusion that this was a political witch-hunt. As a resident of NYC for over 55 years, my immediate concern is the crime and my remote concern is our immigration laws not being enforced. Democratic party has lost me , , , voting for Trump 2024.
34 convictions on the lowest class of felony available in NY, but that’s far from the only factor accounted for in sentencing. His age, the fact that he has no priors, and that these are non-violent felonies will also be considered. Prison time is highly unlikely
Not sure what one has to do with the other, but where does it say that no time will be served? The sentencing date is July 11th.
Boris –
Eager to hear your explanation of “silly charges” – or are you just making a bad joke?
Folks have to admit that those charges were bogus.
You heard the refrain ” there ought to be a law? “Well, there is and Trumpf broke it in 34 places.
Hence the charges based on the law. Otherwise if the charges were bogus they would have been tossed by the judge.
Don’t discount so casually our jury system. 12 people were vetted and chosen by the prosecution AND Trump’s attorneys and they HEARD all of the evidence from BOTH sides, deliberated for almost 2 days and reached 34 conclusions UNANIMOUSLY. What else do we want? Throw Trumpf in the Hudson and see if he floats?
It was the same singular action made into 34 separate charges.
Did anyone really think Trump would get a fair trial in this venue? No juror wanted to face their coworkers, bosses, family, and friends as the juror who didn’t convict Trump.
The jury didn’t think so. You know, the 12 people who heard all the evidence and then decided.
Just great!
Several more trials to go. We’re gonna need more chalk.
An adjudicated rapist and now a convicted felon also feeble and racist and crooked, the party of law and order and manliness is lost in the weeds. His own VP won’t endorse him neither will Paul Ryan. What exactly does he have to do to convince you he’s unfit? Trash the military? Oh wait… All you have to do is pick a decent intelligent law abiding person to run.
His own VP came out very strongly against the trial and verdict. You can’t cherry-pick.
Just let yourself imagine, even for a minute, that other guy is every bit as smart as you and truly and reasonably believes DJT is the change we need. Then soberly look at what and where this just happened. Then take another minute and picture what the political landscape looks like going forward. I predict this is not good.
Trump raised nearly $54 million in the last 24 hours and his favorability rating went up 6%. I don’t think this is the victory the tribalists on this site think it is. Rational people see through the game for what it is: the last-gasp desperation of the clearly advanced dementia patient President and his handlers (who-let’s admit it – are the ones really running the country).
Prosecuting political opponents is exactly what Biden and the democrats are doing. Recall, prior to this, partisan democrats tried removing Trump from the ballot. These actions are precisely what dictators like Putin, Maduro (in Venezuela), Ortega (in Nicaragua), and the Castro in Cuba did. You can now add Biden to that embarrassing list
Imagine the outrage from the Left if the tables were turned. It’s May of 2020, and President Trump’s DOJ has arrested and is trying to imprison Dem candidate Biden for alleged crimes he committed as VP (influence peddling on behalf of his crooked son Hunter, for example). Candidate Biden is also being prosecuted for similar alleged crimes by a few Republican state AG’s who are claiming some of these crimes occurred in their states. Candidate Biden is spending lots of time (and money) in courthouses instead of campaigning. Oh, and a dark Red jury in Texas just convicted Biden of one of these alleged crimes, making Biden a felon. Do you really think the NYTimes and the rest of the Left would be smugly declaring that “no one is above the law”? Of course not. They’d be decrying this as a weaponization of the justice system, the end of democracy, this is what fascist dictators do, etc. Be honest folks….
Sincere question: if someone were to write in chalk 34 times “I love Trump” on the next block, would that person be arrested, tried and convicted by DA Bragg for vandalism? I bet he would! Hopefully the charge would be a misdemeanor and not upgraded to a felony!
Wow…know WSR won’t allow this comment, but I just had to respond! Wow…
After reading some of these comment, think I will go back to reading about JLo and Ben…
Yes! Convicted on ALL counts! Chalk one up for the good guys!
However, he will be the next President because of this. Mark this post. I am never wrong.
The jury spanked Trump even harder than Stormi did!!
In related news, Putin and his prosecutorial cronies recently issued an arrest warrant for Gary Kasparov, the chess grandmaster, fighter for human rights, and vocal Putin critic. https://www.chess.com/news/view/russia-issues-arrest-warrant-for-kasparov-on-terrorist-charges
They’ve labeled him a terrorist. If Kasparov sets foot in Russia ever again, he’ll be arrested and imprisoned for life. This is what the man in power does to his political foes in Russia. Sound familiar?
Umm, actually it does not. What law did Gary Kasparov break?
Karen Schall’s sidewalk chalking and the unaccredited photo of her graffiti are both the most eloquent statements of Trump ‘s conviction . Kudos to Ms Schall and the photographer who captured this ephemera .