Mike Back in the U.S. & on Trial in Iowa

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday July 09, 2003 12:28 by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker

U.S. Student Peace Activist Based in Dublin Last Year

Mike Schorscm, a U.S. student based in Dublin last year is on trial in the U.S. for nonviolent resistance to the recent war. Mike was an active participant in demonstrations in Dublin & Shannon against the build up to war. Send Mike a support email schorscm@carelton.edu

TRIAL FOR CAMP DODGE 13 SET FOR JULY 7 IN DES MOINES

On March 22 a group of about fifty citizens gathered at the Iowa National Guard Headquarters at Camp Dodge, near Des Moines, to protest the newly begun expansion of the ongoing war on Iraq and to implore members of the Guard to refuse to fight. "Through the National Guard thousands of our neighbors are being rounded up and sent off the fight a war that is criminal and immoral. We would be remiss if we did not take our responsibility to raise to these brothers and sisters a clear and strong voice of warning," read an invitation to the protest issued a few days previously.

"This is a terrible day," said Brian Terrell, one of the speakers at the rally, "we have brothers and sisters in Iraq dying by the hundreds, maybe the thousands, in what people around the world are not recognizing as a war, but as a crime." Several participants gave expression of their support for the Iowa Guard troops by calling for their immediate return home.

Sixteen of the protesters attempted to enter the base gates and were arrested by Polk County Sheriffs deputies and charged with criminal trespass. Thirteen of these plead not guilty and demanded a trial by jury, which is set to begin on Monday, July 7, and expected to last the week.

Iowa law defines trespass as "entering or remaining on property without justification." Those going on trial maintain that their action, taking place while Iraqi civilians and some American soldiers were being killed in an illegal war of aggression, was justified and necessary. Among those who were arrested for exercising their responsibilities as citizens are college students and retirees, several veterans, clergy, school teachers, Catholic Workers, parents and grandparents. At least one will be represented by attorney Sally Frank and the Drake Legal Clinic and others will represent themselves. This will be a "big trial," both in number of defendants and in the importance of the issues that will be raised.

JOIN THE DEFENDANTS
AT THE POLK COUNTY COURT HOUSE,
DES MOINES, IA
DURING THE TRIAL

Show your support in the courtroom and with signs, banners and leaflets on the sidewalk outside.

COME TO A RALLY OF SUPPORT,
WEDNESDAY,
JULY 9, AT 7:30 PM
AT TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
1548 Eighth Street,
Des Moines

Those on trial July 7:

Marion Solomon, Ames IA
Jane Majors, Des Moines IA
Jim Johnson, Des Moines IA
Jeanne Firth, KC MO
Carla Dawson, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Elton Davis, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Fr Frank Cordaro, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Carolyn Uhlenhake Walker, Des Moines IA
Bill Basinger, Des Moines IA
Gil Dawes, Des Moines IA
Fran Fuller, Des Moines Catholic Worker
Michael Schorsch, MN
Brian Terrell, Malloy IA Catholic Worker


For more information contact:

Brian Terrell
Catholic Peace Ministry,
Ph (515) 255-8114
E-mail

or

Fr Frank Cordaro
Des Moines Catholic Worker
P O Box 4551, Des Moines IA 50306
Ph (515) 243-0765
E-mail
Des Moines Catholic Worker Web Page: