N18-Ennis Court *10.30 am Solidarity Vigil with Anti-War Shannon Banshees

by Charles - Des Moines Catholic Worker Wed Nov 17, 2004 23:39

Ten arrested at Camp Dodge

Two Roosevelt High School students and eight other war protesters were
arrested on Election Day in a demonstration at Iowa National Guard
headquarters in Johnston.
Roosevelt students Jay Kozel, 17, and Duncan Pierce, 16, were arrested
for trespassing after climbing a ladder over a security fence at the
STARC Armory.

"Since I'm 16 and can't vote this is a way I can voice my opinion,"
said Pierce, who was joined at the protest by his mother, Renee
Espeland.

The 10 arrests marked the fourth time since the beginning of the war
that protesters have crossed the line at STARC Armory.

Last week's action is the first to include high school students.

"We're out here on election day because we're not confident with the
selection being given to us," said Kozel, referring to the presidential
election. "At this time in our nation's history voting is not enough."

Tuesday's protest came just one hour after National Guard officials
announced that Sgt. James C. Kearney, II, 22, of Emmerson had died
while serving in Afghanistan.

Kearney, a member of Company B, First Battalion, 168th Infantry based
out of Shehandoah, was killed when his vehicle was struck by a
rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire near Sharan on Nov. 1.

Two other soldiers, Spc. Michael R. Johnston, 22, of Red Oak and Spc.
Kenneth L. Lukes, 29, of Protivin, were also injured in the attack.

Services for Sgt. Kearney were planned for today, Nov. 10, in Red Oak.

"(Soldiers) are willing to lay down their lives so they have the right
to protest, the right to vote and live in a peaceful society," said Lt.
Col. Greg Hapgood, Public Affairs Officer for the Iowa National Guard.

Protesters held a brief rally Tuesday afternoon across the street from
the STARC Armory.

The group read statements condemning the war and voicing skepticism
over the ongoing presidential election.

"I voted but not with the option that (either presidential candidate)
is going to do anything about this war," said Espeland.

The protest was dubbed the "Vote with Your Feet" anti-war rally.

Frank Cordaro, who has helped organize weekly protests across from the
Guard headquarters each Wednesday, said he was excited to see younger
faces get involved.

"With all the talk of a draft it's just heartening that I'm going to
get busted today with (2) high school students," he said.

Cordaro, 53, a former Catholic priest has been arrested at each of the
four protests held over the last year and a half.

Also arrested on Tuesday were: Spencer Pierce, 19, of Des Moines; Renee
Espeland, 43, of Des Moines; John Heid, 49, of Luck, WI; Brian Terrell,
48, of Maloy, IA; Fran Fuller, 56, of Des Moines; Tom Schmitz, 49, of
Des Moines, and Ed Bloomer, 57, of Des Moines.

An 11th protester, Chris Gaunt of Des Moines was released by Guard
officials after traversing the fence.

According to Hapgood, each of the protester arrested were given the
option to leave the Armory property without arrest.

"We give them all one last chance," said Hapgood.

Ten of the 11 selected to be arrested for trespassing. Ed Bloomer was
also charged with interference with official acts after refusing to
give his name at the time of arrest.

The eight adult arrestees were taken to Polk County Jail.

Kozel and Pierce were transported to the Polk County Juvenile Detention
Center and later released to their parents.

by Jim - Peter Maurin Farm Wed Nov 17, 2004 23:44 Dayboro, Queensland, Australia

My Day in Court

Today I went to court for my citizens arrest of MP Peter Dutton a week before the election.

About ten of us picketed Peter Dutton's office for an hour before the court case.
A workman renovating the building next door said when I gave him a leaflet, " Good on you. I can't even think about what is going on in Iraq any more. It makes me ill thinking about it!" Indeed this "war" gets more sickening every day!

I had just recently read a little about the Nazis razing Warsaw to the ground in WW2 after the uprising by Polish resisters to the occupation. Those who didn't flee were taken to Aushwitz.

Many have attempted to compare present day US to Nazi Germany. The events of recent days in Falujah can leave us in no doubt the comparison is a valid one. The US has destroyed a city of 300,000 people because they refused to accept US rule. Those who did not flee were killed in their thousands while most of the city was reduced to rubble by the psychopathic killing machine that the US military has become. All that is missing from the Warsaw comparison is Aushwitz - so far.

That the Australian public can let this act of evil pass as part of the attempt to "liberate" the Iraqi people, shows that Aushwitz or worse may not be far off. We will accept it with hardly a murmur.

Court

In court I presented lots of written evidence pointing out Peter Dutton's crimes in advocating and defending the war, as well as supporting the illegal detention and torture of Australian citizens in Guatanamo Bay.
The prosecutor merely said my Citizen's arrest was invalid, and I was in fact a public nuisance as charged.

At the end of the day the Magistrate reserved his decision, and we have to go back to court on December 23rd to hear the decision.

Jim Dowling

by DCW Thu Nov 18, 2004 17:20

Elaine and Zelda have been bailed to appear in Ennis Court on February 10th.