Solidarity with Anti-War Resistance in the U.S.
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report
Monday December 13, 2004 14:18
by Steve
A Victory For Conscience and International Law:
4 Peace activists found not guilty of criminal
trespass at Alliant Tech, manufacturer of cluster
bombs and depleted uranium weapons
A Victory for Conscience and International Law
A jury of six women returned a verdict of “not guilty”
in the trial of 4 Christian peacemakers in Minneapolis
today. John and Marie Braun, Carol Masters, and Steve
Clemens were charged with criminal trespass on July
21, 2004 when they attempted to enter the corporate
headquarters of Alliant TechSystems in Edina, MN. The
four were attempting to deliver a letter and documents
to corporate officers concerning “Employee Liabilities
of Weapons Manufacturers Under International Law.”
After requesting to meet with one of four corporate
officers, the four were arrested after they refused to
leave the premises without at least an appointment to
meet with them at a future date.
If convicted, the defendants could have faced up to 90
days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. They chose
to request a jury trial instead of accepting an offer
to plead guilty in exchange for “community service”.
Speaking to a jury, they felt, can help spread the
word about International Law and the realities of
these weapons.
The trial, presided over by Judge Regina M. Chu,
focused on a provision in the MN trespass law which
provides for “a claim of right”. The defendants
successfully argued that it was reasonable for them to
be on the property of this weapons manufacturer
because of treaties signed by the United States.
Quoting Article VI of the US Constitution where
International Treaties signed by our government are
identified as “the supreme law of the land”, the
defendants then offered into evidence excerpts from
the Hague and Geneva Conventions, the CCW Treaty, and
the Nuremberg Principles. The Judge also permitted
inclusion of articles the defendants had read prior to
their nonviolent action that influenced their intent
that day.
All four defendants testified in a moving fashion,
bringing tears to some eyes in the courtroom. The
International Law offered into evidence prohibits the
manufacture, sale, or use of weapons which are
indiscriminate. Those are weapons which continue to
kill after a war has ended, those that aren’t limited
to the field of battle, those causing unnecessary
suffering and are inhumane, and those which cause
long-lasting damage to the natural environment. The
four testified that Alliant TechSystems is the primary
manufacturer of anti-personnel landmines, cluster
bombs, and depleted uranium weapons for the US
Military. They described the effects of these weapons,
showing them to be indiscriminate and thus illegal.
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10The Pentagon says more than 5,500 servicemen have deserted since the
war started in Iraq.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/06/60II/main659336.shtml
Updated December 1, 2004
Political prisoners in prisons and jails for their witness for peace:
***Elton has a three month sentence for trespass at the Strategic Nuclear and Military Space Commands at Offutt Air Force Base August 9 2004..
Elton Davis #19777-047 (out Feb 18, 2005)
Leavenworth Detention Center
100 Highway Terrace
Leavenworth, Kansas 66048
***Walli had been among a group of protesters arrested at the Clam Lake , Wisc., Navy submarine transmitter Project ELF during the 2003 Mothers' Day protest.
Michael Walli, (21 days)
c/o Dane County Jail ,
115 W. Doty, Madison ,
WI 53703 .
***Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares
Jackie Hudson 08808-039 (30 months – out 7/05 or with good time 3/06/05)
Federal Prison Camp, Victorville
P.O. Box 5100
Adelanto, CA 92301
Carol Gilbert 10856-039 (33 months – out 10/05 or with good time, 5/23/05))
Alderson FPC
Box A
Alderson, WV 24910
Ardeth Platte 10857-039 (41 months – out 6/06 or with goodtime, 12/22/05)
Federal Correction Institution
331/2 Pembroke Station
Danbury, CT 06811
Nuclear Resisters
Helen Woodson 03231-045
c/o Bates County Jail
P.O. Box 60
Butler, MO 64730
(Protest at federal courthouse, Kansas City, Missouri, 3/11/04 violates parole following 3/9/04 release from prison.)
Yuri I. Bandazhevsky (8 years – in 12/04)
Valiuk for Bandazhevsky Y.I.
231318 Grodnenskaya oblast
Lidski raion
Peskovtsy, ul, Oktiabrskaya 2
Belarus
(Chernobyl researcher and whistleblower fraudulently convicted of corruption, 6/01)
Igor Sutyagin (15 years)
c/o Irina Petrovna Manammikova (wife of prisoner)
Zvezdnaya, d, 1A, kv. 82
Obninsk, Kaluga region 249039
Russia
(imprisoned since 10/27/99, now convicted of espionage for researching public nuclear weapons information for disarmament research)
***The Following People Are Now In Prison For Anti-War Related Activities
Vieques
José Vélez Acosta 23883-069 (33 months – out 1/27/06)
USP POB 1033
Coleman, Florida 33521
José Pérez González 21519-069 (5 years – in 9/05/03)
Montgomery FPC
Maxwell Air Force Base
Montgomery, AL 36112
Néstor de Jesús Guishard 21716-069 (14 months – out 12/9/04)
and
José Montañez Sanes 26317-069 (18 months –out 5/15/05 )
MDC Guaynabo
P.O. Box 2147
San Juan, PR 00922-2147
Andres Santiago 19829-069 (out 12/10/04)
MDC Guaynabo
PO Box 2147
San Jaun, PR 00922-2147
Jorge Cruz 26318-069 (18 months – out 6/06/05)
FCI Edgefield
501 Gary Hill Road
P.O. Box 723
Edgefield, SC 29824
Military Refusers
***Camilo Mejia (one year-out 3/05)
Building 1490
Randolph Rd.
Fort Sill, Ok 73503
(National Guard member went AWOL after 2003 Iraq duty, turned self in as conscientious objector, 3/15/04, sentenced to one year)
Sgt. First Class Abd Alla Webster (14 months, in 6/3/04)
we don't know address yet. (more info)
possible address:
293 Base Battalion
Mannheim, Germany
(refused Iraq dity convicted after CO petition rejected)
Eight of eleven arrested peace activists go to Polk Co., Iowa, District
Court on Thursday Dec 16 at 2 p.m. to answer to charges of trespass at
STARC Armory.
The eight were part of a Vote With Your Feet Anti-War Rally and Direct
Action that took place at STARC Armory in Johnston Iowa, the Iowa
National Guard Headquarters.
Each faces misdemeanor trespass charges that have a maxim penalty of
30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
All eight intend to plead no contest to the charges and expect to be
sentenced at the same time.
The eight peace activist going to court on Dec. 16 are:
Brian Terrell , Moly Iowa
Renee Espeland , Des Moines
Frank Cordaro , Des Moines Catholic Worker
Ed Bloomer ( no e-mail Ph 246 1499 or 243 0765 ), Des Moines Catholic
Worker
Tom Schmitz , Des Moines Catholic Worker
Spencer Pierce , Des Moines
Fran Fuller , Des Moines Catholic Worker
John Heid (no e-mail - Ph # 715-472-8833), Luck WI
Recieved by Fran Fuller, DM Catholic Worker, Dec 10, 2004
As I sit here in the Leavenworth, KS, US Marshalls' holding center, the
for profit Corrections Corporation of America, I wonder....
I wonder if all of the middle class white folks out there really feel
safer with all of these nonviolent statute offenders locked away for
the next decade or so.
People who breathe a sigh of relief when they make a deal with the US
Attorney's office and get a decade instead of 20 years behind bars.
That's what peole here are willing t live with; it's a part of life.
Inform on your friends and only spend ten eyars incarcerated.
And me? I'm only visiting here. Only doing my 90 day rotation through
here. As a Catholic Worker, I am tasked with seeing to the corporal
works of mercy as outlined in Matthew 25. The final work of mercy
listed is visiting those in prison.
Getting a lot of mileage from the Gospel of Matthew these days. My
cellmate is looking at a third feloony drug conviction and the
prosecutor wants a life sentence for him. None of my cellmate's
friends on the outside will accept his calls or answer his letters
seeking help by way of testifying to his drug addiction. I pointed out
to him in Matthew 26 where Peter denied knowing even Jesus, so he
should feel he was in good coompany. Dunno if that helped, but it came
to me as an obvious example.
So much misery in here, so many lives and families broken. It would
seem a good project dea to have an inmate mail forwarding center for
spouses and loved ones since it is not possible to write institution to
institution.
Well, that's allI can write for now. I blew the end of my thumb off in
an industrial accident and my hand cramps up pretty bad after only
writing a few paragraphs. I'll write more as I have time.
Peace & blessings,
Happy Chanukah,
Elton Davis #19777-047
Leavenworth Detention Center
100 Highway Terrace
Kansas 66048
Brian Buckley has been sentenced to 2 months in jail for his part in using the symbol of ashes at the Udvar- Hazy Enola Gay Exhibit. The Enola Gay was the planed that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It was reassembled by the U.S. government on the 50th. anniversary of the bombing for public display.
More on the witness can be found on our web site at jonahhouse.org. Here is his address:
Brian Buckley
#2004-16549
Fairfax County Adult Detention Center
10520 Judicial Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
USA
He cannot receive magazines, newspapers or packages. Please remember him this holiday season
http://www.soaw.org/new/
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff12112004.html
Those arrested at the November 2nd "Vote with your Feet" action at the STARC Armory (Iowa National Guard which deploy in Iraq) appeared in court today. All plead guilty except Ed
Bloomer who goes to trial on January 20.
Brian Terrell, Fran Fuller and John Heid were sentenced to a 30 day suspended sentence, 12 month informal probation and 25 hours
community service.
Renae Espland and her son, Duncan Pierce, were sentenced to time served. Frank Cordarro told the judge he would not abide by the terms of probation or
pay a fine. He was sentenced to 30 days and given credit for 2 already served.
http://www.jonahhouse.org/Phil_BerriganNYCAction04.htm
Greetings and solidarity with all you wonderful people at this Christmas time. May you be really happy.