Ithaca Peace Activists Trial Starts Monday - HELP

[bcoylepa]

okay - this is my third try at posting this - these folks need our help
this posting went unnoticed in General and Politics

posted in state forums too - any activist worth their buttons should read up and help out - thanks

The first and only federal
conspiracy trial
arising out of civil resistance
to the Iraq War begins
September 19 in Binghamton, NY.

go to http://www.stpatricksfour.org/index.php for more important info!

[curt_b]

1. St Patricks Four

Here's what I've posted a couple other places:

Important Anti- War Action: St. Patricks 4 in Binghamton NY Sept. 19-23


Shortly before the mass convergence on Washington DC, the retrial of four Catholic Worker activists in Federal Court will begin. They need our support. The group engaged in a an act of civil disobedience two days before the invasion of Iraq. From the website www.stpatricksfour.org:

The four, all parents, were tried in Tompkins County Court in April 2004 on charges of criminal mischief. Nine of twelve jurors voted to acquit. However, almost a year later, the US government decided to retry the four, now on charges of conspiracy. If convicted, they face up to six years in prison and $250,000 in fines. The St. Patrick's Four trial begins September 19 in Binghamton, NY.

I received this reply to an email to a reporter covering the issue/event:

I met with the defendants on Saturday, and they definitely follow in the footsteps of Daniel Berrigan. All have full-time jobs, families, passions, hobbies, yet their beliefs in this greater cause, that the Iraq war is illegal and the killing of innocents is criminal, drives them to risk pricey fines and prison time. I think it's also significant that this case is being so energetically pursued by the federal government, even after a jury ruled in the defendants favor in the state trial.

You may have read that this could be the first time Americans engaged in civil disobedience have been charged with a federal conspiracy crime. If they lose, it could have implications for future civil disobedience actions...they're expecting thousands to come for the week, during which they've scheduled a people's tribunal to take place in the evening after the trial for the expert witnesses the defendants aren't permitted to use before the jury.

Her article(s) will appear in The NewStandard.
www.newstandardnews.net

I am not affiliated with any of the support groups but I feel the event is really flying under the radar, please help,
Curt

[bcoylepa]

2. where are the DU activists??

maybe this is the norm but I keep posting this under different headings with little or not response - you are right Curt that this is flying under the radar - I live an hour away with no media coverage at all

there is a wonderful citizen's tribunal all week - lots of important speakers
wish more interest was shown on this - it is a very important case
thanks Barbara