[News] The Fate of Nonviolent Dissent in Hands of Jury

[Anti-Imperialist News]

http://www.stpatricksfour.org

The Fate of Nonviolent Dissent in Hands of Jury; The St. Patrick's Four 
Trial Presses On

The first federal conspiracy trial of civilian war resisters nears a close 
today, and twelve jurors --eight women and four men-- will be asked to 
determine the new landscape of dissent and democracy.

"The US government has charged the defendants with crimes based on a rarely 
used statute," said Bill Quigley, acting legal advisor to the defendants. 
"The government has taken what would have been considered a State level 
misdemeanor offense that would result in 6 months local jail time and 
literally crafted federal law to fit, that, if convicted, will now result 
in 6 years incarceration in Federal prison. The effect this will have on 
the public's right to dissent, a cornerstone of our democracy, is 
absolutely chilling."

Having rested their defense yesterday, the four parents, better known as 
the St. Patrick's Four, trust that the jury will deliberate thoughtfully, 
vote their conscience, and reject the charges brought against them in 
acknowledgement of the real crime, the invasion and continued occupation of 
Iraq.

The week long trial has been a constant negotiation of what the defendants 
could explain as to what was in their hearts and minds as they entered the 
military recruiting center. Senior U.S. District Judge Hon. Thomas J. 
McAvoy overwhelmingly sustained the objections of Miroslav Lovric, the 
federal prosecutor, when the parents attempted to speak of the illegality 
of the Iraq war, international law and its relevance to their actions, 
facts or statistics about the Iraq war, descriptions of the damages or 
deaths caused by war, and descriptions of what defendants had seen when 
they traveled to Iraq.

"The closer we get to the truth of violence and war," said Peter DeMott, 
one of the codefendants, "the more the government tries to suppress the 
truth. It's up to all of us to nonviolently push the envelope and apply 
pressure on our government to halt its insane march towards destruction."

Refusing to answer the question as to who drew their blood, both Daniel 
Burns and Peter DeMott were held in contempt of court. Teresa Grady was 
also charged with contempt when she mentioned their previous trial, held in 
Tompkins County Court in April 2004, in which nine of twelve jurors voted 
to acquit. Judge McAvoy has stated he will withhold decision as to the 
penalty until after the trial concludes.

On St. Patrick's Day 2003, two days before the US military invasion of Iraq 
began, the four members of the Ithaca Catholic Worker movement --Daniel 
Burns, Peter DeMott, Teresa and Clare Grady-- entered their local military 
recruiting station and carefully poured a small amount of their blood on 
recruiting center posters, walls and flag to symbolize the violence of war 
and the sanctity of life. They knelt, prayed, and were later charged with 
criminal mischief and trespassing.

The first federal conspiracy trial against war protesters since the Vietnam 
war, resumes Friday 9:30 am in the Binghamton Federal Courthouse Building.

To view indictment 
<http://www.stpatricksfour.org/documents/StPatsIndictment2005.pdf>http://www.stpatricksfour.org/documents/StPatsIndictment2005.pdf. 


To view Title 18 United States Code Section 372 see 
<http://tinyurl.com/adolz>http://tinyurl.com/adolz.


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