Feds Called in to Nail St. Pat's Day 4 & Other Anti-War Resistance Updates

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Wednesday June 30, 2004 13:18

by Teresa Grady - Ithaca Catholic Worker

c/-Magnificat House 105 2nd. St., Ithaca, New York 14850 USA

001-607-277-8673

They're on Trial For Us, We're on the Streets for Them!

ITHACA , NEW YORK, USA-- Four Ithacans accused of pouring blood on property at a military recruiting station during a 2003 antiwar demonstration learned Monday that they face prosecution in a federal court.

"We are willing to testify to what we know and what we've done, any place at any time," said Clare T. Grady, 45, a defendant.

District Attorney George Dentes informed Teresa B. Grady, 38, Clare Grady, Peter De Mott, 57, and Daniel Burns, 43, that he dismissed all charges pending in Tompkins County Court as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York agreed to begin prosecution.

The federal court judge still has the opportunity to review the case and decide whether to dismiss it or present it to a grand jury, said Bill Quigley, a Loyola University law professor who provided legal advice to the defendants.

"It's extraordinarily unusual for a district attorney to ask the federal court to take the case after admitting he doesn't think he would get a conviction," Quigley said.

The charges had been pending since a mistrial was declared in April when a Tompkins County jury could not reach a unanimous decision regarding third-degree criminal mischief charges that Teresa Grady, Clare Grady, De Mott and Burns faced. The charges stemmed from a March 17, 2003, incident in which the four defendants gathered at the military recruiting station at Cayuga Mall in Lansing to pour their own blood on a U.S. flag, posters, carpets and windows.

The four defendants, who used legal advisors as they represented themselves at the trial, relied on their own beliefs as they argued that their actions were done in hopes of ending the killings in Iraq.

After the mistrial, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the charges "in the interest of justice," Dentes said. Dentes responded by announcing that, at his request, the U.S. Attorney based in Syracuse had become involved in the case.

"He concluded that if we used the same evidence, and had the same rulings, during a trial in Tompkins County Court, we'd probably end up with another hung jury," Dentes said.

Although the charges at the federal level have not yet been determined, a trial at the federal level will likely focus on the defendants' intent to damage property during the demonstration. At the federal level, the judge may choose not to allow the defendants to use their political views in testimony, Dentes said.

"We think that the jury focused on the political ideology instead of the facts in this criminal case," Dentes said.

For a trial at the federal level, a jury would be convened from the area surrounding the federal court instead of Tompkins County. Although Quigley said a jury can affect a case's outcome, he added that the timing may affect it too.

"I think the situation in Iraq is less popular now than it was two months ago," Quigley said.

The defendants, who have not denied that they poured blood at the military recruiting station, said even at the federal level, they expect to focus their testimony on the suffering and lives lost as a result of the war.

"If there is a trial in federal court, we will explain to a second jury why we had a right and moral obligation to take nonviolent direct action against the war," De Mott said during a phone conversation Monday.

When the motions to dismiss the charges pending in Tompkins County Court was granted by Tompkins County Judge M. John Sherman Monday, the records of the trial and case were immediately sealed.

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Right Wingers Attack Ithaca Catholic Workers-Suggest to Feds to Use RICO Act

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker & Pitstop Ploughshares

Wed Jun 30, 2004 14:01

The link below carries the attack.

-RICO (designed by the Feds to take on the Mafia/organised crime in the U.S. in the 1960's) was unsuccessfully used against Catholic Workers in Iowa recently.

-Under RICO a Grand Jury can be summoned. They give you immunity but take away your right to remain silent.
By not answering any question put to you...you can then be charged with "non co-operation with a Grand Jury", you can be held up to 2 years in prison. upon release they can summon a new Grand Jury and go through the whole process again.

-When I was in El Reno Fed Pen, I might a guy who was detained by a Grand Jury for not ratting on his Uncle.

-In the '80's a number of Puerto Rican nationslaists were detained for 2 years for refuing to co-opearet with a Grand Jury

Howard Zinn on St. Patrick's Day 4

by Howard Zinn - Author "Peoples History of America"

Wed Jun 30, 2004 16:42

........you know the Pentagon told Dan Rather, they heard he had these pictures of the torture, and they said, "Would you delay?" And Dan Rather said, "OK." This is not what independent journalists are supposed to do. You're not supposed to bow down before the Pentagon.

Fortunately, we have people all over the country spreading the word. We have people protesting, and we have people going on trial and being acquitted by juries when the jury hears what they did.

Have you heard of the St. Patrick's Four? Of course not. They aren't going to tell you about the St. Patrick's Four. The St. Patrick's Four were four people from the Catholic peace movement who, on St. Patrick's Day last year, poured their blood around at a military recruiting station in Ithaca, New York, and they were put on trial. It was clear what they did. They said, we did this and this is why we did it. And the jury refused to convict. It was a hung jury.

So, I'm hopeful about the future of this country based on the idea that people have a certain common decency and that when they learn the truth, the truth has a power that can overcome even the most sophisticated of propaganda machines that the government has and the media collaborate with.

I feel confident--well, I won't talk about the elections, because the important thing is social movements--I feel confident for a future of this country. We are going to see the emergence and growth of a great social movement which has the possibility of changing the character of this country into a place that we can proud of.

-- Howard Zinn, the author of "A People's History of the United States," is a columnist for The Progressive.

http://www.progressive.org

Peace Prisoners-Send'em a postcard!

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker

Thu Jul 01, 2004 03:22

087 918 4552

Updated June 11, 2004

Political prisoners in prisons and jails for their witness for peace:

Sacred Earth and Space Plowshares

Jackie Hudson 08808-039 (30 months – out 7/05 or with good time 3/05)
Federal Prison Camp, Victorville
P.O. Box 5100
Adelanto, CA 92301
USA

Carol Gilbert 10856-039 (33 months – out 10/05 or with good time, 5/05))
Alderson FPC
Box A
Alderson, WV 24910
USA

Ardeth Platte 10857-039 (41 months – out 6/06 or with goodtime, 12/05)
Federal Correction Institution
331/2 Pembroke Station
Danbury, CT 06811
USA

Nuclear Resister

Helen Woodson 03231-045
c/o Bates County Jail
P.O. Box 60
Butler, MO 64730
USA
(Protest at federal courthouse, Kansas City, Missouri, 3/11/04 violates parole following 3/9/04 release from prison.)

Native American Political Prisoner

Leonard Peltier89637-132
POB 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048
USA

Overseas, These Nuclear Resisters Are Known To Be In Prison:

Mordechai Vanunu (18 years – out 4/21/04)
RELEASED
Nuclear whistleblower convicted of espionage and treason – Kidnapped by Israeli agents, 9/30/86)

Yuri I. Bandazhevsky (8 years – in 6/01)
Prison Minsk
ul Kavarijskaya 36
POB 351
Minsk, 220600
Belarus
(Chernobyl researcher and whistleblower fraudulently convicted of corruption, 6/01)

The Following People Are Now In Prison For Anti-War Related Activities
Vieques

José Vélez Acosta 23883-069 (33 months – in 9/5/03)
unknown

José Pérez González21519-069 (5 years – in 9/05/03)

Néstor de Jesús Guishard21716-069 (14 months – in 12/04/03)

José Montañez Sanes26317-069 (18 months – in 1/30/04)
MDC Guaynabo
P.O. Box 2147
San Juan, PR 00922-2147
USA (sic)

Jorge Cruz 26318-069 (18 months – in 2/28/04)
FCI Edgefield
501 Gary Hill Road
P.O. Box 723
Edgefield, SC 29824
USA

Jesús Delgado (6 months house arrest)
c/o May 1 Arrestees Support Committee
P.O. Box 191792
San Juan, PR 00919-1792
USA (sic)
(Conspiracy, damage to federal property, &/or probation violation 5/1/03 – resisting U.S. military bombardment of Vieques, Puerto Rico)

School Of The Americas

Gary Ashbeck 92088-020 (six months – out 5/22/04)
RELEASED (at Jonah House now)

Eric Robinson (six months – out 7/28/04)
(Trespass at the School of the Americas, Ft. Benning, Georgia – 22/11/03)

Leisa Ann Barnes (three months out 2/7/04)
# 92089-020
FCI Dublin - Federal
5701 8th St. - Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
USA

Donald Beisswenger ( six months out 10/04)
# 92091-020
Manchester FCI
PO Box 4000
Manchester, KY 40962
USA

Cynthia Brinkman (six months out 10/04)
# 92092-020
FPC Pekin
PO Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61555-5000
USA

David L. Corcoran (six months out 10/04)
# 90282-020
FPC Oxford
PO Box 1085
Oxford, WI 53952
USA

Scott Diehl ( out 7/04)
# 92093-020
Waseca FCI
Unit A
PO Box 1731
Waseca, MN 56093
USA

Faith Fippinger ( out 7/04)
# 92094-020
Coleman FCC
PO Box 1027
Coleman, FL 33521
USA

Alice Gerard ( out 7/04)
# 92095-020
Danbury FCI
33 1/2 Pembroke St. 37
Danbury, CT 06811
USA

Kathleen Frances Kelly ( out 8/04 )
# 04971-045
FPC Pekin
PO Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61555-5000
USA

Frances E. Lamb ( out 10/04)
# 92100-020
Danbury FCI
33 1/2 Pembroke St.
Rt. 37
Danbury, CT. 06811
USA

Margaret E. Morton ( out 7/04)
# 92102-020
Dublin FCI
5701 8th St. - Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
USA

Anthony O'Leary ( out 7/04))
# 92123-020
FPC Duluth
PO Box 1000
Duluth, MN 55814
USA

Gregory Poferl ( out 7/04)
# 92106-020
Waseca FCI
Unit D
PO Box 1731
Waseca, MN 56093
USA

Bernard A. Survil ( out 7/04)
# 92104-020
FPC McKean
PO Box 8000
Bradford, PA 16701
USA
Bernard received a three-month sentence.

Richard J. Wekerle ( out 10/04)
# 92109-020
Sheridan FPC
PO Box 6000
Sheridan, OR 97378
USA

Fr. Jerry Zawada ( out 11/04 )
# 04995-045
FPC Oxford
PO Box 1085
Oxford, WI 53952
USA

Military Refusers

Camilo Mejia
Building 1490
Randolph Rd.
Fort Sill, Ok 73503
USA
(National Guard member went AWOL after 2003 Iraq duty, turned self in as conscientious objector, 3/15/04, sentenced to one year)

Fr. Carl Kabat Found Guilty of Trespass at Nuclear Missile Silo

by Scott - Iowa Catholic Worker

Mon Jul 05, 2004 21:22

*Fr. Carl Kabat was one of the original Plowshares 8 that disarmed nuclear weapons at General Electric Factory in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania in 1980. He was sentenced to 3-10 years for this action (sentence later overturned on appeal).

**Fr. Carl Kabat was one of the Silo Pruning Hooks (a long with his brother the late Fr, Paul Cabat, Larry Cloud Morgan and Helen Woodoson) that carried out a nonviolent disarmament action on ICBM missile silo in Mssouri in 1984. Carl & Helen were sentenced to 18 years for this action. Carl served 12 years and has continued with nonviolent resistance. Helen has spent less than a week outside of jail since 1984.

***Prior to returning to the U.S. in the 1970's, Carl served as a priest under military dictatorships in the Philipines & Brazil wher he witnessed the impoverished consequences of U.S. militarism and colonialism

It didn't take long for the judge and prosecutor team to convict Fr. Carl Kabat of trespassing for his Good Friday action at Nuclear Missile Silo N-8. In an extremely dull and sterile proceeding a string of Air Force personnel and Weld County Sheriff's deputies pointed an accusing finger at Carl while totally ignoring the reality of the city killer bombs that should have been the real issue in the courtroom. Given the legal straightjacket laid down by the judge, Carl and his attorney Sue Tyburski presented no evidence or witnesses. All of the government actors seemed in total awe of the "sortie" or "primary resource", a couple of the euphemisms used to describe the bomb.

Sentencing is set for July 8 at 1:30. If folks wish to write supportive letters, they should address them to Magistrate Craig Shaffer and send them to:

Susan Tyburski

1800 Gaylord St.

Denver, CO 80206

USA

She would like to have them by July 1. Thanks

***Support letters and postcards can be written to

Fr. Carl Kabat

c/-Bill Sulzman

Citizens for Peace in Space

P.O. Box 915

Colorado Springs, CO 80901

719 389 0644

USA

"Love is the measure."

- Dorothy Day

http://catholicworker.org/

Sr. Ardeth serving 3 years for a Ploughshares Disaemament Action at an ICBM Missile Silo

by Sr. Ardeth Platte - Write Sister Ardeth sup-port letters or post cards

Sun Jul 11, 2004 15:18

mcasper at mindspring dot com

Ardeth Platte 10857-039, Federal Correction Institution, 33 1/2 Pembroke Station, Danbury, CT 06811 USA

You will be happy to know that Ardeth had her eye surgery yesterday and seems to be doing well....

Ramblings and Reflections

Newsletter 12

July, 2004

“God of the nations, look upon the lands devastated by war and show us the way to peace. Turn our guns into plows and our bombs into bread. Remove hatred from our hearts and vengeance from our memories. Give us the wisdom and the will to end terrorism and war whether in lands far or near, or in the confines of our families and communities. Help us to remember that we are one world and one family. Grant this through the intercession of all peacemakers of all times and all places, especially those who suffered persecution and death for the sake of justice and peace.” People’s Companion to the Breviary

David Dellinger, Presente! Poetess Mary Jane Helrich, Presente!

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I remain in awe of the grace of God to be able to continue on this prison journey taking each day, as friend Sue Tracy, OP, would caution and remind me – one blink, one breath, one swallow, one heartbeat at a time! My gratitude flows as a steady stream for your letters, your prayers, your support funds for the Appeal, your thoughtfulness in so many ways.

SOA Watch: Shirley Wray arrived on June 22nd. She has brought to us her beautiful Quaker spirit, her gift of peaceful silence and deep shared reflections. She will be here until Sept. 20th. Alice Gerard was released on July 2nd to her home in Buffalo. We miss her standard phrases and sense of humor. She assures us she has not been corrected and sings recidivist songs until the school for torture and abuse training is closed. Betsy Lamb challenges us by her presence and words. She’ll be here until Oct. 4th.

Medical Care: For those of you who have been following my year-long need for eye surgery for the removal of a cataract, my intense pursuit for relief because of difficulty in negotiating stairs (no depth perception), and the strain in reading with the burden placed on one overworked eye, I have good news. I am scheduled! Thanks to you who contacted the prison officials by phone or letters or both. I delayed this letter because I anticipated the trip to the hospital as soon as I was checked out at the medical center. Now I’m rushing to get this written knowing I’ll need some healing time after surgery. (Note: Ardeth had her eye surgery July 9th. She asked me to add that she wished her spiritual blindness could be removed as easily as her physical blindness.)

The medical needs for the 1300 plus women are extensive. We have had 1 suicide, 1 woman die of heart failure (46 and 51 years old respectively). A second young woman began chemo for cancer; another had emergency surgery. Actually the list of medical treatment needs is a long one in these facilities and in all prisons. Five women have birthed children and five women at the Camp unit are pregnant awaiting word about transfer to the Hartford center or remaining in this area. In Hartford they remain with their child for 3 months and then finish their sentences. At Danbury they remain hospitalized 3 days and a family member takes the child while the mother returns to finish her sentence. It is sad both ways.

Danbury Prison Library – Peace and Justice Books

For the books and magazines, I say thank you in a hundred ways. Together we have started a new library at Danbury Prison.

Copenhagen by Michael Frayn
Earth and Spirit by Fritz Hull
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2 copies)
Child of the Wild Wind by Claire Garden
Credo by William Sloan Coffin
My Angel Daniel by Vassula Ryden
Narrative Therapy by Jill Freedman and Gene Combs
Face to Face with the Bomb by Paul Shambroom
It’s a Terrible Day by Michael J. Doyle
Woman Word by Miriam Therese Winter
Woman Strength by Joan Chittister, OSB
Let This Mind Be in You by Harold Gingerich
Soul Sisters by Edwina Gately
Life on the Outside by Jennifer Gonnerman
The Life You Save May Be Your Own by Paul Elie
Permaculture, Finding Our Own Vine and Fig Trees by Carol Costen, OP
True Life in God by Vassula Ryden
The Exception to the Rulers by Amy Goodman and David Goodman
Add this list to those in my previous newsletters and you will find some of the greatest books of the day. Packages of magazines, (America, etc), a subscription to “Living Faith” periodical and “Celebrate” have also been received and shared. I may not have sufficient time to read every gift in these next two years, but I promise to do my best with gratitude.

Years 2000-2010

Recall that the United Nations declared 2000 the Year of Nonviolence and the decade the Year of Nonviolence and Peace in Behalf of the Children.

Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia Castillo is spending the year in prison for refusing to return to Iraq as a matter of conscience after he observed the conduct of troops toward civilians and prisoners.
Sisters and friends are gathering at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado to say “no” to the militarizing and weaponizing of outer space. (Aug. 6th)
OREPA is encouraging presence at Oak Ridge, TN to stop the new nuclear arms being designed and constructed. (Aug. 6th days)
Faith and Resistance Retreat called by Dorothy Day Catholic Workers and Jonah House in Washington DC for August 5-9 days.
Offutt Air Force Base, NE will have a gathering of peacemakers at its gates on August 6th and 9th, an annual resistance event.
There are Citizen Weapons Inspection Teams forming to vigil, demonstrate and expose nuclear sites all over the country. To you in the war zones – safety and prayer for you now and for your return. To keep this UN declaration alive in this decade it behooves us to plan, connect with others, be present with faithful communities for peace with justice.

I pay tribute to:

Michael Moore for his exposition and truth-telling about the present day war in Iraq in his documentary film Fahrenheit 911.
Amy Goodman with brother David Goodman for Exception to the Rulers.
Gratitude for your amazing courage and brilliance. You have been called by name and have responded!

Grateful Always,

Ardeth Platte

10857-039

Federal Correction Institution

33 1/2 Pembroke Station

Danbury, CT 06811

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Feds Called in to Nail St. Pat's Day 4 & Other Anti-War Resistance Updates

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