[Seattle-editorial] Feature Proposal: Peace Activists Arraigned

[Gentry Lange]

Updated Version follows...
g
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This story culled from this post
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=19746&group=webcast
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Title: Seattle Peace Activists Arraigned
Subtitle: Growing Opposition to Iraq War

On Nov. 7, at 8:45 am, in Federal District Ct, Western District, twelve
Seattle peace activists were arraigned in the courtroom of Judge Martinez.

Their crime? On 9/25/02, the twelve activists were arrested for a civil
disobedience action at the Federal Building in Seattle. The activists staged
a protest in the offices of Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and were
subsequently charged with failure to obey the orders of federal officers
(Fed Bldg, Fed Officers).

At that time, neither of the Washington Senators had voiced their intentions
regarding how they would vote on the war referendum, nor had they made any
critical remarks publicly regarding its content. The activists claim that
since an escalation of the war on Iraq seemed an imminent possibility, that
this direct action was justified.

The twelve activists now face up to 30 days in jail (prison?), fines up to
$5,000 and a mandatory $5 "administrsative fee". Because the penalties are
so low, the courts are not obliged to provide public defenders. (At the time
of this report only one defendant is known to have retained a lawyer.)

All of the defendants are expected to sign a bond that stipulates a promise
to appear at the trial, if released. The bond requires the defendants not to
break further laws of any kind between arraignment and the conclusion of the
trial, which could be months away. If the defendants are found to be in
violation of the bond, the legal penalties become increasingly severe. A few
activists are planning not to sign the bond, as they feel compelled by the
imminent threat of war to perform further civil disobedience and encourage
others to do so.

The defendants include:
Peggy Wolf
Chris Pringer
Mike Yarrow
Ruth Yarrow
Peter Ilgenfritz
Andrew Fung
Nan McMurray
Shannon Turner-Covell
Anne Hall
Jean Buskin
John Repp
Jeff Gustafson

A trial has been set for January 16, 2003 with Judge Weinberg, Room 3-B of
the old Federal Court Building, 1010 5th Avenue, Seattle.

For information about how to help the defendants, or for interested media,
contact Marcia Mullins (mmmullins2 at attbi.com). For information about future
civil disobedience actions, please email Mike Yarrow at the Fellowship of
Reconciliation.

Upcoming War Protest Events:

2 rallies "No War" rallies this week (sunday):

	-Myrtle Edwards Park (8:30 am) to Centralia and back ("by dark")

	-12-3 in Olympia.

http://www.snowcoalition.org
Sundays at Greenlake vigils

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I've added most of Sherri Herndon's edits, however, I don't actually know
enough about the war protests to clear up the confusion on the events
side... I'll try researching this on the web, and contacting Marcia Mullins.
Also does anyone know if any of these folks actually went to jail? Also,
would be nice to clear up the confusion about prison or jail (the confusion
is my own, as the original post doesn't tell me, and the two are different).

Gentry