Snow delays sentencing for nun, Y-12 protesters

[bananas]

Source: The Tennessean

Unexpected snow Tuesday in East Tennessee delayed the sentencing of an 83-year-old Catholic nun and two other anti-nuclear activists convicted of breaking into one of the U.S. government's most secure nuclear facilities and defacing a uranium-processing building with human blood.

The federal courthouse in Knoxville, Tenn., closed early Tuesday and the trio's sentencing hearing will continue Feb. 18, said Sharry Dedman-Beard, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney William Killian.

But before shutting down court proceedings for the day, a federal judge ordered the three to pay nearly $53,000 in restitution for damaging government property during the 2012 protest.

<snip>

The three have garnered worldwide attention. Dozens of people gathered Tuesday in Knoxville, Tenn., with temperatures in the teens for a chance to get a seat inside the courtroom for the sentencing, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. And thousands of letters of support have poured in from around the world.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140128/NEWS/301280107

[mahannah]

1. Drop charges, pay them for services rendered. And thanks.

[bananas]

2. An article with more information about the hearings

http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20140128/NEWS01/301280033/Judge-orders-activists-pay-full-restitution

Judge orders activists to pay full restitution
Jan. 28, 2014 3:32 PM
Written by TRAVIS LOLLER, Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — <snip>

But after four hours of argument and emotional testimony, U.S. District Judge Amul Thapar announced that the courthouse was closing and sentencing would have to wait, likely until Feb. 18.

<snip>

Before the hearing was shut down, friends of the defendants testified to their good characters and kind hearts.

Kathleen Boylan, who lives in a community of Catholics devoted to peace and helping the poor with Walli in Washington, D.C., said her friend was a generous person who has spent his life helping others. She compared him to a character in the novel “Night” by Elie Wiesel who tries to warn people about the Holocaust but is turned away as crazy.

<snip>

Mary Evelyn Tucker, a Yale professor who has known Rice all of her life, spoke of the many years Rice spent serving the poor in Africa.

<snip>

As the three defendants were lead out in chains, Rice used her free hand to signal “OK” and make peace signs. Many of the supporters waved peace signs back and began singing “Eyes on the Prize.” Then someone yelled, “Happy Birthday, Megan,” and the dozens began singing “Happy Birthday” to Rice, who turns 84 Friday.

<snip>

[Half-Century Man]

3. The Judge is delaying sentencing because of the lack of frigid coldness

in his very human heart.

[paleotn]

4. $53K to strip paint off some walls and fix some fences?!

Where do I sign up? Seriously, does that sound a little extreme? Does to me.