St. Patrick's Four: Please Read!

[H2O Man]

Two days before the invasion of Iraq, four Catholic Workers from Ithaca NY, in an act of non-violent civil disobedience, entered a local military recruiting station, read a statement, and then poured some of their own blood around.

The four, all parents, were tried in Tompkins County Court in April of 2004. They faced charges of criminal mischief. Nine of twelve jurors voted to acquit the four.

However, the US government, recognizing the tide has turned against the Cheney attack, has decided to re-try the four. The charges have been up-graded to "conspiracy" -- so now the St. Patrick's Four face six years in prison, and $250,000 fines.

Their trial has been moved to Binghamton, NY, and is scheduled to begin on September 19.

Visit their website: http://stpatricksfour.com/

They need our support.

*** Will Pitt: If you are interested in attending their trial, e-mail me. I'll put you up here, or in a local hotel of your choice.

[fooj]

1. OMG! What can we do to help?

Peace.

[im10ashus]

3. Add your name to the list. n/t

:kick:

[ClayZ]

11. Done and Kicked

:kick:

[H2O Man]

17. Thank you.

I appreciate your support.

[H2O Man]

5. I just got the link.

My son is in college near where they went to trial. Binghamton isn't as laid-back.

The site has some ways to help. I am serious about my offer to put Will Pitt up; he should be here. I'd let him choose to stay in my son's bedroom, or rent him a hotel room. This deserves a higher level of press/media coverage.

I'm open to suggestions on how to work on this.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. conspiracy? TO DO WHAT?

On Federal Charges? This country is going to the dogs.

[Me.]

4. It Would Be Great

if this got posted to other sites and the bloggers picked it up. The environment is changing now, with the war becoming unpopular which is good for these men. I wonder if you should contact the Sheehan people?

[H2O Man]

6. I think DUers

with those connections need to. I had tried to help another reporter from the Irish Echo in touch with Sheehan, with no luck.

[im10ashus]

7. What about MoveOn.org.

This is something they should be covering. I will send them an email.

[H2O Man]

8. Thank you.

The more we are able to spread this message, the better.

[Me.]

9. Sent One

to Countdown

[hwmnbn]

10. done.......

am thinking of how else to contribute.

[H2O Man]

33. Thanks.

I appreciate the help.

[SnoopDog]

12. If they were tried... and acquitted....how can they be tried again?

They cannot be tried again - isn't that the double jeopardy clause?

[H2O Man]

13. 9 of 12 jurors .....

sadly, at least in this case, that is not an acquital. It's a hung jury.

[Mairead]

15. Different charge (i.e., crime).

We're protected against being tried twice on the same charge, but not against being tried more than once for the same event. Which is why someone can be tried in federal court on a civil-rights charge AND in a state court on (e.g.) a murder charge.

[Just Me]

27. This is a federal rather than a state charge.

And it is the most ridiculous bullshit EVER!!!!

[LibertyLou]

14. All Americans Should Understand 'Jury Nullification'...

It means that a jury can have the power to ACQUIT someone charged with an unjust law...

[H2O Man]

16. LTTE

Might be a task for the DU activists .... the local Binghamton newspaper is the Press & Sun-Bulletin, POB 1270, Bnghamton, NY 13902, or use the e-mail form at: pressconnects.com

[im10ashus]

22. I will do that myself.

With or without the DU activists, we can get that much done. Fire away DUers!!!


:kick:

[H2O Man]

23. Write On!!!!

Injustice is less likely to occur under a spotlight.

[bcoylepa]

18. thank you!

Hi -
tried posting this on several places on DU the last few days with little or no response - glad to see you getting some feedback
this should be of major import to all of us
everyone needs to spread the word about this and get involved someway

I live an hour away into PA and there has been no local news - Binghamton is no Ithaca - and this will not be a friendly court or trial I fear

the program being ofered the community involves many wonderful speakers - Medea Benjamin Ray McGovern and many more

send money - sign the petition and if you can go and support them in person
I contacted AMy Goodman, NOW and a few other sites to see if they might be interested in covering this from Binghamton- no response so far
Will Pitt - if you can - do go -your coverage would be very valuable

I have to be out of town all week ( my dad had a stroke and needs doctoring ) but I am going to try to be there on Monday
Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism - Barbara

[H2O Man]

19. I hope Will Pitt

will give serious consideration to my offer. My daughters, ages 8 & 11, were excited when I told their mother and 3 of our 4 children about my offer. They think he would prefer to stay in the comfort of our home.

[Me.]

48. Update Please

Has WP responded?

[H2O Man]

50. Not yet.

I wish he would. He recently posted something about a new lady friend. What greater adventure than a trip west from Boston, through the Albany area, and on I-88 west to Binghamton?

Note: the government is NOT ALLOWING the St Patrick's Four to put on a defense. Their defense was what got 9 of 12 jurors to vote to acquit last year. It seems very wrong that people could be refused the right to put on a defense in this type of case.

[leftchick]

20. Ithaca used to be a pretty Liberal place

at least when I lived and worked there 15 years ago. This is absolutely frightening.

:(

[H2O Man]

21. Ithaca is great.

Hmmm, if you were there 15 years ago, you may be familiar with Dryden. I'm going to e-mail you.

[bcoylepa]

24. Ithaca is

very progressive - the surrounding communities are not though
and I believe that this happened in Lansing - Tompkins COunty but certainly not Ithaca city
Ithaca hasn't changed much in 30 years - aging hippies, lots of Berks, too many cars, nature galore, great food and music and a consciousness that unfortunately has not found its way to the rest of the region
there is a lot of people like myself who moved into the area because of Ithaca - but live rurally because it was so much cheaper - we pay for this choice with a conservatism that is oppressive at times

the St pats 4 - are good people of conscience who are being used by this government to set an example - do what you can but so something!

[lonestarnot]

25. Jury NULLIFICATION!!

[Just Me]

26. "Conspiracy against the U.S. Government"?????????

Surely, some simple motion should wrap this bullshit up, pronto! I am amazed that any USAG would push this extreme nonsense.

A "conspiracy against the U.S. Government"???? That is just freakin' nuts!!!! If I were the defense counsel, I'd take a gander at the background of the USAG pulling this bullshit. Moreover, this insanity should be widely publicized.

[H2O Man]

30. It's singular, isn't it?

The weasals that lied to lead the country to war are not yet charged with conspiracy, but four people who told the truth are.

[Just Me]

34. Yep. A conspiracy to defraud the American people and the USA,...

,...and the national community, which led to EXTRAORDINARY DAMAGES in the form of BILLIONS OF DOLLARS and TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES and OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND LIVES OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO WERE COMPLETELY INNOCENT OF THREATENING THIS COUNTRY,...

,...that crime would, in any reasonable person's view, be the most egregious and malicious and evil crime against the U.S. Government and Nation and her People.

Apparently, the "governance" requires a boot-camp education about whom is served.

[im10ashus]

31. It's amazing how they have "redefined" conspiracy.

I must have been out when that memo came down.

[H2O Man]

32. It's a strange move .....

It would seem the powers that be would prefer to have this fade quietly away. However, it is possible that there are some "spies" within the Catholic Workers who have reported that further demonstrations are being planned. This type of action would make sense in that context: they want to make an example, and scare the heck out of anyone who would publicly take a strong stand against the immoral war. They underestimate the Catholic Workers.

This should be made into a national issue.

[Just Me]

35. Or, the "powers that be" seek to quietly establish a precedence.

However, I cannot fathom that they could get away with it.

This activity is an abuse of power and oppressive. Shame on the USAG who is being so extreme and reckless and STUPID!!! S/He should be fired, immediately!!!

[im10ashus]

45. It definitely should be a national issue.

If the government gets away with this, it will spell doom for many of our basic freedoms.

[Me.]

28. Kick

for the evening crowd

29. I hope they are acquitted the second time also.

They did this to bring attention to wrongness of this war, so it would be good if they got some publicity. The bring our troops home campaign will be in Washington Sep 24-26.

www.unitedforpeace.org

[Just Me]

36. Frankly, I cannot imagine that this wacko charge will even stand,...

,...in a federal court. Of course, the judge could be a BushCo appointee. Nevertheless, this is simply STUPID,...this charge,...by an USAG whose identity should be spread all over this nation 'cause s/he is being an oppressive, extreme ASS!!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

37. Kick

I'm sending this out to my daughter, she can get her political science professor involved. This is his kind of fight.

[H2O Man]

38. Good idea.

There are a number of colleges in and around the Binghamton area. Time to get busy.....

[H2O Man]

39. Please help!

I would appreciate your assistance in keeping this thread alive, and in getting more DUers aware of and interested in this case.

[Me.]

40. Okey Dokey Then

Kick

[H2O Man]

41. Thanks. n/t

[H2O Man]

42. Six years

and $250,000 fines. These four people are putting a lot on the line. It is a shame that so few people are aware of their case, or taking an acyive interest in it.

[bcoylepa]

43. letter to editor

To the Editor:

Thomas Jefferson said "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." In the spirit of Jefferson, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Gandhi and the Berrigan brothers, four true patriots go on trial in Binghamton this week for non violent resistance against our government's invasion of Iraq.
The citizens of this country and this region should be outraged!
This attempt by the federal government to make an example of the St. Patrick's Day four is no less an attempt to silence all of us who disagree with the administration's march to war and its bogus reasons for doing so.
These individuals base their actions on their faith and belief that the words of St. Patrick still ring true -" killing cannot stand with Christ". Already tried in Tompkins County and found innocent by 9 out of twelve jurors of their peers, the federal government is retrying them on federal conspiracy charges.
I urge everyone to go to the web site www.stpatricksfour.org to learn more about this case and the events surrounding it. I also urge the good people of this region to stand with these four dedicated and brave citizens as they stand up for all our rights to dissent.
Sincerely

[H2O Man]

44. Beautiful.

Thank you!

[Me.]

46. Folks

Even if you don't have a contribution to make to this thread, please take a minute to send an email to Keith, Lou, Joe Conason or any of your favorites, Kos, Amy Goodman. Five minutes may make the difference. Course if you do, we'd love to hear about it.

47. editorial from Binghamton newspaper

Here is an letter to editor from Binghamton newspaper, showing one person's view.

http://www.pressconnects.com/today/opinion/stories/op091605s191179.shtml

""""Letter: Blood spilled in Iraq, too

Regarding a Sept. 12 letter attacking the St. Patrick's Four for sprinkling their own blood around in a military recruiting station and asserting "blood is a biohazardous substance," has the writer ever considered how much of this substance is currently being spread across war-ravaged Iraq?

Has he ever thought about how such vast spilling of blood is devastating both the citizens of Iraq as well as people from here who are sent to Iraq, not to mention those who love them?

I honor the St. Patrick's Four. I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with two of them. These are people of conscience, sensitivity, carefully earned knowledge, and compassion.

My father was shot through the chest on Guam in World War II; my brothers were drafted, and one of them was sent to Vietnam during the Vietnam War. I say let people all around the world sprinkle some of their own blood in protest of these never-ending wars.

I have seen all too close what the violence of war does to human beings. I pray that the St. Patrick's Four, all of whom have children, will not have to suffer the violence of being imprisoned for making a stand for peace.

SUSAN DEER CLOUD

BINGHAMTON """

can send letter to the editor with their online opinion form.

http://www.pressconnects.com/services/editorial/editor.shtml

[H2O Man]

49. Important Note:

According to today's Daily Star, the Oneonta NY paper, the four will not be allowed to present their defense -- the defense which convinced 9 of 12 jurors to vote to acquit on the previous charges.

See LTTE in: www.thedailystar.com

I am tempted to start a new thread, because I am concerned people will not be aware that these four people will be allowed to put on a defense.

[bcoylepa]

51. go for it!

start a thousand new threads - not enough people know about this or are paying enough attention
on the local Binghamton news tonight - the American Legion is organizing a support the troops and the president and the country demo all week at the courthouse
more needs to be done
peace

[H2O Man]

52. I just put it up .....

if you could link the Press & Sun-Bulletin article, I would appreciate it. Thank you.

[bcoylepa]

53. an invitation from the Four

THis is reprinted in CommonDreams from yesterday's Press & Sun Nulletin

Published on Thursday, September 15, 2005 by Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin (New York)

St. Patrick's Four Protesters Offer an Explanation
by Peter Demott, Clare Grady, Danny Burns and Teresa Grady

On Sept. 19, the four of us will go on trial a second time for trying to prevent the Iraq war. We are charged with conspiracy to impede "by force, intimidation and threat" an officer of the United States and three lesser charges. If convicted of federal conspiracy, we face up to six years in prison, a period of probation and $275,000 in fines.

go to http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0915-34.htm to read the article

the American Legion story ran on WBNG news at 5:30

[Me.]

55. How Can This Be?

isn't the ability to put on a defense a basic tenet of our judicial system?

[H2O Man]

56. No.

Not always. There are rules of evidence, which while usually a good thing, can be abused by officers of the court.

[coeur_de_lion]

57. signed the letter of support

This is a very important trial, and needs to be publicized widely. I certainly hope Will Pitt takes you up on your offer.

[H2O Man]

58. Thank you.

I'm still hoping to hear from WP. Or at least see him at the trial.

54. commentary from binghamton independent media

Here is a good overview of what the Bush administration is trying to achieve by re-trying the case.

excerpt:

Having failed to secure a conviction of the “Four” in a local court, the Bush administration upped the ante from criminal mischief to the far more serious charge of conspiracy and intimidation charges and moved the venue of the second trial away from the sympathetic university town of Ithaca to Binghamton, a city which has lost 30% of its workforce due to capital flight over the past 25 years. The Feds are betting that a guilty verdict in Binghamton will establish a judicial precedent for intimidating and prosecuting anti-war dissidents throughout the US.

full article
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/newswire/display/1311/index.php

[whyzayker]

59. Lots of big doings in my hometown

Based on the editorial in this mornings paper, this city is a little nervous by all the attention. Not much happens here in this little upstate conservative pot-hole we call home. There was an article in the paper stating that Cindy Sheehan was supposed to make an appearance here on behalf of the SP4 but, I haven't heard anything since.

It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out. We'll keep you posted.

[H2O Man]

60. Today's editorial .....

actually was an interesting read. The P&S-B is pretty good, sometimes.