Benning protesters sentenced up to 90 days

[unhappycamper]

Benning protesters sentenced up to 90 days
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 28, 2008 21:09:44 EST

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Eleven protesters who trespassed onto Fort Benning property during a demonstration against a military school at the Army post were sentenced Monday to up to 90 days in jail.

The oldest sentenced by U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth was Edwin Ross Lewinson, a 78-year-old blind man from Newark, N.J., and the youngest was Teri Lynn Rainelli, 25, of Canton, Ohio. Both got 90 days and $500 fines.

The 11 were arrested during an annual protest against the former School of Americas, blamed by the protest group School of Americas Watch for atrocities committed by Latin American soldiers trained there.

The demonstration each November still draws thousands, even though the school name was changed in 2001 to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, under the Defense Department instead of the U.S. Army. Its curriculum was broadened to include courses other than military training.

Rainelli was the only trespasser who declined to plead guilty and had a trial on Monday. Three officers testified that she threw a sweater over a fence with barbed wire and climbed onto the Army post. She immediately tried to evade them, struggling and kicking one in the face, according to the testimony.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_benningprotesters_080128/



uhc comment: Here's the SOAW take: http://www.soaw.org/