Grandma becomes cause celebre, faces 2nd trial over anti-war protest

[babylonsister]

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=8689

December 18th, 2006 1:06 pm
US grandmother becomes a cause celebre as she faces a second trial over anti-war protest

Associated Press

BENNINGTON, Vermont -- Meet the anti-war movement's newest folk hero: 69-year-old Rosemarie Jackowski, whose arrest during an anti-war protest has made her a cause celebre.

A prosecutor's plan to retry her for blocking traffic while protesting the Iraq war is turning the feisty 4-foot-10 inch (1.47 meters) former schoolteacher into a darling of the dove crowd.

Bloggers have rallied behind her, peaceniks are deluging her with messages of support, and advocates have established a defense fund.

"She's not a loony toon by any means," said Andrew Schoerke, 73, a retired U.S. Navy captain who was arrested with her. "She's a very down to earth, sensible, caring person with some very strong convictions."

Jackowski was one of a dozen protesters arrested at a March 20, 2003 protest, staged within hours of the start of the United States' "shock and awe" bombing campaign in Iraq. Carrying a sign that read "Impeach Bush" on one side and listed U.S. "war crimes" on the other, Jackowski refused police orders to get out of the street and was arrested for blocking traffic.

more...

[Cha]

1. The looney tunes are the

tragic figures who lied to get us into this War On Iraq.

And they're dangerous loonies.

[zonmoy]

2. aren't you confusing

insanity with being just plain evil.

[Cha]

6. I think they're

crazy evil. Rabid,Frothing at the mouth EVIL.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Doesn't it seem strange

that a state can waste money on a trial for obstructing traffic, when no one was hurt, with the longest sentence 60 days in jail, and yet the US government cannot prosecute people who started a war based on lies, etc, etc?

[bobbolink]

4. ruh-roh... you're being too logical...

:patriot:

Maybe, someday, the Constitution will one day again matter.

:shrug:

[ReadTomPaine]

5. Here's a photo of her..

Certainly looks like a dangerous perp worth sending off to trial multiple times until a guilty verdict saves the public from her menace.

[cali]

7. I highly doubt she'll be tried again

From the article:

She appealed to the Vermont Supreme Court, her attorney insisting that the disorderly persons charge could only stick if it were proven she intended to disrupt traffic.

On Nov. 22, the justices threw out her conviction, saying trial Judge David Suntag erred in telling jurors they could convict her if they believed she was "practically certain" her conduct would cause public disruption.

Last week, Bennington County State's Attorney William Wright said he would seek to try her again."At this juncture, we are going forward with the case," he told the Bennington Banner newspaper. "We think that the evidence was overwhelming in our view, and we think that the jury should have another opportunity to decide Ms. Jackowski's guilt or innocence."

Wright, who lost his re-election and will be leaving office next month, did not return several calls seeking comment.

The idiot prosecutor voted out of office, was a repub. Erica Marthage is a dem, and married to defense attorney. I doubt she has any interest in prosecuting.