Boulder Activist Gets Jail Time for Protest at Congressman's Office

[Chipster]

DENVER (AP) - A Boulder activist has been sentenced to a month in jail for an anti-war protest in Congressman Mark Udall's office.

Fifty-7-year-old Carolyn Bninski must also pay a $500 fine. She was convicted of trespassing for refusing to leave Udall's office during the March 8th protest.

Bninski and four other protesters were arrested by Westminster police. The others got hundred-dollar fines of community service.

Prosecutors sought jail time for Bninski because she had been arrested several times for civil disobedience.

Udall -- a Democrat -- voted in 2002 against authorizing the Iraq war. The activists said they were protesting his votes for continued funding for the war.

Udall says he supports the activists' right to peacefully protest but their occupation interfered with his staff's daily duties and drew complaints from other tenants in the building.

Original

[janx]

1. Protesting Mark Udall?

That's really stupid.

[earthside]

2. You Don't Understand

Mark Udall voted on May 24, with ALL the Republicans in the Colorado delegation to keep funding the U.S. occupation of Iraq. (We had only one Democrat, Ed Perlmutter, who voted against the funding -- good for him!)

Udall has also partnered with Joe Lieberman to increase the size and spending for the military ... like a trillion dollars a year isn't enough.

Udall's theme since he announced for the U.S. Senate has been: "Rightward, ho!"

It is important to keep the pressure on these guys in Washington and remember, Udall represents one of the most progressive Congressional districts there is ... so his obvious political move towards the Bushites is a betrayal of his constituents.

Frankly, I think the protesters are doing Udall a favor if he listens -- he needs to stick to the principles he once held and be against this war and occupation, be pro-active on the environment, and act like the progressive he used to be. The protesters are ringing an alarm bell -- this country is moving strongly against Bushism -- it's time for all Democrats, progressives, liberals, independent thinkers to get on board!

[John Q. Citizen]

3. I thought they were protesting Udall's vote to fund bush' surge. Not him personally.

Or is his vote an extension of him?

[earthside]

4. Consider This ...

From the Rocky Mountain News - September 22, 2005

On Wednesday, Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., gave Roberts a ringing endorsement, even though he and other members of the U.S. House have no vote on Roberts' confirmation. "He, I believe, projected a sense that he is not going to use his position to direct an ideological or political agenda," Udall said, referring to Senate confirmation hearings that ended last week. Udall, who is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2008, said Roberts' personality could be well-suited for the nation's highest court. "He's thoughtful. He has a judicial temperament," Udall said. "I thought his personal qualities were obvious. He has got a sense of humor, which is always important to a Udall."

If Mark Udall wants to be in the U.S. Senate, the body that confirms Supreme Court Justices, progressives have got to let him know that votes to confirm the likes of John Roberts are going to get him a lot of negative reaction.

So, no, it is not about Udall personally, it is about his votes and/or potential votes.

[Cha]

6. Can't believe mark udall is

representing Boulder. So what does udall and Boulder think of the slimeball roberts now?

[dkofos]

8. Sounds like you need a REAL progressive running for the senate seat.

Are any other Dems opposing him yet??

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. He voted to fund the war

THAT is what is really stupid.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Hopefully, She'll Regain Her Sense Of Rationality After Her Time There.

Protesting someone like Mark Udall is pretty pathetic in my opinion.

[earthside]

13. Wrong

She is exactly right to protest Udall.

The point is that as a Democrat, Udall is hopefully open to being influenced ... or, as is apparently needed, shamed into voting next time to stop funding the occupation.

If you can't get a guy like Udall to finally see the light, then it is hopeless.

[Fierce]

9. I know it's TV, but gosh,

doesn't anybody edit this stuff?

"Fifty-7-year-old Carolyn Bninski..."

[JTG of the PRB]

10. I've had it just about up to HERE with Udall.

I've voted for him a total of three times now, but if he doesn't start representing me and my fellow District 2ers a little better than he has the past couple of years, he won't be getting my vote again. I've written to him a number of times, and I keep getting the same sort of responses that he doesn't think it's the right direction or that he doesn't think it would be productive but that he listens carefully to all his constituents.

Bullshit.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

11. How Do You Know He Isn't Representing Your Fellow 'District 2ers'?

Have you been appointed to speak on their behalf, or are you just casting your own dramatic viewpoints on them?

[JTG of the PRB]

12. Well, I DO work in Boulder, and I DO talk to a lot of Boulderites...

... and I DO engage them in local, regional, and political conversations frequently, so I'd say I have a fairly good idea of how they feel.

Are you trying to pick a fight or something? I'm not interested in arguing. I'm simply putting forth my viewpoint from where I live, which, as it happens, is in Colorado's Second congressional District which, as it happens, is represented by Mark Udall.