charges dropped against pink underwear women at Berkeley

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3519450

Oh my.

babylonsister  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 04:24 PM
Original message

Criminal Charges Dropped Against CODEPINK Women Who Shut Down Berkeley Marine Recruiting Station
   
http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0625-10.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2008
11:13 AM

CONTACT: CODEPINK
Medea Benjamin 415-235-6517
Zanne Joi 404-561-1233

Criminal Charges Dropped Against CODEPINK Women Who Shut Down Berkeley Marine Recruiting Station

WASHINGTON - June 25 -

Judge upholds their first amendment rights
Women Celebrate With a Victory Party in Front of Berkeley Station

What: Victory Party
When: Wednesday, June 25, 2008
12 noon press conference, 1-4pm rally
Where: Marine Recruiting Station, 64 Shattuck Square, Berkeley

Background:
On Tuesday, June 24, CODEPINK women were scheduled to begin their jury trial for a protest they held inside the Berkeley Recruiting Station commemorating the death of the 4000th US soldier killed in Iraq. During the protest, which occurred on March 24, four women draped in bloody rags entered the station. They began writhing on the floor and wailing in deep despair, bringing the tragedy of the war to the very doorstep of those responsible for recruiting our youth for this violent occupation of Iraq. The women were ultimately arrested and charged with trespassing and intimidating the Marines. They faced up to 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine, and a 3-year probation, including an order to stay 300 yards away from the Recruiting Station for the entire length of the probation.

Judge Morris Jacobson from the Alameda County Superior Court, ensuring that the women’s right to protest was upheld, reduced the charges to an infraction that will be dismissed in six months time. In addition, he dismissed all other pending charges against the women, including several charges for obstructing the sidewalk, an arrest for public nudity during a Breasts Not Bombs protest, and numerous parking tickets incurred during many months of protests.

“This is a great victory because the CODEPINK women’s right to free speech has been affirmed by the judge and no stay-away order was issued,” remarks CODEPINK lawyer Andy Auer.

"We celebrate the fact that the judge has upheld our right to speak out strongly against recruiting our youth into this immoral and disgraceful occupation,” says defendant Toby Blome, “and we eagerly await the ultimate victory when those responsible for leading us into this illegal war have their day in court."

"Hopefully this ruling for free speech and CODEPINK will allow the Berkeley Chief of Police and the City Attorney to defend the peace-loving citizens of Berkeley rather than putting their energy into curtailing our constitutional rights,” adds defendant Zanne Joi.

The women were delighted to hear the final words of Judge Jacobson, who said “I wish you all the success in your protest activities.”

The Wielding Truth  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 04:27 PM
Response to Original message

1. Hurray! These are some courageous women.

The primitives have a rather ludicrous definition of "courage."

What is "courageous" when there's no penalty to pay for something one does?

crickets  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-26-08 08:36 AM
Response to Original message

3. Good for them.   

Good on the judge.

I dunno.

What if this were a case involving courageous pro-life supporters, and the judge said the same thing?

malaise  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-26-08 08:39 AM
Response to Original message

5. Bravo Code Pink

Most of the bonfire is this "kick" nonsense; Doug's ex-wife got up early to take some of her mood-altering pharmaceuticals and showed up, but made no comment.

[djones520]

I should go dress in bloody rags and writhe around on the floor of his courthouse.  We'll see how well he conducts his business then.  ****ing asshat judge.

Anyone who goes out of their way to make the lives of our recruiters harder then they already are need to be drawn and quartered.

I challenge those douche drinking bitches to spend a month in any recruiters shoes and not completely break down.

[Chris_]

Why don't the codepinkos take their protests to Iraq?  They could show real courage by protesting at one of our bases there.  I'm sure it would get lots of press coverage.   

[djones520]

Just incase anyone wishes to say anything to this judge, I couldn't find any direct point of contacts for him, but the mailing address to his work location is:

Count Administration Building
1221 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94612

I plan on sending him a letter letting him not how disgusting his comments where in promoting their behavior.

[franksolich]

Why don't the codepinkos take their protests to Iraq?  They could show real courage by protesting at one of our bases there.  I'm sure it would get lots of press coverage.   

Well now, that takes courage.

[Rebel]

crickets  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-26-08 08:36 AM
Response to Original message

3. Good for them.   

Good on the judge.

I dunno.

What if this were a case involving courageous pro-life supporters, and the judge said the same thing?

Well, then the judge is a neocon rethug who shouldn't be near the bench. 

[djones520]

This is the letter that I plan on sending him.  Does anyone have any suggestions to make?

Honorable Morris Jacobson,

I’ve read several articles regarding the recent trial that you over saw of a group of Code Pink protestors who where disrupting a USMC recruiting location.  I cannot pass judgment on your call to dismiss the case, since I do not have any proper legal training, but I did wish to let you know my strong disapproval of your closing comment that conveyed your support to their protests.

I am a Staff Sergeant of the United States Air Force who has served Active Duty for more then 6 years.  I’ve deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom, and I’ve served overseas for over 4 years now.  I am also the son of a 21 year veteran of the Air Force.  My father spent the last 6 years of his career serving as an Enlisted Recruiter.  I was still in high school during many of those years, so I saw first hand what the job experience for him was like. 

Sir, I cannot strongly enough word how difficult the job of a recruiter is.  In most situations recruiters from all branches of the military are stationed at a location that is geographically separated from the military community that they have lived in for their entire careers.  They often work 12-14 hour days 6 to 7 days a week.  They are required to contact thousands of people a month, often times dealing with angry and belligerent individuals.  They have to deal with school faculty who go out of their way to make their jobs difficult.  They have to deal with the stress of their chain of command breathing down their necks whenever they are unable to successfully recruit enough people in a month.

I watched this job drive my father, who was a man in peak physical fitness, to have a heart attack within the first six months.  I watched it destroy his marriage of 19 years.  I watched it lead him to a mental breakdown and attempted suicide.  I watched it nearly destroy an honorable and decorated career.   And I watched this happen in a military friendly community.

The Recruiters of that station have an unbelievably difficult job that they have been assigned to do.  They took an oath to defend this country, and they are fulfilling that oath by ensuring that there will be people there to continue standing in defense of our great nation when their time is done.  Your comments supporting the protestors that harass the front line defenders of America has only damaged our ability to effectively defend our nation.

Those men and women took an oath to defend you, your family, your friends, your country.  So  I honestly hope that my words mean something to you, and that you will issue an apology to the United States Marines who serve at the Berkeley Recruiting Station for your damaging and demoralizing comment.

Sincerely,

SSgt Douglas V. Jones
United States Air Force

[franksolich]

Damn, you're good, djones, sir.

[Rebel]

 

[RightCoast]

I should go dress in bloody rags and writhe around on the floor of his courthouse.  We'll see how well he conducts his business then.  ******* asshat judge.

Anyone who goes out of their way to make the lives of our recruiters harder then they already are need to be drawn and quartered.

I challenge those douche drinking bitches to spend a month in any recruiters shoes and not completely break down.

You would be immediately jailed for contempt of court, not to mention hit with tens of thousands of dollars worth of biohazard cleanup bills.

[Wineslob]

 

Hi5 buddy, well said.

[Bondai]

IMHO the letter makes you sound like a victim...