US prosecutes Greenpeace under 1872 law

[dArKeR]

Greenpeace will appear in court in Miami on Monday in what is believed to be the first criminal prosecution in the United States of a campaign group for the activities of its members.

The case has been attacked by the former vice-president Al Gore and many civil rights groups, who claim it is being used by the attorney general, John Ashcroft, to stifle dissent.

It arises out of a Greenpeace action off the Florida coast in April 2002. Two members boarded a vessel believed to be illegally carrying mahogany from Brazil to the US and hoisted a banner saying, "President Bush, Stop Illegal Logging". Hilary Hoster and Scott Paul were arrested and held briefly. They pleaded guilty to misdemeanours and received a sentence of time served. Normally, that would have been the end of the matter. Greenpeace is accustomed to its members being briefly jailed or fined over their activities.

However, after a 15 month delay, the government announced it was prosecuting the organisation under an obscure 1872 law that forbids "sailor-mongering" or boarding ships to talk to the crew. It was introduced to prevent staff from brothels and bars in ports luring sailors to their premises and interfering with the smooth running of a ship.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=66284

Greenpeace is the first group I've ever joined. I saved my allowance money and sent in $5 when I was about 10 years old.

[MrBenchley]

1. Disgraceful in every way

What a scummy piece of shit AssKKKroft is.

[natasha1]

2. What a darn shame...

That we can't have John Kerry on the cover of that magazine saying those words.

Nat

[MrBenchley]

4. Gee, you want Kerry to lie like AssKKKroft?

What a repulsive idea.

Want Kerry to prosecute Greenpeace too?

[natasha1]

8. No...

I want him to support firearms ownership, and drop the anti-firearm plank of the Democratic Party.

Nat

[MrBenchley]

10. Gee, it don't occur to you

that there's a reason WHY the Second Amendment Caucus is all bigoted wowsers like Crisco John?

Amazing what some people will fall for...

[mosin]

5. A nice dream

That would make me a very happy man.

I've been a bit bitter since Dean lost Iowa and his cool in the same day. :(

[natasha1]

9. Why?

I've been a bit bitter since Dean lost Iowa and his cool in the same day.

There is a lot to be pissed off about. I don't fault Dean losing his cool. More people need to lose their cool. Every time I see chimpy smirk it makes me want to go Aaaarrrrgggghhh too!

Nat

[mosin]

11. Misunderstanding

I wasn't clear. I'm not "pissed" at Dean. I'm "bitter" about the outcome, because Kerry was my *last* choice among the credible candidates.

And I certainly understand the need for the occasional primal scream. :)

[mosin]

3. Obscure old laws

However, after a 15 month delay, the government announced it was prosecuting the organisation under an obscure 1872 law that forbids "sailor-mongering" or boarding ships to talk to the crew. It was introduced to prevent staff from brothels and bars in ports luring sailors to their premises and interfering with the smooth running of a ship.]

I guess it took 15 months of research to find an obscure old statute on which they could base a prosecution. :eyes:

I was a Greenpeace member in college, but I haven't been a member for at least 10 years. I haven't always agreed with their tactics. But this prosecution is a political joke. I think I'll send them some money just on principle.

[cosmicdot]

6. the DOJ should be pursuing Ken Lay and Robert Novak, etc.

of course, there has been an on-going effort to challenge Greenpeace ... right-wing fascist corporatists like Richard Mellon Scaife hires independent lawyers ...

[MrBenchley]

7. Don't be too hard on Crisco-boy

He's done wonders against such enemies of freedom as Tommy Chong, PeeWee Herman, and Vanessa Leggett...

http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/090701/tex_houstonwriter.shtml

[7th_Sephiroth]

12. hopefully this will backfire

and erase the law from the books