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Reprinted with permission...
Trespassing for Peace
In Search of Peace
with Cindy Sheehan
As the foreperson of our jury stood to read our verdicts in the NYC criminal court this morning, we Pink 4, also stood holding hands awaiting the jury’s decision. I looked back at the packed courtroom and many of our supporters (IVAW, VFP, Granny Peace Brigade, Code Pink, World Can’t Wait, and other peace activists), flashed up peace signs, and/or thumbs up. I smiled back. Whatever happened was going to be okay, I could feel the love, respect, and encouragement emanating from everyone who was present there; (Except the prosecutor and prosecutrix who were distinctly out-numbered and looked sheepish and a little nervous).
I was the first defendant to hear her verdict. On the first “charge” of resisting arrest, I was found: “not guilty.” Even though I knew whatever the outcome, we would be fine, I was surprisingly relieved. On the next charge of obstructing governmental administration, I was found “not guilty,” again, more relief. On the third count of trespassing, I was found, “guilty.” As that verdict was read, I was a little miffed. The two counts of disorderly conduct found a similar verdict as the first two counts. So we were all acquitted of four charges and convicted of the one charge of trespassing. Trespassing is a mere violation that should have resulted in a “DAT” or “desk appearance ticket,” not a night in jail and six days in court.
On March 6, 2006, when Medea, Missy, Patty and I were arrested for trespassing, we were taken to the precinct for processing and the Lieutenant in charge told us that we would be getting a DAT and would be released within a very short period of time. I had been injured in the arrest and I refused treatment because the Lt. said that it would take longer to process me and I would be separated from the other women. A short time later, the Lt. came to our cell and told us that we could not leave because he got a message from “higher up” that we were being charged with resisting arrest and had to stay incarcerated until we saw a judge, so we spent the night in the Tombs and saw a judge in the morning.
Nine months after our arrest we were on trial for the original charge of trespassing and four piled on charges of which we were obviously not guilty and acquitted. Peggy Kerry admitted that she hung up her phone, after she had agreed to meet with us, and refused to accept our petition because I was there. I am furious that because of who we women are and what our message is: our time, the jury’s time, the court’s time, our lawyer’s time, and the money of the tax payers of the State of New York were wasted. We four ladies spent a night in horrible conditions and spent six days in court for a “violation.”
We four peace women were convicted of “trespassing” on what we thought was governmental property. If a privately owned building houses a governmental agency as tenants, the building should expect the public to be able to exercise our First Amendment Rights. BushCo is trespassing in our White House, desecrating it and ruining our country and many others in the process and he hasn’t even been given a slap on the wrist.
BushCo is trespassing, with impunity, in the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan . They should be charged with “criminal trespassing” and put in prison for their transgressions. BushCo should be charged with murder, assault and battery for their torture policies, spying without a warrant, and many other war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The prosecutor for our case, William Beesch, said that “George Bush is my president,” and he proved to be just a mere tool for the oppressive administration and participated in the abuse of power that characterizes the regime from the very top to the very bottom. After we were found not guilty of all of the charges except trespassing, he said: “Your honor, it is obvious from the evidence that these women did more than trespass, we request 5 days of community service as their sentence!” So, Mr. Beesch, who just had his butt handed to him on a platter by the jury, wanted us to be punished for crimes that we didn’t commit and were, in fact, exonerated for! This is what passes for “Justice” in Bush World.
I believe that on March 06, 2006, we four women WERE providing a community service by not allowing the NYPD and the US mission to the UN to take away our inalienable and guaranteed rights. We were protecting all American’s Civil Rights as we were protecting our own. We were trying to speak for the people of Iraq and our soldiers who want to come home because they have no voices. We were speaking for Americans who also want our troops out of Iraq , but don’t know how to exercise their voices. We were standing in solidarity with over 72,000 people around the world who want peace and are terrified by an out of control Bush regime.
After the verdicts, we four women, along with about 50 other supporters headed back to the US mission to the UN to deliver our petition. After about an hour and a half of negotiation, Richard Grenell who is terrified of :”happy pink people,” and who astonishingly has a high position in our government and knows how to perjure himself with the best of them, and Peggy Kerry who is terrified of being a Democrat in a reich-wing organization, who was incredibly hostile and arrogant on the witness stand, and who believes peace activities are “publicity stunts” came down to finally accept our petition after six months of wasted time, money, and effort.
As to giving four women community service that have devoted their entire lives to peace and justice, my comment to the Opie-esque, Mr. Beesch: “oh no, don’t throw us into that briar patch!” As a matter of fact, the judge thought that community service was excessive and fined us each 95.00 for court costs and a conditional release if we behave for six months.
We promise that we will behave appropriately, legally, constitutionally and with courage and integrity; but we can’t promise that BushCo will, as a matter of fact, we are sure that they won’t.
With 46 of our children dead this month alone and the tragic number rapidly approaching the 3000 mark, I feel it’s time for all of us to be “bad for good.”
In Search of Peace is Cindy’s reflections on her journey to peace and away from violence.
Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Bush's war of terror on 04/04/04.
She is the co-founder and president of Gold Star Families for Peace and the Camp Casey Peace Institute.
She is the author of three books, the most recent is: Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache
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