Get thee to www.stpatricksfour.org for details.
These four protesters, who last year were acquitted in state court after pouring their own blood in protest at a recruiting center, have been re-tried in federal court in Binghamton NY, charged with the very vague "conspiracy to impede an officer of the US" (presumably, the recruiter.) This charge carried a maximum sentence of ... wait for it ... six years in prison and a quarter million dollar fine for each person.
You may not have been aware of this trial, but today's decision has a major impact on the legality of organized dissent--at least, when it involves any sort of federal office or property. Imagine facing six years in prison because your protest disrupted the daily schedule of federal employees in DC.
The protesters tried to use the trial as an opportunity to put the war itself on trial, as they did in their previous court case. The judge, however, greatly limited what they could say in their own defense.
Today, after deliberating for seven hours, the jury found them not guilty of conspiracy, but guilty of smaller charges. Sentencing is scheduled for January.
It got particularly hairy last week, when the judge decided on a very vague interpretation of this already vague charge, which could convict the defendants merely for entering a federal building without any kind of force, intimidation or threat. Indeed, it seemed as if the law was interpreted so loosely that everyone in the courtroom was breaking it just by showing up.
I'm sure there will be some sort of organized happiness tonight.
Caj