13 Activists, 9 from Minnesota, Arrested in Front of The White House for Protesting US Militarism

The Twin Cities
Campaign for Peace, Women Against Military Madness, and other Minnestoan
peace groups, aligned with the Peaceable Assembly Campaign, organized
a civil disobedience action today, in Washington, D.C. 13 nonviolent
activists were arrested in front of the White House protesting US militarism.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m., over thirty participants read names of 77 Minnesotans
killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with the names of Iraqis and Afghans
killed in the U.S. wars. After each name was read, a bell was rung
and the participants said "We Remember You." A banner that read,
"Occupation" was pelted with shoes inscribed with anti war slogans.
Finally, the 13 walked onto the sidewalk and laid down in remembrance
of the war dead. Father William Pickard anointed the "dead" with
olive oil.

The Washington D.C. Park Police arrested
all 13 lying on the pavement. Vickie Andrews, John Braun, Marie Braun,
Lori Blanding, Ward Brennan, Stephen Clemens, Diane Haugesag, Maxine
McNamara, Ceylon Mooney, Joe Palen, Mary Percich, Father William Pickard
and Cornelia Sullivan were first taken to the Anacostia Police station.
Then they were transported to Washington D.C. District 1 police station
only to be taken later to the Washington D.C. lock up. They have been
told they will remain there until they appear before a judge on January
27, 2010.

The Peaceable Assembly Campaign is founded
on the First Amendment of the U.S. constitution that states "Congress
shall make no law... prohibiting the right of the people to assemble
peaceably for redress of grievance." The group's literature
states:

We hold President Obama, the Senate and
the House to:

* End the wars and occupations in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

* Publicly commit to vote against any
additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan beyond funds
required for the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops.

* Promote the redirection of funding
away from military spending and towards the rebuilding of Iraq, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Palestine and to the rebuilding of and provision for the
Common Good in the U.S.

* Further the development of truly
green (non-nuclear), environmentally friendly alternative energy sources
accompanied by a decrease in policies that drive consumption of fossil
fuels.