December, 02 2011, 03:21pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
Activists Found Guilty in Drone Trial
WASHINGTON
The New York Times is reporting that President Obama will not apologize for the recent drone strike that killed over 20 Pakistani soldiers earlier this week.
The Syracuse Post-Standard is reporting: "DeWitt Town Justice David Gideon ruled Thursday night that 31 protesters were guilty on two charges of disorderly conduct. But, Gideon said, he spent 'many a sleepless night' before making his decision and that he learned a great deal during the five-day nonjury trial, which ended Nov. 5."
CAROL BAUM, carol at peacecouncil.net
Baum is staff organizer for the Syracuse Peace Council that helped organize the protests. The group released a statement this morning: "On Thursday, December 1, the Hancock 38 drone resisters returned to DeWitt Town Court for the verdict in their case involving a symbolic 'die-in' at the main entrance Hancock Air National Guard Base (Mattydale, NY), protesting the piloting and maintenance of the hunter/killer Reaper drones at the Base.
"Early in his decision, Judge David Gideon stated, 'Many issues were raised that were not heretofore contemplated by this Court on a personal level; for which this Court personally acknowledges a new and different understanding, making the decision now before the Court that much more difficult.' After much consideration and several sleepless nights, he concluded that the defendants were guilty of both "obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic" and "refusing to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse."
"In their sentencing statements, the activists contested the Judge's decision, stating that they were duty bound by the Nuremberg Principles, International Law and the U.S. Constitution to act against drones - the Principles forbid wars of aggression, attacks on civilians and extrajudicial assassinations, all actions associated with drone warfare. Action is urgent since innocents are being murdered every day by drone attacks. The verdict is indeed in - the drones are illegal.
"Most people received a one year conditional discharge, along with a fine of $250 and $150 court costs and community service. Four people were given jail time, ranging from four to fifteen days. The activists are undeterred, vowing to return to the base, inviting the judge, prosecutor, other court employees to join them.
"The action was sponsored by the Upstate NY Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, consisting of activists from Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica."
A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.
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