I have been remiss in keeping up with my fellow activists trying to close the School of the America’s, now know as Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
Today, the six activists who crossed in federal military land on Nov 23rd, the final day of protest at the gates of Ft. Benning were on trial.
In years past I’ve had friends on trial, but often I’ve just attended to bear witness and offer comfort and support. This year, I could not attend, since I was still making my way back from DC. During the long drive back, I pondered that while I had the thrilling experience to be at President Obama’s Inauguration, others were worrying and preparing for their trial. I felt a bit guilty that others were doing some heavy lifting on the activist front while I was fretting over what to wear at an inaugural ball.
The legal team would have advised them to prepared for 3 month stays in federal prison and face up to a $5,000 fine. Often it’s not the prison time that is so daunting, but the fines. In then end, of the six defendant’s, one got a $1,000 fine, one a $500.00, one house arrest due to illness and five received 2 month sentences. Given that the Patriot Act allows for more, this is a relief. More on the six, here.
Based on this article, it sounds like Judge Faircloth was in quite the odd mood. He usually isn’t that chatty and finds the annual trial to be quite tedious. He may not have to endure our protests much longer, since the talk is to move the Nov event to DC where quite rightly we need to press the closure case to congress.
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