96 Arrested for Participating in Civil Disobedience...
(Photos by Linda
Panetta)
PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE...
Prison witness has been a core element of the SOA Watch movement since its beginning. In the tradition of Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King and countless others, SOA Watch activists have used peaceful, nonviolent resistance to expose the horrors of the SOA and express solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Latin America. As a result, over 100 SOA Watch human rights defenders have cumulatively spent some 60 years in prison, serving sentences ranging from 2 to 18 months. Their sacrifice and steadfastness in the struggle for peace and justice provide an extraordinary example of love in action and have given tremendous momentum to the effort to close SOA.
96 Arrested for Civil Disobedience
This past November, 96 people, ranging in ages from 18 to 78, engaged in peaceful civil disobedience at the gates of Fort Benning by entering onto the military base that houses the SOA. Of the 96, eighty-one were charged with trespassing on federal property, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of 6-months in federal prison and/or a $5,000 fine. The group was split for trial, with half of the defendants standing trial beginning January 27, 2003 and the other half beginning February 10, 2003.
Two students, Jeremiah John ( Bloomington, IN , 21, Activist. Science and logic major. Vagabond) and Charity Ryerson ( Bloomington, IN , 20, Student. Activist) pleading guilty on January 21, 2003 to charges of destruction of federal property and aiding and abetting destruction of government property, respectively, for cutting a lock off of a chain link gate at the entrance of Fort Benning. They each face a maximum sentence of 1 year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine. They will be sentenced at a later date, following further investigation by the prosecution.
The 83 activists courageously continued their public witness in the courtroom of U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth, highlighting the atrocities credited to the SOA, exposing the SOA as a double standard in the war on terrorism and speaking from their individual experiences and consciences. They received sentences ranging from fines and probation to the maximum 6-month sentence with fines. Below are brief introductions to the human rights activists and their sentences.
Defendants Sentenced January 27 - 29,
2003
(Listed by State)
Seth Cohen,
22, Fair Oaks, CA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Dan Fortson,
43, Redway, CA
3 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91393-020
MDC Los Angeles
535 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Projected release date: 7/03/03
Linda Aguilar,
19, San Francisco, CA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Sondra Angulo,
22, San Francisco, CA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Guadalupe
Chavez, 20 San Francisco, CA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Donald
Haselfeld*, 76, San Francisco, CA
6 months in federal prison
#91381-020
Beta Quarters
Fereral Prison Camp
3705 W. Farm Rd.
Lompoc, CA 93436-2756
Projected release date: 10/05/03
Margaret
Rossi, 21, San Francisco, CA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Derrlyn Tom*,
44, San Francisco, CA
6 months in federal prison
91362-020
Federal Prison Camp
5675 8th St.
Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
Lisa Hughes*,
37, Valyermo, CA
6 months in federal prison, $1,500 fine
#91340-020
FPC Greenville
P.O.Box 6000, Greenville, IL 62246
Projected release date: 10/05/03
William Combs,
58, Tallahassee, FL
3 months in federal prison
#91402-020
FPC Eglin
P.O.Box 600
Eglin, FL 32542-7606
Projected release date: 07/04/03
Christine
Gaunt, 46, Grinnell, IA ,
3 months in federal prison (reported immediately), $750
fine
Timothy
Grivois, 21, Chicago, IL
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Sr. Kathy
Long*, 55, Chicago, IL
3 months in federal prison
#91388-020
FCI Pekin
P.O.Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61555-7000
Projected release date: 7/04/03
Sr. Dorothy
Pagosa*, 48, Chicago, IL
3 months in federal prison
#91387-020
FPC Pekin
P.O. Box 5000
Pekin, Illinois 61554-5000
Projected release date: 7/04/03
Sr. Joann
Quinkert*, 71, Oak Lawn, IL
12 months probation, 500 hours community service
Sr. Adele
Beacham, 76, Bloomington, IN
12 months in home confinement, 250 hours community service
Sr. Rita
Gerardot*, 76, St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
12 months probation, 500 hours community service
Edith Balot,
69, Jefferson, LA
3 months in federal prison
#91320-020
FCI Marianna
3625 FCI Road
Marianna, FL 32446
Projected release date: 07/04/0
Christine
LaVallee*, 27, Worcester, MA
12 months probation, $500 fine
Scott
Schaeffer-Duffy, 44, Worcester, MA
3 months in federal prison (reported immediately and
completed sentence))
Loring
Harkness IV, 21, Northfield, MN
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Daniel Marx,
19, Northfield, MN
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Judy Bierbaum*,
46, Albuquerque, NM
6 months in federal prison, $2,000 fine
#89756-020
Federal Prison Camp Victorville
POB 5100
Adelanto, CA 92301
Eloy Garcia,
34, Maryknoll, NY
3 months in federal prison (reported immediately), $500
fine
Marie Salupo,
24, Maryknoll, NY
3 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91330-020
FPC Alderson
P.O.Box A
Alderson, WV 24910
Projected release date: 7/01/03
Rev. Clifford
Frasier, 35, New York, NY
6 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91370-020
FCI Ft. Dix
P.O. Box38
Fort Dix, NJ 08640
Projected release date: 11/25/03
Marvin Warren,
21, Poughkeepsie, NY
3 months in federal prison
#93190-020
FCI Otisville
P.O.Box 1000
Otisville, NY 10963
Jesse Carr,
20, Oberlin, OH
3 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91389-020
FCI Danbury 33 1/2 Pembroke Rd.
Danbury, CT 06811
Projected release date: 07/04/03
Eric Zibbel,
19, Oberlin, OH
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Ann Huntwork*,
71, Portland, OR
6 months in federal prison
#91391-020
FPC Dublin
5775 8th Street
Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
Projected release date: 10/05/03
Philip
D'Onofrio, 35, Salem, OR
3 months in federal prison
#91241-020
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198-1090
Projected release date: 07/04/03
Sr. Mary
Hamilton, 52, Rosemont, PA
3 months in federal prison
Katherine
Brown, 52, Providence, RI
3 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91343-020
FPC Danbury
Pembroke Station Route 37
Danbury, CT 06811-0379
Projected release date: 07/04/03
Marilyn White*,
55, League City, TX
6 months in federal prison, $500 fines
#91329-020
FPC Bryan
P.O.Box 2149
Bryan, TX 77805-2149
Projected release date: 10/04/03
Sr. Moira
Kenny*, 56, McAllen, TX
6 months in federal prison
#91369-020
FPC Bryan
P.O.Box 2149
Bryan, TX 77805-2149
Projected release date: 10/05/03
Fr. James
Hynes*, 57 San Antonio, TX
6 months in federal prison
#91396-020
FCI Three Rivers
Box 4000
Three Rivers, TX 78071
Projected release date: 10/05/03
Pamela
McBride*, 45 Sorita, TX
6 months in federal prison, $500 fines
#91359-020
FMC Carswell
P.O.Box 27066
J Street
Building 3000
Fort Worth, TX 76124
Projected release date: 10/04/03
Dave Depp,
66, Doswell, VA
12 months probation, 250 hours community service, $500 fine
Thomas
Cleary*, 74, Richmond, VA
6 months in home confinement
Katherine
Bjorkman, 19, Burlington, WI
3 months in federal prison
#91386-020
FCI Pekin
P.O.Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61554-5000
Projected release date: 07/04/03
Sr. Caryl
Hartjes, CSA*, 67, Fond du Lac, WI
3 months in federal prison
#91376-020
FPC Danbury
33 1/2 Pembroke Road
Danbury, CT 06811-3099
Projected release date: 7/04/0
Joyce
Ellwanger*, 65, Milwaukee, WI
6 months in federal prison
#91382-020
FCI Danbury
Pembroke Station Route 37
Danbury, CT 06811-0379
Projected release date: 10/05/03
* Second-time line-crosser
Defendants Sentenced Feb. 10-12, 2003
J.C.
Orton, Berkley, CA , 54
Father. Catholic Worker. Homeless Advocate. Peace &
justice activist
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91331-020
USP Atwater
P.O.Box 019000
#1 Federal Way
Atwater, CA 95301
Carey Martin,
Birmingham, AL, 24
Server
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91401-020
Federal Medical Center Satellite Camp/FPC
P.O. Box 14525
Lexington, KY 40512-4525
Rachel
Montgomery, Oakland, CA, 26
Owner of pet sitting and dog walking business
6 months federal prison, $500 fine
#91367-020
FPC Dublin
5775 8th Street
Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
Laura
Slattery, San Francisco, CA, 36
Nonviolence trainer
6 months in federal prison, $500 fine
FPC Dublin
5775 8th Street
Camp Parks
Dublin CA, 94568
Michael
Wisniewski, West Covina, CA , 53
Husband. Father. Grandfather. Freelance writer
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91383-020
USP Taft
P.O.Box 7001
Taft, CA 9326
Daniel Manriquez, Denver, CO, 18
Salesperson
1-year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Sarah Martin,
Denver, CO, 19
Student
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Byron
Plumley, Denver, CO, 55
Grandpa. Educator. Peace activist. Catholic Worker
volunteer
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91377-020
FPC Englewood
9595 West Quincy
Littleton, CO 80123
Projected release date: 7/04/03
Tiffany
Winters, Denver, CO, 18
Student
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Eric Tews,
Greenwood Village, CO
Student.
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Evalee (Lee)
Mickey, Mt Pleasant, IA
65, Retired farmer. Widowed homemaker
3 months in federal prison
#91399-020
FPC Pekin
P.O.Box 5000
Pekin, IL 61555
Douglas
Kasper, Wheaton, IL , 58
Bricklayer. Peace activist. Member of St. Isidore Faith
Community
3 months in federal prison (reported immediately and
completed sentence)
Sonja
Andreas, Wichita, KS, 53
Psychiatric nurse
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91328-020
FMC Carswell
P.O.Box 27066
J Street
Building 3000
Fort Worth, TX 76124
Projected release date: 8/06/03
Jason Lydon,
Hadley, MA, 20
Student
6 months in federal prison (reported immediately), $500
fine
#91378-020
FMC Devons
42 Patton Road
Devons, MA 01432
Projected release date: 8/08/03
Laurel Albina
(Bischoff), Jamaica Plain, MA , 27
Worker with Unitarian Universalist Association
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Michelle
LaValley, Jamaica Plain, MA, 21
Unitarian Universalist Youth Programs
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91371-020
FPC Danbury
Pembroke Station Route 37
Danbury, CT 06881
John (Jack)
Neis, Apple Valley , MN , 61
Retired NW Airlines captain. Husband. Father.
Grandfather
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Michael Ugarte, Columbia, MO, 53
Professor of Spanish Literature & Peace Studies at
the Univ. of MO
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Corbin
Streett, Dublin, MS, 23
Supervisor at rehab center for teens. Member of peace
& justice center
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91350-020
FCI Greenville
P.O.Box 6000
Greenville IL, 62246
Vera Brown,
Greensboro, NC, 20
Undergraduate at Guilford College . Amnesty
International member
6 months in federal prison, $500 fine
#91321-020
FPC Alderson, Box A
Alderson, WV 24910
Robert
Hiltonsmith, Greensboro, NC, 21
Senior at Guilford College . Anti-war activist
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
# 91347-020
FCI Beckley
PO Box 350
Beaver, WV 25813
Peter Jessup,
Omaha, NE
Student
1 year probation, 200 hours community service, $500 fine
Patrick
Stanley, Bronx, NY, 20
Student
3 months federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91344-020
FPC Montgomery
Maxwell Air Force Base
Montgomery, AL 36112
Doris Reed,
Endwell, NY, 78
Retired
1 year probation
Caitlin
Harwood, Cleveland Hts, OH, 19
Anthropology major at the College of Wooster
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
Tom
Blancato, Pittsburgh, PA, 40
Newspaper deliverer
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Judd
Schiffman, Providence, RI, 20
Works with economically underprivileged and disabled
children
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Judith Kelly,
Arlington, VA, 57
Facilitator with nonviolence service. Served in Peace
Corps
3 months in federal prison, $1,000 fine
#91372-020
FPC Alderson
P.O.Box A
Alderson WV, 24910
Jane Lehr,
Blacksburg, VA, 27
Graduate student
1 year probation, 250 hours community service, $1,000 fine
Patrick
Lincoln, Blacksburg, VA, 21
Senior Spanish major at Virginia Tech
6 months in federal prison
#91400-020
FCI, Cumberland
P.O. Box 1000
Cumberland, Md. 21501-1000
Jonson
Miller, Blacksburg, VA, 27
Virginia Tech graduate student
2 months federal prison, $500 fine
91403-020
FCI Beckley
PO Box 1280
Beaver, WV 25813
Julia
Shideler, Olga, WA, 24
Americorps volunteer
1-year probation suspended
Mildred
Vennessa Pustek, Premerton, WA, 71
Retired
6 months home confinement, 200 hours community service
Sr. Maureen
Newman, Seattle, WA, 57
Educator
3 months in federal prison
#91398-020
FPC Dublin
5775 8th Street
Camp Parks
Dublin, CA 94568
William
Slattery, Maribel, WI, 18
Student
6 months in federal prison
#91355-020
FCI Oxford
Box 1000
Oxford, WI 53952
Projected release date: 8/08/03
*unless otherwise noted as "reported immediately," all defendants sentenced to prison are awaiting a federal notice that will tell them when and where to report to serve their sentence.
SOA Watch/NE
6367 Overbrook Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19151
215.477.5892
215.473.2162
info@soawne.org