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MANHATTAN---The trial of 18 women, many grandmothers and great-grandmothers, will resume Monday.
The Manhattan district attorney's office of octogenarian Robert Morgenthau insists that its prosecution of the 18 members of the Granny Brigade isn't about the Iraqi war, it's about disorderly conduct.
But Norman Siegel, the attorney representing the anti-war activists who call themselves the Granny Peace Brigdade says his clients didn't break the law, they peacefully and politely protested outside a military recruiting station in Times Square, didn't obstruct pedestrian traffic and didn't interfere with the operations of the recruiting center.
The 18 protestors, some of whom are in their 80s and 90s and some of whom were arrested in the 60s for protesting the Vietnam War, were in Manhattan Criminal Court last week after being charged with two counts each of disorderly conduct, one for allegedly obstructing pedestrian traffic and blocking access and the other for "disobeying a lawful order to disperse". Some used canes, others used walkers for their court appearance. All were united in refusing a plea bargain deal offered by Morgenthau's office for a six months adjournment in contemplation of dismissal if there were no further arrests, saying they wanted to go to trial and all 18 want to testify.
They also vowed to continue to protest the war.
The women had gone to the recruiting station on Oct. 17, 2005, to enlist. When the recruiting station personnel locked the doors and refused them admittance, the woman sat down and began chanting, "We insist! We want to enlist". Witnesses say that while they refused to disperse, they were peaceful and polite and did not block access to the station. A side entrance to the recruiting station remained open and several witnesses said that personnel unlocked the front.
Siegel told Judge Neil Ross that their conduct was "orderly, respectful, justified, necessary and patriotic". He told the court that they had the right to protest and their intent was to "alert an apathetic public about the war in Iraq".
The women are being tried as a group in a non-jury trial. Three police officers have testified that the protesters refused to leave but were orderly in their protest. One NYPD lieutenant admitted that the women didn't block anyone's admittance to the recruiting office.
Disorderly conduct is a violation and if convicted, the women could face up to 15 days in jail or a $250 fine. 4-23-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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