..
Emergency Protest of Troop "Surge"
Add to My Profile | More Videos.. .. --!
ANTI-BUSH PROTESTERS ASSAULTED BY POLICE; ONE FACES FELONY CHARGE
After being assaulted by police during Tuesday’s non-violent protest at the UN and then jailed overnight, Episcopal Minister Father Luis Barrios of NYC has been charged with felony assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Disabled Iraq war veteran Geoffrey Millard was also held overnight and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Both were released Wednesday morning.
“President Bush has launched illegal wars, tortured, and now threatens new wars, yet he is given an international platform, said protest organizer Clark Kissinger of the Bush Crimes Commission. “Meanwhile non-violent protestors delivering detailed findings showing Bush guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity are assaulted, arrested and charged with crimes. This is an outrageous attempt to suppress evidence of Bush’s crimes and the rising tide of anti-Bush protest. We demand all charges be dropped.â€
The two were part of a group of 16 arrested during a non-violent civil disobedience protest directly in front of the UN while Bush was speaking. They diverse group included held signs and chanted, "Bush is a war criminal. Bush Step Down." They stated:
"We have come to the United Nations today to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. We demand the war on Iraq end immediately. We oppose any attack on Iran. We declare to the world that President George W. Bush has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He does not speak for us."
Those arrested and available for interviews include:
* Fr. Barrios, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, leader of immigrant rights movement, and a national leader of World Can't Wait-Drive Out the Bush Regime (www.worldcantwait.org)
* Ann Wright, State Department official who publicly resigned in protest of Iraq war
* Elaine Brower, mother of U.S. Marine stationed in Fallujah and a spokesperson for World Can't Wait
* C. Clark Kissinger, convener of Bush Crimes Commission
* Geoffrey Millard, Iraq Veterans Against the War
* Beth Lamont, the American Humanist Association's UN representative
Also arrested were members of Granny Peace Brigade, Peace Action of NY State, Not In Our Name Project, Jewish Students & Youth Against the War, and "We Will Not Be Silent" campaign.
Their action follows the September 13 delivery to the White House of the Verdict from the Bush Crimes Commission. The Commission found the Bush administration guilty of crimes against humanity on five counts.
Many of the participants are also calling for national protests across the country on October 5, which is the subject of a full-page ad sponsored by World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime Wait in the September 20 issue of USA Today.
**********Demand the Charges be Dropped by calling or emailing:Mayor Bloomberg: PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)/FAX (212) 788-2460; E-MAIL: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.htmlRobert Morgenthau, Manhattan District Attorney: (212) 335-9000