Sisters Targeted, Victims of Police Abuse

author : Olympia PMR topic : Port Militarization Resistance

by Olympia PMR

Sisters Katie and Patsy Hutchison are being targeted for prosecution following questionable arrests during the November 2007 Protests in Olympia organized by Port Militarization Resistance (PMR). While 66 arrests were made during 13 days of Civil Resistance, three individuals – Shyam Khanna, Patsy Hutchison and Katie Hutchison are being selected for prosecution.

Patsy and Katie Hutchison were arrested on Saturday, November 10th. While observing activities at 4th and Plum, Patsy became victim of the Olympia Police Department's illegal use of chemical weapons. Noah Sochet with PMR explained in a May 16th article appearing in The Olympian that Patsy Hutchison "couldn't even see when she was arrested." Patsy's eyes were saturated with pepper spray; she was handcuffed, placed in a police van for over 25 minutes, and then ignored by police. Patsy was in extreme pain, her cries for help – though specifically ignored by Police - were heard by many, including her twin sister Katie who tried to negotiate with police to get emergency medical attention for her sister. The police responded by arresting Katie. Though victims in a horrible scenario of police abuse, and arrested without cause, both Katie and Patsy are now being charged with "Obstructing (an) Officer”, a gross misdemeanor.

PMR is working to secure needed legal defense funds for both Patsy and Katie. They are both low-income and valued members of our peace and justice community. If you can help, please make donations to: Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund, PO Box 295 Olympia,

Washington 98507-0295.

Additionally, Olympia PMR faces possible prosecution of the 42 arrested during the Nov. 13th Women’s Civil Resistance Action. The Olympian reported "the city attorney's office will rely on help from the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office [in] reviewing the (Olympia Police Department's) arrests during protests Nov. 13, 2007".

Despite the court's attempts in criminalizing the peace and justice community, we understand by engaging in non-violent direct civil resistance, we are not criminals -- rather we are upholders of the law in resisting this illegal and immoral war. We understand the true criminals are those who resist us – the riot police and prosecutors, as well as those local, regional and national bodies that appropriate the people's resources to fund these crimes against humanity in supporting illegal and immoral war. The resistance continues.