Four More Peace Activists Targeted for Prosecution

author : Patty Imani topic : Port Militarization Resistance

by Patty Imani

Four more people who participated in the November, 2007 round of actions with Port Militarization Resistance (PMR) in Olympia are being targeted for prosecution by the City of Olympia Prosecutors Office. Gabrielle Sloane, Amory Ballantine, Davi Rios and Joji Kohjima were scheduled for arraignments June 25th at Olympia Municipal Court.

The four being prosecuted were selected from a larger group of nine who were arrested Saturday, November 10th while engaging in non-violent resistance near Union and Plum streets in Olympia. Actions supported a PMR call for vontainment of combat equipment that was used in the illegal occupation of Iraq for purpose of war crimes.

The four are being charged with Obstruction of an Officer, commonly considered a gross misdemeanor. Olympia police shot pepper-spray bullets at close range at protesters in the road who had linked their arms in hard block fashion. Police removed the protester's protective wear for eyes and lungs which further subjected them to pain experienced from the Police's illegal use of chemical weapons against the peace protesters.

In May three others were targeted for prosecution - Shyam Khanna, Patsy Hutchison and Katie Hutchison. A Motion to dismiss hearing for Shyam Khanna was set for June 25th. Initial trial dates for Patsy Hutchison is scheduled for 8:30 AM on August 4th, and at 8:30 AM, August 6th for Katie Hutchison. While 66 arrests were made during 11 days of Civil Resistance, seven individuals, to date, have been targeted for prosecution – all are women or people of color. Speaking of her impressions with the Port of Olympia protests, Gold Star mother and peace activist Cindy Sheehan said in a June 9th Olympian interview, "It's a great action, what they're doing. It's very courageous... to try and make the world a better place."

PMR is continuing its effort to secure needed legal defense funds to provide legal defense for the four new activists facing prosecution. If you can help, please make donations payable to “Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund”: Your help secured lawyers for Katie, Patsy and Shyam! Let’s ensure Amory, Davi, Gabriella and Joji have the same support. Any amount is helpful. Please make donations payable to “Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund” and mail to:

Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund

PO Box 295

Olympia, WA 98507-0295

History of Olympia Port Militarization Resistance

PMR was formed in May of 2006 as a coalition of anti-war activists to resist movement of equipment from the 3rd/2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) as it deployed in May, 2006 through the Port of Olympia. In November, 2007 combat equipment from the 3rd/2nd SBCT met resistance again as it came back through our Port toward Fort Lewis to undergo repairs and return to Iraq for more death, more destruction. In May 2006 and in November, 2007, peace activists chose to resist the war machine by standing in front of the machines of war.

Forty-eight U.S. soldiers serving with the 3rd/2nd Stryker Combat Brigade lost their lives during deployment. Approximately 1.3 million Iraqi's have been killed in the U.S. Occupation, it is estimated that up to 90% of those killed are civilians, millions more have become displaced as refugees. As of June 23rd of this year 4,104, mostly very young, U.S. Enlisted have died in Occupied Iraq, 532 U.S. Enlisted have died in Occupied Afghanistan - causalities of lies made by the U.S. administration in pursuit to control world resources, lands and peoples. Both Iraqi and Afghani occupations defy the Constitution and International Treaties. Six years into this bloody slaughter, George W. Bush, liar in chief, has become the focus of Impeachment efforts - Articles of Impeachment were presented to Congress on June 9th against George W. Bush for High Crimes he has committed in calling for this illegal occupation and the slaughter of millions.

Once again, PMR asserts, 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 illegal occupations. 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. The resistance continues.

Patty Imani, OlyPMR, Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund, olypmr.org