FOURTEEN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT NSA FACE JAIL TIME

National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, 325 East 25th Street,

Baltimore, MD 21218 PHONE: [410] 366-1637

PRESS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2011

CONTACT: Max Obuszewski 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net

FOURTEEN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT NSA FACE JAIL TIME

WHO: The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore is a part of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR], and Pledge members have been active with Occupation Baltimore and the occupation of Freedom Square in Washington, D.C.  As part of the Freedom Square occupation, NCNR attempted to obtain a meeting with Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency, to discuss perceived illegal and unconstitutional activities by his operatives. Instead, many of the citizen activists who went to Fort Meade were arrested: several were from Massachusetts, Beth Adams, Ellen Graves, John Langford and Paki Wieland; Tim Chadwick came from Pennsylvania; Joy First, Wisconsin; Chris Gaunt, Iowa; three from New Jersey--Carol Gay, Jules Orkin and Manijeh Saba; Malachy Kilbride, Virginia; and there were three Baltimore resisters--Ellen Barfield, Marilyn Carlisle and Max Obuszewski.  

WHAT: Each defendant received three citations, and all charges carry a possible jail sentence.  The court date is to be determined.   Below are the charges from the Code of Federal Regulations and the possible penalties:

Whoever shall be found guilty of violating any provision of these regulations [the first two below] is subject to a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both. In the case of traffic and parking violations, fines assessed shall be in accordance with the schedule(s) of fines adopted by the United States District Court for the District where the offense occurred. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to abrogate or supersede any other Federal laws or any State or local laws or regulations applicable to any area in which the protected property is situated.

32 CFR 228.13 - Disturbances on protected property: Any conduct which impedes or threatens the security of protected property, or any buildings or persons thereon, or which disrupts the performance of official duties by Agency employees, or which interferes with ingress to or egress from protected property is prohibited. Also prohibited is any disorderly conduct, any failure to obey an order to depart the premises, any unwarranted loitering, any behavior which creates loud or unusual noise or nuisance, or any conduct which obstructs the usual use of entrances, foyers, lobbies, corridors, offices, elevators, stairways or parking lots.

32 CFR 228.2 - Control of activities on protected property: Persons in and on protected property shall at all times comply with official signs of a prohibitory, regulatory, or directory nature and with the direction of Security Protective Officers and any other duly authorized personnel.

§ 1382. Entering military, naval, or Coast Guard property:

 

Whoever, within the jurisdiction of the United States, goes upon any military, naval, or Coast Guard reservation, post, fort, arsenal, yard, station, or installation, for any purpose prohibited by law or lawful regulation; or

Whoever reenters or is found within any such reservation, post, fort, arsenal, yard, station, or installation, after having been removed there from or ordered not to reenter by any officer or person in command or charge thereof—

Shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

WHEN: Sunday, October 9, 2011

WHERE: outside the entrance to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland

WHY: The defendants believe citizens have a right and responsibility to challenge government officials they perceive to be involved in illegal activities.  Instead of meeting with an NSA representative, they were arrested.  Regardless, they look forward to their day in court to present argument and evidence regarding the National Security Agency’s disregard of the law and the Constitution.

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs