Press
Release: ACQUITTED! Drone Resisters from Big Books Action @ Hancock
Airbase
Photos
of action are available at upstatedroneaction.org
PRESS
RELEASE 3/2/2017
Contact:
Danny Burns, Ithaca, 607-280-0369
Brian
Hynes, Bronx, 718-838-2636
Ed
Kinane, Syracuse, 315-478-4571
James
Ricks, Ithaca, 607-280-7794
Four drone resisters, James Ricks, Daniel Burns, Brian Hynes, and Ed Kinane,
from the 2015 big books action were found innocent of all charges at 11 PM at
the Dewitt Town Court. After deliberating for only about a half hour, the jury
returned with a verdict of not guilty on all charges. Applause erupted in the
courtroom upon the jurors’ announcement of the verdict. The four were charged
with obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct, and trespass
and faced a year in jail. Following the rendering of the verdict, a juror
approached Brian Hynes and said “I really support what you are doing. Keep
doing it.”
During
the trial, Brian Hynes told the jury, “This is not a case about contested
facts, this is a case about contested meanings.” Hynes went on to explain to
the jury that they could, in the words of the 4th Circuit of Appeals, acquit
for any reason which appeals to their logic or passion. In powerful testimony,
James Ricks told the jury about meeting the families of drone victims and seeing
the wreckage of hellfire missiles. Jurors were brought to tears several times.
Daniel Joseph Burns said, “Would any of us deem it acceptable for our
precious loved ones to be sacrificed for another nation’s anticipatory self
defense. Of course not! Moreover, if drones were being aimed at my
children by another country, I would hope with all my might that the citizens
of that country might try and stop their country’s illegal and immoral
actions.” Ed Kinane told the jury in clear and powerful language about his time
living in Iraq during the war and about the terror sown by drones. Closing
arguments were given by lawyers Daire Irwin and Jonathan Wallace as well
as James Ricks and Brian Hynes (Heidi Schloegel Hynes)
The trail resulted from an action on March 19, 2015. On the 12th anniversary of
the U.S.’ illegal invasion of Iraq, seven members of the Upstate Coalition to
Ground the Drones and End the Wars shut the main gate of the Hancock Drone Base
(near Syracuse, NY) with a giant copy of the UN Charter and three other giant
books – Dirty Wars (Jeremy Scahill), Living Under Drones (NYU and Stanford Law
Schools), and You Never Die Twice (Reprieve).
The nonviolent activists also held a
banner quoting Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution, stating that every treaty
signed becomes the supreme law of the land. They brought the books to Hancock
to remind everyone at the base of the signed treaties that prohibit the killing
of civilians and assassinations of human beings. The group attempted yet again
to deliver a citizens’ indictment for war crimes to the Hancock Air base chain
of command.
By Henry Lowendorf, U.S. Peace Council
New Haven, CT
New Haven, CT
2017 February 21
The resolution to cut the
military budget to fund New Haven, CT, human services and infrastructure passed
the Board of Alders unanimously this evening.
The resolution submitted by
the city of New Haven Peace Commission was presented at a hearing by the Human
Services Committee of the Board and received input from various department
heads of the city government.
The resolution called for
this citywide hearing to “reveal what the extent of the city’s public and human
services needs are, what the gaps are between the city’s needs and all funds
provided by taxes, grants and debt, and how those gaps could be met by reducing
the annual national military budget” which currently takes more than 55% of the
federal discretionary budget and under the Trump administration is likely to
dramatically increase.
Asked to imagine what they
could do with greater funds, department heads and city workers enthusiastically
spoke of providing more nurses and public health services to needy school
children, encouraging business development for non high tech startups, provide
high quality housing, end homelessness, fix potholes and sidewalks, replace
outdated public works equipment, take care of the city’s coastline and harbor,
replace laid-off park department workers, provide mechanics for the police
fleet and build a green fleet garage – among other things.
New Haven Mayor Toni Harp
approved of the resolution and offered to submit a similar one to the US
Conference of Mayors calling on every medium to large city in the nation to
hold such a hearing.
The resolution passed this
evening calls on the Board of Alders to transmit a letter to federal elected
representatives asking what they are going to do to reduce the military budget,
cut spending on wars and move funds to human needs.
In asking the Board to
support this resolution Alder Richard Furlow, Ward 27 and Chair of the Human
Services Committee, read the statement below encouraging his colleagues to
support the resolution.
Statement of Alder Richard
Furlow:
Honorable Colleagues:
Imagine, if you will, an
ideal world — a world where our city had nearly unlimited funds at its
disposal.
That could be a reality if
the federal government followed the recommendations of this resolution. It
urges that military spending be cut in order to meet the needs of local
communities.
On January 26, the Human
Services Committee held an informative, well-attended hearing on this
resolution. City department heads were invited to expound on what they would do
with a bottomless well of free money.
First and foremost, of
course, would be unmet social-service needs.
We would truly end
homelessness and expand the re-entry programs. Rebuild the senior’s program and
finish the youth center! There would be quality health care and drug rehab on
demand. Food Justice for all!
We would have plenty of jobs
and affordable housing. And a high-performing school system with well-paid
nurses!
New sidewalks and bike lanes
on every street! Buses that run on time and an international airport. Low
property taxes! No potholes! A ballet and circus! We would have well–groomed
parks and a skating rink with ice!
The “peace dividend” would
enable the city to settle outstanding labor contracts and fully fund the
pension system. We could afford a police department that enforced traffic laws,
a fire department with brand-new trucks, and plenty of overtime to go around!
Colleagues, please join me in
commending the Peace Commission for this admirable resolution.
I urge your support.
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