whitebeard

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Thursday, September 21, 2006

ANTI-BUSH PROTESTERS ASSAULTED BY POLICE
ONE FACES FELONY CHARGE

Photo from front page of El Diario

After being assaulted by police during a non-violent protest at the UN and then jailed overnight, Episcopal minister Fr. 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 this morning. Funds are now needed to continue the struggle.

"President Bush has launched illegal wars, tortured, and committed crimes against humanity, yet he is given an international platform to threaten further crimes," said protest organizer C. Clark Kissinger of the Bush Crimes Commission. "Meanwhile non-violent protestors speaking on behalf of humanity are assaulted, arrested and charged with crimes. This is an outrageous attempt to suppress a rising tide of anti-Bush sentiment and protest, and we demand all charges be dropped."

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. The diverse group, which 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."

Their action follows the delivery to the White House on September 13 of the Verdict from the Bush Crimes Commission which found the Bush administration guilty of crimes against humanity on five counts.

You can 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.html

Office of Robert Morgenthau, Manhattan District Attorney: (212) 335-9000

Photos here