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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Queer Activists Acquitted |
Current rating: 0 |
by Kimberlie Kranich
(No verified email address) |
30 Aug 2001
Modified: 31 Aug 2001 |
The "Springfield 5," a group of five women from the 85% Coalition who disrupted a Senate Executive Committee Hearing last May when the Committee announced that it would not hear a gay rights bill (House Bill 101), were
acquitted yesterday of the charge of criminal trespass to state supported land. Our case has been dismissed and closed. No other charges are pending. We are free and clear. |
The "Springfield 5," a group of five women from the 85% Coalition who disrupted a Senate Executive Committee Hearing last May when the Committee announced that it would not hear a gay rights bill (House Bill 101), were acquitted yesterday of the charge of criminal trespass to state supported land. Our case has been dismissed and closed. No other charges are pending. We are free and clear.
Thank you to Walter Matherly, Robert Dunn, and Becca Glaser for supporting us during our trial. Becca's videotape of our civil disobedience was our main defense.
The state had to demonstrate that after the officers approached while we were chanting in front of the hearing room that they told us to leave and we refused. They failed to do this. They stood next to us, and we chanted as
we waited for some direction from the officers and after awhile they pulled on us and we were escorted out of the room. They forcefully pulled and jerked two of ours members' arms high up their backs while we were being led
by the officers out of the hearing room.
One police officer lied on the stand yesterday. He stated that Mary Lee told him when we were being questioned after our arrest that we were warned and told to leave. This same officer's written report, which was submitted as evidence, too, contains Mary Lee's statement but nothing about being warned.
We hear how police officers lie all of the time, and they did in our case, too. We were smart and had our own video of the civil disobedience. If not, it would have been the officers' words against ours. The state's attorney kept saying over and over, "We have testimony from two law enforcement officials..."
In early October, the 85% Coalition will hold a workshop at the Champaign Public Library to talk more about our case, civil disobedience, and the need for more direct action around House Bill 101, which is still alive in the Senate.
For more than 23 years, we have been trying to get equal protection under the law. How much longer will queer people accept our status as 2nd class citizens?
Join us! |
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I Wonder... |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
31 Aug 2001
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This is really good news. So often, the state triumphs over justice. It's good to see what's right win for a change.
I have to wonder when or if the News-Gazette will cover this important story. It doesn't fit their preconceived notion of the how the world "should be." Like many recent stories that are important to regular working people, the News-Gazette editors are probably hoping that this story just goes away, now that they have chosen to be on the wrong side of history. Remember, a story is no less important, perhaps it is even more important, because the News-Gazette has chosen to ignore it. |
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thank you |
by kayoss
kayoss (nospam) phlem.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
31 Aug 2001
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Your action was beautiful
The aquittal even more so
Thank you
by the way - what are the names of the senators who are in the committe in question, and is there any record of how the individuals voted? |
