A Major Setback in Bush Admin. Efforts to Criminalize Dissent!

For Immediate Release
September 26, 2005

St. Patrick's Four Not Guilty of Conspiracy; Charged with Misdemeanors

(9/26/05 -- BINGHAMTON, NY) Members of the St. Patrick's Four, their families, friends and legal team were grateful to learn that the jury, after over seven hours of deliberation, had found the peace activists not guilty of the most serious charge, conspiracy to impede an officer of the United States.

"The decision to acquit on the conspiracy charge, a felony, is a huge victory, given the narrow parameters within which the four could present their defense, and given the restrictions on deliberations. This is a major setback in the government's efforts to criminalize dissent," said Bill Quigley, acclaimed public interest lawyer and law professor at Loyola University School of Law, who has been acting as legal advisor to the defendants.

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"Our actions were lawful, however, we were repeatedly denied the chance to explain why," stated Teresa Grady, one of the defendants. "We were not allowed to mention Article VI, paragraph four of the Constitution, which says that the treaties of the United States are the supreme law of the land. We were not allowed to explain our actions in the context of the Nuremberg Principles, which declare that citizens can be held responsible for crimes of their government. Nor could we explain how this war was a violation of the UN Charter. The jury made a wise choice with what they had. It's unfortunate, however, that they were denied the full truth."

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"The real crime, as we've always stated, is that our government conspired against the American people and lied us into an illegal and immoral war," said Peter DeMott, a member of the St. Patrick's Four. "The task is now upon us all to better understand the criminality of our government's aggression and, as citizens, to act accordingly to demand that our government adheres to international law."

http://stpatricksfour.com/

Too bad the REAL conspirators are still at large.

To the Hague!

A HUGE Victory for Dissent

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

Go St. Pats Four!