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Monday, June 05, 2006
Trial, Day One
Today was Day One of the trial for the "No Blood for Oil 12". We were only supposed to have a Day One, but it is taking much longer to get through all of this, so there will be a Day Two tomorrow.
Day One began at 7:00 with a silent rally outside the courthouse. It was a really nice experience with around fifty supporters holding signs and standing along both sides of the entrance. Five of us stood as Women in Black. Some of the people going in to the courthouse gave us a thumbs up or peace sign. One woman stopped to tell us that she sees us on Colfax when we stand, and she thanked us.
This trial has a six member jury. The defendants were denied all but one of their witnesses. The one witness that they will be allowed to have is a member of CopWatch. The witnesses that they were going to call to speak about International law and about the effects the war has had on Iraq are not going to be permitted to testify.
The prosecution has stated that this trial is not about what, but about where and how. This means that it is not about what is right or wrong about the war, or what people think about Bush or the war, but about where it happened (private property) and how (trespassing and obstructing).
I was going to write more about what went on in the courtroom, but I will wait until the trial is done so that I don't, somehow, cause any problems. I certainly don't have any clues about who reads my blog.
I will only say that it has been a fascinating experience so far. On one hand, it's like a Camp Casey in Colorado, because there are so many activist friends there for support. On the other hand, the theater of the court is just pretty absurd. I could get mad about a few things, if it would help.
Day One began at 7:00 with a silent rally outside the courthouse. It was a really nice experience with around fifty supporters holding signs and standing along both sides of the entrance. Five of us stood as Women in Black. Some of the people going in to the courthouse gave us a thumbs up or peace sign. One woman stopped to tell us that she sees us on Colfax when we stand, and she thanked us.
This trial has a six member jury. The defendants were denied all but one of their witnesses. The one witness that they will be allowed to have is a member of CopWatch. The witnesses that they were going to call to speak about International law and about the effects the war has had on Iraq are not going to be permitted to testify.
The prosecution has stated that this trial is not about what, but about where and how. This means that it is not about what is right or wrong about the war, or what people think about Bush or the war, but about where it happened (private property) and how (trespassing and obstructing).
I was going to write more about what went on in the courtroom, but I will wait until the trial is done so that I don't, somehow, cause any problems. I certainly don't have any clues about who reads my blog.
I will only say that it has been a fascinating experience so far. On one hand, it's like a Camp Casey in Colorado, because there are so many activist friends there for support. On the other hand, the theater of the court is just pretty absurd. I could get mad about a few things, if it would help.
posted by Carol at 9:15 PM
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