Author
craig hymson
The D.C. Democracy Seven, arrested
for protesting Congressional oppression of the
District of Columbia last summer, will begin their
second trial on the afternoon of Monday, February 12,
2001. On Thursday, February 8, a pre-trial rally
outside the D.C. Superior Court building attracted
over 75 citizens and supporters.
[Press release forwarded by the D.C. Statehood Green
Party. Five members of the D.C. Democracy 7 are
active members of the party.]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2001
CONTACT:
Adam Eidinger 202-986-6186 or Lauri Apple 202-232-8997
D.C. DEMOCRACY SEVEN'S SECOND TRIAL UNDERWAY
After mistrial, D.C. Democracy Seven go to court once
again, face six months in jail
WHEN: Monday, February 12 until Wednesday, February
14.
WHERE: D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW,
court room JM-15
WASHINGTON, DC -- The D.C. Democracy Seven, arrested
for protesting Congressional oppression of the
District of Columbia last summer, will begin their
second trial on the afternoon of Monday, February 12,
2001. On Thursday, February 8, a pre-trial rally
outside the D.C. Superior Court building attracted
over 75 citizens and supporters.
Later that morning, preliminary matters were handled
in court, with Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby denying
the defendants' motion to exclude video tape evidence
to be submitted by the U.S. Attorney's office and the
defendants' subpoena of Congressman Ernest Istook
(R-OK), former chair of the D.C. Appropriations
Subcommittee.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty
of six months in jail and/or a $500 fine.
The projected schedule for the trial this week is for
jury selection to conclude by noon on Monday, February
12, with opening arguments and government witnesses
beginning in the afternoon.
Defense witnesses, which may include D.C.'s non-voting
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), will probably
take the stand Tuesday morning, February 13. A
verdict from the jury of D.C. residents is expected by
Wednesday, February 14. Updates are available at
(202) 547-3237 or (202) 232-2500.
On July 26, 2000, Martin Thomas, Karen Szulgit, Tanya
Snyder, Queen Mother ShemaYah, Debby Hanrahan, Bette
Hoover and Steve Donkin were arrested in the U.S.
House of Representatives Visitors' Gallery for
allegedly chanting "D.C. Votes No! Free D.C.!" during
a Congressional vote on the District of Columbia
Appropriations Bill.
At the Seven's first trial last October, prosecutors
dismissed without explanation charges faced by Thomas.
The remaining six defendants went to trial and
received a hung jury, at which point the judge
declared a mistrial and government prosecutor Andrew
Lopez immediately asked for a new trial.
The D.C. Appropriations Bill enables Congress to
control the city's budget, the domain of municipal
authorities in all other U.S. cities, and also
includes riders that overturn locally passed
legislation.
These riders prohibited D.C. from enacting Initiative
59, passed overwhelmingly by D.C. voters in 1998,
which would allow use of medical marijuana by patients
with serious and terminal illnesses.
The riders also gutted D.C.'s locally funded needle
exchange program, designed to control the spread of
H.I.V.; restricted use of local money to fund family
planning for low-income women; and prohibited use of
city funds to sue Congress for D.C. voting rights.
Attorney Paul Hurst of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, has
joined the defendants' legal team, which also includes
attorneys Reginald Williamson and Veta Carney, both of
whom represented defendants at the last trial.
END