(please forward widely)
The Campaign to Free Lynne Stewart.
 For doing her job of
representing her client, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, Lynne Stewart, the “people’s
lawyer” and UNAC coordinating committee member was charged with violating a
government-issued SAM (Special Administrative Measure when she released a media
statement on Rachman's behalf. Such "violations" are usually punished with a
legal "slap on the wrist," wherein the offending attorney is prohibited visiting
rights for a period of time. Indeed, then Attorney General Janet Reno declined
to bring any charges against Stewart. It was only two years later that
Bush-appointed John Ashcroft decided to do so, charging her with conspiracy to
aid and abet terrorism. Lynne initially was sentenced to 28 months in prison,
but the government wanted to make an example of her to make sure that no other
attorney dared to exercise due diligence in representing clients who had been
falsely accused of engagement in so-called conspiracies. Therefore, government
prosecutors appealed the initial sentence and demanded that, Lynne's sentence be
substantially increased. The compliant trial judge, John Koeltl, complied and
sentenced her to 10 years.
In prison, Lynne Stewart's breast cancer
returned, and the wholly inadequate prison medical system was incapable of
providing her with the necessary care. As the cancer metastasized to other
parts of her body, her husband, Ralph Poynter, started an exemplary campaign to
gain compassionate release for Lynne. UNAC and others joined in to help.
Demonstrations and press conferences were held in New York, San Francisco,
Washington, DC, Albany, NY and other places. Thousands sent letters, signed
petitions and made calls demanding her release. On the last day of 2013, after
a hard-fought campaign, the government finally relented, and Lynne was granted
compassionate release.
During this time of precious few victories for
our movement, this should be seen as one of the most inspiring. The campaign
for Lynne's release was non-sectarian. Everyone who wanted to support Lynne was
welcome to do so. Rallies included speakers from every group that joined the
effort. People were asked again and again to write, call, protest and spread
the word about Lynne's plight. Those who supported her made sure that if they
were not going to let her out, the governemnt would pay a political price for
their attack on Lynne and their violation of democratic rights. Despite
setbacks, the campaign continued and succeeded in freeing Lynne, and, with the
top-notch medical care afforded by the world-renown Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, perhaps extending her life for whatever additional time that science
allows
At the same time, the Edward Snowden revelations about our
government’s illegal spying were spreading throughout the world. The world
watched Chelsey Manning get sentenced to 35 years for telling the truth.
Perhaps to assuage its image on democratic rights as it seeks to "spread
democracy" throughout the world, and in light of the mass campaign for Lynne's
compassionate release, the US government reneged. We brought Lynne home to her
family, her community and to the movement for social change that she was
prepared to give her life for.
Lynne’s victory is a victory for all of
us.
For more information, please visit http://lynnestewart.org/.
Seventeen People Tried for Portesting Drones in Upstate,
NY
 On January 25, 2012, 17 people
were arrested for symbolically blocking the gates at Hancock National Air Guard
Base which is a site where MQ 9 Reaper drones are piloted over Afghanistan, and
the domestic center for training MQ9 Reaper pilots and technicians. They stood
in front of the gates with banners and and signs calling for an end to drone
warfare, and read an Indictment for Crimes Against Peace and attacks on
civilians that are illegal under international war.
After more than
two hours outside the gates, the protesters were arrested and arraigned on
charges of Trespass and Disorderly Conduct, both violations. The protesters
were also issued Orders of Protection for Col Earl Evans which require them to
stay away from the base. Violating these OOPs, as they call them, carries
potential misdemeanor or even felony charges.
On January 2nd of this
year (2014) the Hancock 17 went to trial in DeWitt, NY. Fifteen defendants
are going before the court Pro Se, i.e. they are representing themselves before
the court. They have prepared a defense based on the fact that they were not
at the base to break the law, but rather to uphold the law. The way the drones
are used in Afghanistan violates Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law. There
is little coverage of Afghan casualties in the mainstream news but according to
a report by Press TV, there were 500 drone attacks in Afghanistan in the last
year.
After 12 hours in the courtroom on January 2nd and 6th, the
prosecution case is nearly complete. The defendants had an opportunity to
cross examine Col Evans, a civil engineer responsible for material operations at
the base, and the Security Chief at some length. There were a number of
questions about the handling of events occurring outside the Military
Installation (denoted by the fence) of the Base and in the Easement which
includes a public thoroughfare.
It is expected that the defense case
will begin on January 23 and continue on the 24th. The defendants' case is
supported by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Mary Ellen O'Connell of
Notre Dame who is an expert on Drones and International Law, and by witness from
an Afghan youth whose brother-in-law was killed in a drone strike in Maidan
Shahr Wardak, Afghanistan.
For more information, please go to
http://upstatedroneaction.org/
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