Space Weapons Die-In 2009

Eight Arrests at Die-In

STRATCOM’S Annual Space Weapons Bazaar, 2009

DES MOINES—On Wednesday, November 4, Omaha and Des Moines Catholic Worker communities and friends held the fourth annual protest and "Die In" at the Qwest Center in Omaha, where STRATCOM's Space Weapons Bazaar, called the Strategic Space Symposium, takes place.

The effort began when a group of more than thirty gathered across the street from the main entrance of the Qwest Center at 11 a.m. The group moved en masse to the main entrance, and set up a banner that read "Space Weapons = Death.” They gathered around the banner and read a statement asserting that space weapons result in death and called for efforts toward uplifting human life instead of creating weapons to destroy it. After the statement was read a number of people, including the eight who were arrested, lay down on the ground in front of the banner, enacting a "Die-In". After five minutes people were called to their feet and directed to take the "Die-In" into the Qwest Center where the Space Weapons Bazaar was taking place. The protesters were stopped just inside the front doors by Qwest security guards and Omaha police officers. The protesters proceeded to reenact their "Die-In" at the feet of the security people and police. The statement was read again. Qwest security ordered them to leave the building or face arrest. All but eight left. The eight were placed under arrest, hand-cuffed, and escorted from the building into a police vehicle.

Among the eight was 91-year-old Peg Gallagher, “Grand Dame of the Omaha Peace Movement.” Peg was ticketed and released right on site. The seven others were taken to the Douglas County Jail, processed by the police and charged with City of Omaha ordinance "20-155 Request to Leave," a misdemeanor offense with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a five hundred dollar fine.

The seven included Fr. Jack McCaslin, 80, Mark Kenny, 52, Daniel McCarville, 22, all of Omaha; Friar Louis Vitale, OFM, 77, of Oakland, California; Steve Clemens, 59, of Minneapolis; Fr. Jim Murphy, 55 of Wisconsin; and Frank Cordaro, 58, of the Des Moines Catholic Worker.

The four Omaha residents were cited and released. The four from out of town were held overnight in the Douglas County Jail and appeared in jail court the following day.

On Wednesday, November 5, these four appeared before Judge Darryl Lowe in jail court, with sixty other Douglas County Jail inmates. After witnessing two hours-worth of Judge Lowe’s self-aggrandizing, bluntly racist, sexist, and otherwise politically incorrect judging methods, the four finally had their opportunity before the judge. Upon hearing Friar Louis’s “no contest,” plea and without looking at any paperwork about the case, Judge Lowe sentenced him to five days in jail. This was followed by a “not guilty” plea from Fr. Jim Murphy, who was sentenced to three days in jail. Halfway through the sentencing, Judge Lowe finally asked what the four men were doing at the Qwest Center. Upon hearing the reasoning behind the men's actions, the judge called both Friar Louis and Fr. Jim back into the courtroom, sentenced all four to time served, and sent them on their way.

The four Omaha residents face trial December 9.

Slideshow of 2009 Die-In

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monashaw/sets/72157622769540221/show/

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