Anti-war activists plead NOT Guilty in court today - Madison

Jennifer First, Marilyn Ross, and Joy First will go before Judge Koval in Municipal Court at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Room 201 on Monday March 8 at 11:00 am.  They were charged with unlawful trespassing after refusing to leave Alfalight on December 2, 2009.

The three Madison area women went to Alfalight with several other peace activists expressing their sorrow and outrage over President Obama’s announcement in early December to escalate the war in Afghanistan by sending 30,000 more troops there.  Alfalight is one of over 300 companies in Dane County that contracts with the Department of Defense.  The activists delivered a letter to the person in charge, asking them to end their relationship with the DoD, stating that ending their work for war and profit is one of the ways that we can bring an end to the wars which are causing suffering and death to countless innocent people.  The officials at Alfalight refused to end their participation in war, and instead called the police.  When the police came, Marilyn Ross, Jennifer First, and Joy First refused to leave the premises and were arrested.  They were handcuffed and taken to the Dane County jail where they were cited for trespassing with a $400 fine, fingerprinted, photographed, and released after about 2 hours.

Jennifer, Marilyn, and Joy will contest the charges on March 8, reminding the court that it is our government that is breaking the law, while it is our First Amendment right and our obligation under Nuremberg to speak out against the immoral and illegal wars.

Contact: jsfirst@tds.net