District Attorney Seth Stuart contends that the defendants intended to "substantially inconvenience" the US military by disrupting recruiting at the Broadway office. Defendant Clyde Chamberlain, a father and grandfather, said "I was not concerned with inconvenience to the US Military. I was concerned by the considerable inconvenience our government and military have caused to the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens who have lost their lives, and to our soldiers who have died fighting an illegal and immoral war."
The defendants pled "not guilty" to charges of criminal mischief in the third degree because they believe their actions constituted a symbolic act of political speech at a government office and resulted in no damage to the property. All three of the defendants heard today said that their intention was to send a political message to our country that "war is wrong." Sara Graham, a 67 year old grandmother, testified that the group wanted to make a statement on Good Friday because that is the day the government killed Jesus Christ, and through the war in Iraq our government is killing innocent civilians." The group carefully planned the event they called "Blood and Roses" to maximize the symbolic statement and minimize any damage. During the silent vigil the group placed fake "blood" made of corn syrup, dishwashing liquid, and red food coloring on the sidewalk and red handprints on the windows of the Army/Marine Recruiting office at 1371 NE Broadway. Ann Huntwork testified "we used red tempera paint to make the handprints because it washes off easily. Every mother knows that."
The State tried to establish that the vigil had inflicted substantial property damage to the US Army and Marine Recruiting Centers. But witnesses Bradford Schultz and Morris Levenspiel the Regional and local property managers for the Military and the building owner could not produce a repair bill that itemized the cost for cleaning the red handprints off of the windows. The documentation they brought was ruled inadmissible by Judge Baldwin because it did not directly state repair costs for damage alleged from the April 6 vigil.
Monday Judge Baldwin projected that the case would go to the jury for decision by Thursday afternoon.
PS Bonnie Tinker was not arrested at the Blood and Roses vigil on Good Friday, April 6, at the Recruiting office. She is not facing charges in this case or any case related to April 6.
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PPRC people could testify to that, because we saw the prints right after 4/6 and a month later, during the Saturday anti-recruitment protest.
Styve