HONKALA AND MOREHOUSE VINDICATED IN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TRIAL

Charges Dropped Against First WTO Arrestees

In a stunning victory for the politics of protest, charges were dropped at 10AM today. At noon on November 29^th, Cheri Honkala of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and Ward Morehouse of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy attempted to serve Citizens' Arrest Warrants to the G7 Trade Ministers for Crimes Against Humanity. They began to make their way toward the Convention Center when they were seized by a string of police officers.

Honkala and Morehouse expected that they would be no different from the over 500 WTO cases, but instead were singled out due to their nationally and internationally recognized human rights work. Honkala is also a lead organizer for demonstrations during the Republican National Convention to be held in Philadelphia in July 2000. Today's decision should have a positive impact on both pending WTO cases, and other planned demonstrations across the country in the coming year.

At the end of July, the Republican Convention will be met by tens of thousands of demonstrators. Planned demonstrations include a Healthcare and Labor March (July 29), Unity March on diverse issues (July 30), and the opening day of the Convention (July 31) will culminate in a Poor People's March and mass non-violent civil disobedience. Throughout the week, the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign will have an encampment where poor and homeless people will come from around the country to participate in teach-ins, interfaith services and non-violent civil disobedience training. Celebrities are expected to attend.

After her WTO arrest, Honkala was initially offered a 2 year gag order anywhere in the country, 5 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, while Morehouse was offered a $250 fine and a dismissal of all charges after a year of probation. When the City of Seattle refused to offer the same terms for both parties, Honkala and Morehouse demanded a jury trial.

In the words of Judge Arthur P. Chapman, the actions of Honkala and Morehouse "are not so significant as to warrant the condemnation of conviction, especially in the light of the cherished nature of the constitutional rights upon which the City reasonably infringed. I find the interests of justice have been served here. These matters are dismissed."  

PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE (www.kwru.org) FOR A COMPLETE COPY OF THE JUDGE'S STATEMENT

 

Contacts:  Cheri Honkala

Kensington Welfare Rights Union

Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign

(215) 768-8320 / (215) 203-1945

Ward Morehouse

 Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy

(914) 271-6590