August 11, 2013

THREE PEACE ACTIVISTS FACE JURY TRIAL FOR ACTIONS AT CONFIRMATION HEARING OF CIA DIRECTOR JOHN BRENNAN

Washington, DC -- On Monday, August 12, three well-known activists will go on trial for actions orchestrated by the peace group CODEPINK in connection with the confirmation hearing of CIA Director John Brennan, in the US Senate on Feb. 7, 2013.  David OH Barrows of Washington, DC, Joan H Nicholson of Kennett, PA, and Mari (Toby) Blome of San Francisco, CA, will be tried in a jury trial before DC Superior Court Judge Patricia Broderick. The trial will begin on Monday, Aug 12, in Courtroom 113 of DC Superior Court, located at 500 Indiana Ave., NW.  The three defendants will conduct the trial “pro se,” assisted by attorney advisors Mark Goldstone and Ann Wilcox.

Defendants are each charged with one count of “disruptive and disorderly conduct on US Capitol Grounds,” in connection with the conduct of a hearing. The Brennan confirmation hearing was held on February 7, 2013 in the Senate Intelligence Committee, chaired by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), with ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). Defendants Barrows and Nicholson were arrested by US Capitol Police, before the hearing began, and Defendant Blome was arrested during the course of the hearing. Each has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The three defendants, along with their supporters, strongly oppose the use of drones for targeted assassinations abroad, including targeting US citizens. Supporters of the defendants will hold a vigil and press conference on Monday morning, Aug 12, at 8:00 a.m., in front of the DC Superior Court (500 Indiana Ave., NW).  They will vigil each morning of the trial, from 8 to 8:30 a.m.

"As a mother who has experienced the loss of a young child, it breaks my heart to know that my government willfully continues a military policy that has resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent children and women, and then secretly hides this truth from the American public,” said Toby Blome, a CODEPINK activist from San Francisco. “As truth bearers, we have a responsibility to expose this purposeful deception, and in the courtroom we will make every effort to prove to the jury that we were not disrupting Congress, but rather serving the public by educating them about these brutal and illegal drone killings."

Activists will be available for interviews following the trial. To schedule an interview, contact Alli McCracken of CODEPINK at 860 575 5692.

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