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| DC Democracy Activists, Arrested in Speaker Hastert's Office, Found NOT GUILTY Today. |
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D.C. Statehood Green Party July 12, 2004 CONTACT: B.A.D. Day Seven Successfully Defend Themselves in Court WASHINGTON, DC--A twelve-person jury of DC residents found seven B.A.D. Day Coalition* activists not guilty of "unlawful entry" of House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office on October 1, 2003. After nearly two full days of jury deliberations and one note declaring that they were hopelessly deadlocked, the jury concluded that the two U.S. Attorneys prosecuting the case had not presented enough evidence to find the DC democracy activists guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. "This is a substantial victory for DC democracy activism," Adam Eidinger, one of the co-defendants said, "We hope that other DC citizens are inspired to join the B.A.D. Day Coalition and spend October 1, 2004 petitioning Members of Congress for budget autonomy for the District and Statehood." Eidinger is also the DC Statehood Green Party candidate for U.S. Representative for DC. Despite several set backs, including Judge Craig Iscoe's pre-trial ruling that "there will be no reference or evidence admitted at trial regarding Defendant's (sic) political motivations, political causes, or political beliefs..." the Defendants Pro Se successfully got some information about local budgetary control and statehood before the jury through cross examination of government witnesses and direct examination of defense witnesses. The activists played a tape showing that staffers in Speaker Hastert's office only allowed the defendants 51 seconds to petition their government for a redress of grievances. "We hope that this year, Speaker Hastert's staffers will give us more than 51 seconds to petition his office," Bill Mosley, another co-defendant said. Adam Eidinger (DC Statehood Green Party Candidate for U.S. Representative), Anise Jenkins (Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition--Stand Up!), Zoe Mitchell (DCSGP), Karen A. Szulgit (Stand Up!), Jill Blankespoor (DCSGP), Bill Mosley (Stand Up!), and David Barrows (DCSGP) were arrested while petitioning House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's (R-Ill.) office to bring H.R. 2472 "The District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of 2003" to the floor for a vote. The maximum sentence for the unlawful entry charge is six months in prison and a $300 fine. History of DC's Lack of Budget Autonomy: Because of a Constitutional anachronism, Congress continues to execute colonial oversight over the District's budget until it is reviewed and passed as part of the federal appropriations process - even though more than 75 percent of the District's budget is raised from local tax funds, about the same as most states. Because Congress does not finish the federal government's work on time, much less the District's, enactment of our budget is usually delayed well into the fiscal year - this year, by nearly five months. These unacceptable delays prevent the District from spending new funds on such urgent needs as health care, schools, and public safety. Moreover, as our budget moves through the appropriations process, members can attach "riders" - restrictions that negate the wishes of DC's voters. Current riders include a ban on needle exchange programs to prevent HIV/AIDS and a prohibition on implementing the initiative to allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Finally, Congress forbids the District from using its own money to lobby for Congressional voting rights and/or Statehood. *B.A.D. Day stands for Budget Autonomy for the
District Day. For updated information, please call the Stand Up for
Democracy in DC hotline at 202-232-2500 x1. |
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