State Green Party Press Release

Morrill for Governor - Pennsylvania Green Party

Morrill Aide Arrested in Harrisburg Park, Charged By Police With Trespass While Supervising Petition Drive.

Morrill for Governor
P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Contact:
July 7, 2002 Eric Prindle 570-372-0503 (after 9 PM)

(HARRISBURG, PA)-Eric Prindle, field director for the Morrill for Governor campaign was arrested this evening, in a Harrisburg public park while gathering signatures to get Michael Morrill on the ballot. Prindle was charged with trespass.

Prindle and three other Morrill volunteers were gathering petition signatures on the corner of Walnut and Front Streets in front of People's Bridge in Harrisburg's Riverfront Park. Harrisburg Police approached the volunteers and told them they were not allowed to gather signatures in the park during a public event. Prindle asserted his constitutionally protected right to gather signatures in public parks. The police told him to leave or he would be arrested. Prindle continued to gather signatures. The police conferred with superiors and returned to place Prindle under arrest.

As he was being taken away in handcuffs, Prindle said, "This is what happens when you try to participate in the democratic process."

"I am outraged," said Morrill. "We should be celebrating our democracy this weekend, not inhibiting it. The deck is already stacked against us."

Morrill noted that the Greens need more than 21,000 signatures to get on the ballot, while the Democrats and Republicans only need 2,000. Prindle's primary job as field director is mobilizing volunteers.

"How hard is it going to be to get people to petition for us if there is threat that the police will arrest them?" asked Prindle. "Maybe that's their strategy. After all Mayor Reed just endorsed Ed Rendell for governor."

"They can throw us in jail but we will not be intimidated," added Morrill. "I demand that Ed Rendell and Mike Fisher denounce this anti-democratic arrest."

07.07.02
Addendum: Green Party Members to Continue Petitioning in Riverfront Park Despite Threat of Arrest. Volunteers undeterred by arrest of Morrill aide yesterday by Harrisburg Police.

WHAT: Green Party members to risk arrest for petitioning in a public park
WHEN: TODAY, July 7, 2002, 1:00 PM
WHERE: Riverfront Park, Front and Walnut Streets, Harrisburg
WHO: Ben Price, Candidate for Congress; Jonathan Gallup, Candidate for State Representative; others

(HARRISBURG, PA)-Members of the Green Party of Pennsylvania, vowing not to be deterred by threats of arrest, will return to Riverfront Park in Harrisburg this afternoon to continue petitioning to get Michael Morrill and other Green Party candidates on the ballot. Among those risking arrest to stand up for the Constitution will be Ben Price, candidate for Congress in the 19th District and Jonathan Gallup, candidate for State House in the 103rd District.