Fr. Luis Barrios
This morning Father Luis Barrios, a member of the World Can’t Wait national steering committee, went to court facing a felony charge for doing civil disobedience outside of the United Nations when Bush was speaking. About 90 people packed the court in support of Barrios. Many came through the result of the efforts of the UN 16 Defense Committee and Father Barrios’ church. They were joined by dozens of World Can’t Wait and Bush Crimes Commission activists.
The prosecutor would not drop the charges, and was not ready to begin trial, so a new court date has been set for January 23rd. The Defense Committee will have its next meeting on January 10th, with plans to pack the court room both for Geoff Millard’s court date on January 16 and Father Barrios’ court date on the 23rd. Further details of their plans will be coming from the defense committee.
For background on the case, the following is taken from a statement from the UN16 Defense Committee:
Fr. Luis Barrios, a member of the National Steering Committee of World Can’t Wait, and Iraq vet Geoff Millard were arrested on September 19 along with 14 others outside the United Nations as George W. Bush was speaking. They had come with this common message:
“We have come to the United Nations today to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. We demand the war on Iraq end immediately. We oppose any attack on Iran. We declare to the world that President George W. Bush has been found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He does not speak for us.”
When the group organized by the Bush Crimes Commission unfurled their signs, police grabbed Fr. Barrios first and forced him to the ground. He was subsequently charged with assaulting a police officer (a felony), resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
Geoff Millard was knocked over by police while hand-cuffed. They then declared that he was “resistant” and he was charged with resisting arrest. All the others arrested had the charges of disorderly conduct against them dropped.
It is important that everyone come to the defense of Fr. Barrios, because of his long history of support for the struggles of the people, and Geoff Millard, who is an activist member of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and has been featured on Truthout.org. Both are innocent. We must uphold the right of the people to protest. No president should be allowed to deny protest around their public appearances. We will not be cowed into remaining silent in the face of crimes against humanity.
Here is what you can do to defend Fr. Barrios and Geoff Millard:
- Fill the courtroom at Fr. Barrios’s court appearance, December 11, 2006 at 100 Centre Street, Part F. Be there before 8:30 am. On January 16, 2007 fill the courtroom for Geoff Millard at the same address, Part B.
- Call or write your protest of his prosecution to Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau at (212) 335-9000 or One Hogan Place, New York, NY 10013.
Geoff Mallard being arrested Sept. 19 outside the UN
Fr. Luis Barrios being arrested Sept. 19 outside the UN