WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!
DEFEND FR. LUIS BARRIOS AND
GEOFF MILLARD!
UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO PROTEST!
Father Luis Barrios 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’ court appearance,
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