Skip to main content.

April 30, 2008

Bangor Six: NOT GUILTY

Banner at Collins office, March 7, 2007
Banner hung out window of Senator's office at the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building in Bangor, Maine on March 7, 2007; click image for blog coverage (Kelly Bellis photo)
Iraq Occupation Project protesters were acquitted today on a March 7, 2007 trespass charge at the Bangor office of Maine U.S. Senator Susan Collins

This is an incredible example of nullification and total repudiation by a public jury of the position of Senator Susan Collins and all other elected representatives who have continued to vote to fund the reprehensible war in Iraq. I will defer any further personal commentary until post-verdict statements of the six are available.

Note: Of twelve arrested that day, six elected to play out the entire trial process.

Below I am reposting the video I shot just prior to the occupation and arrests at the office of Senator Collins on March 7, 2007. See also THESE PHOTOS shot by Kelly Bellis that day.


These are not guilty men. Senator Collins belongs in this van.

VIDEO: March 7, 2007 Occupation Project visits prior to stop at Collins's office:


VIDEO: March 7, 2007 Shetterly statement:


VIDEO: March 7, 2007 Rawlings statement:


VIDEO:Statements from four of the Bangor Six one day prior to not guilty verdicts, April 29, 2008, from event at the Bangor Public Library arranged by independent candidate for U.S. Senate, Laurie Dobson:


Update: The Bangor Daily News has a story up.

Posted by The Owl at 17:05. Filed under: Iraq

Comments

What a courageous bunch, standing up for all of us, showing the world that silence is indeed betrayal. Congratulations to all of them and their brilliant, dedicated and selfless attorneys.

Posted by anon on April 30, 2008 at 19:48

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BANGOR SIX! The rally for the Bangor Six was videotaped, and speeches from the Bangor Six will be posted to my website at http://www.dobsonforsenate.... The rally was held in conjunction with the Tom Ledue campaign and our campaign.
Apparently, Collins' office has told the media that their spokeswoman at the trial spoke in favor of the defendants; this is not true. She replied factually to the questions asked her.
Also, Collins has said that she tried to get the case dismissed. She may have seen that it would disadvantage her to carry it all the way through and if this is the case, she could have made a public statement, saying that she contacted the prosecutor's office to support these defendants.
As it was, they had no such words from her as they prepared for trial. They faced criminal court charges due to her decision to refuse to see them, after they had waited half a day to meet with her.
These are false arguments by a Senator with egg on her face.
Laurie Dobson
Maine's Independent for US Senate,
dependent on the people of Maine

Posted by Laurie on May 01, 2008 at 07:39

Here's the article on the bangor six, posted on after downing street's blog: http://www.afterdowningstre...

Posted by Laurie on May 01, 2008 at 07:55

Please also note that Harold Burbank, who conducted the rally, is an international human rights lawyer and war crimes expert, and worked with Dr. Francis Boyle in the Erik Watada case. Watada's case was mentioned frequently in the trial; he was the first military person to refuse to serve any further in the Iraq war.

Doug Rawlings brought the case records to the trial for evidence and referred to the case. Rawlings testified that he was compelled by obligation to fight for those who want to exit this war-- an occupation, which was begun as a war of aggression, according to Kofi Anan, the UN Secretary at the time of invasion.

Posted by Laurie on May 01, 2008 at 08:10

Thanks, Laurie, for your comments & support!

Posted by The Owl on May 01, 2008 at 10:26
This item is closed, it's not possible to add new comments to it or to vote on it

Previous Item - Archives - Next Item