by Vicki Ross
Drones bury beautiful lives
Drones bury innocent lives
Killings sons, fathers, daughters and wives
Drones bury beautiful lives. Continue reading
Elliott Adams of the Hancock 17, was not able to be in court on the day the rest of the defendants were sentenced. He was sentenced for Disorderly Conduct to 14 days in jail and a fine of $250 and given a 2 year permanent restraining order to keep away from Col Evans (i.e. Hancock Air National Guard Base).
Here is what he had to say:
As our government puts me behind bars I feel I am able to offer one small voice for those who are screaming voicelessly under the war crimes of our government. Note I say our government for if it is not ours or we don’t make it ours, than we are as complicit as the so called “Good Germans” were who allowed the Nazis to convert their country to despotism. Continue reading
February 7, 2014, the 13 remaining defendants in the Hancock 17 trial were convicted of Disorderly Conduct by Judge David Gideon in DeWitt Town Court for participating in a protest on October 25, 2012 where they symbolically blocked the gates of Hancock Air National Guard Base to protest the very real piloting going on within the base of deadly MQ9 Reaper Drones over Afghanistan.
Each defendant was fined of $250, served with a 2 year Restraining Order on behalf of Col Earl A. Evans and and sentenced to 15 days in jail. Click here to view videos of their responses to the verdict. Continue reading
Two Interviews with Stan Heller for
The Struggle, Media for Justice, Justice for the People
In October 2012 a protest of the drone base in Hancock, NY led to 17 arrests. At trial the 17 were convicted of disturbing the peace. They were put in jail on February 7. Interview with Elliott Adams
Video by Charley Bowman of the Western NY Peace Center in Buffalo
Judge Gideon’s Verdict and Sentence for Hancock 17 Defendants
(Defendant’s Sentencing Statements coming soon)
Sentencing And Jailing Of Hancock 17 from Western New York Peace Center on Vimeo.
Transcript below: Continue reading
Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters Released from Jail February 14
In a week in which the National Security Administration’s role in the assassinations of drone victims was revealed, Pakistani anti-drone activist Kareem Khan was freed after being abducted from his home and President Obama is considering a drone strike on yet another U.S. citizen, the twelve sentenced members of the Hancock 17 Drone War Crime Resisters were released from the “Justice” Center Jail in Syracuse, NY on Friday, February 14. Continue reading
Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters’ Verdict Is In!
All found guilty of disorderly conduct but acquitted of trespassing;
Order of Protection extended 2 years; Judge decides to ‘send a message’
On Friday, February 7, Town of DeWitt Court Judge David Gideon found twelve of the Hancock Drone War Crimes Resisters guilty of disorderly conduct, but acquitted them of trespassing.They had gone to Hancock Air National Guard Base near Syracuse, NY, on Oct. 25, 2012, to bring a Citizens War Crimes Indictment to the base and symbolically block the gates. Their nonviolent action had called for an end to drone warfare. Continue reading
Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters Complete Closing Statements
Verdict is Friday, February 7
On Friday, January 31, the trial of the Hancock 17 Drone War Crimes Resisters trial concluded with Closing Arguments. Town of Dewitt (NY) Judge David Gideon presided, inviting each pro se defendant to Close, and listening carefully to their arguments. Chief Master Sergeant Ramsey, head of Hancock Base Security, and a lawyer with a military background also attended the proceedings, listening intently.
Eight defendants gave Closing Arguments. They made legal and moral arguments that they should be acquitted of disorderly conduct and trespassing, charges they received after having symbolically blocked the three gates of Hancock Air National Guard Base, near Syracuse, NY, on October 25, 2012. The nonviolent action had called for an end to drone warfare.
Legal arguments addressed both international law as well as faults with the charges themselves. Continue reading
Closing Arguments of Hancock Drone Resisters on trial Jan 3-31, 2014 for symbolically blocking all 3 gates at Hancock Air National Guard Base in DeWitt, NY.
Closing Argument in the Case of Hancock Protesters from October 25, 2012
by Ed Kinane, Presented January 31, 2014
[Transcript]
Good evening Judge Gideon, prosecutor Mc Namara, court staff, our many supporters here, and my fellow defendants. Continue reading