PR: Christian Peace Witness Trial, One of Largest Mass Arrests Protesting Iraq War, Begins Friday

***MEDIA
ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT:
Colin Mathewson
202-745-4625

Jack Pannell
202-745-4654

Trial
of One of Largest Mass Arrests Protesting Iraq
War Begins Friday

Defendants
Participated in the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
on March 16

Washington, D.C., June
20, 2007 – The trial of fourteen of the 222 citizens arrested during the March
16 Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
civil disobedience in front of the White House will begin Friday, June 22 in
Superior Court.  The civil disobedience was one of the largest single civil
disobedience actions at the White House, and the Christian Peace Witness was the
largest Christian peace demonstration since the beginning of the
Iraq
war four years ago.    

“While
our President continues pursuing a failed policy of escalating violence in
Iraq, fourteen courageous
citizens are continuing their own witness against the war,” said Rev. Andrew
Foster Connors, one of the organizers of the civil disobedience action and
pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.  “If thousands
more of us were willing to present our own bodies as living sacrifices, perhaps
another mother would be spared the loss of her son.  Perhaps the President would
be forced to listen to the will of the people, end this war, and bring our
troops home.”

A worship service at
the National Cathedral attended by thousands from across the country began the
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, which was followed by a
candlelit procession to Lafayette
Park for a rally
before the civil disobedience action began. 
More than one hundred local vigils took place the same day around the
nation.  Participants attending the public
witness intended to repent of their complicity with the invasion and occupation
of Iraq and to renew their
commitment to peacemaking on the fourth anniversary of the war in
Iraq.

The
trial is open to the media and the general public.  Veteran
civil rights lawyer Mark Goldstone, who has worked in similar fashion with Cindy
Sheehan and many other demonstrators over the past 20 years, will serve as
attorney advisor to the group.

WHAT:
Trial for 14 out of 222 arrested during
the March 16, 2007 Christian Peace Witness for Iraq in front of the White House
for either crossing a police line or failing to
obey a lawful order. 

WHEN: 
Friday, June 22, 9 am     

WHERE: 
Superior Court, third floor courtroom (check with information desk, 500
Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.  Phone 202-879-1010)

WHO: 
Defendants: Mary Pat Brennan, Debby Churchman, Louie Vitale, Bill Streit, Vicki
Andrews, Nancy Gowan, Liz McAlister, Jerry Zawada, Elizabeth Adams, Malachy
Kilbride, Susan Crane, Garland Robertson, Eve Tetaz, and Kay Warren.

Defendants had the
following to say regarding the upcoming trial:

“The attack on and
occupation of Iraq is totally against my moral and spiritual beliefs and I feel
I am obligated to do whatever I can to show my concern and try to end this
tragedy.  I have tried demonstrating, working in the political process,
lobbying, and contacting my Congressional representatives.  I came to Washington, D.C. from a small town in
northern Minnesota to be a part of the Christian Peace
Witness for Iraq. 
I hoped that a large group of people of faith, praying earnestly together for
peace, would make a difference.” – Vicki
Andrews, Minnesota

“I
was moved by my deepest long-held convictions that war is wrong and participated
with other people of faith on March 16 in an action of hope for peace in front
of the White House. War is immoral and contrary to my steadfast belief that
there is that of God in everyone. Jesus taught us that another world is possible
and that the path to that world begins with understanding, forgiveness, and
love. My participation on March 16 is a testimony of my faith in action to my
belief in forgiveness, understanding, love, and that without question another
world is possible.”–
Malachy Kilbride,
40, Friends Meeting of Washington in Washington, D.C. 
He has risked arrest and been arrested several times for
peace and torture abolition issues, and his first act of civil disobedience was
in March 2003 after he signed the Iraq Pledge of Resistance in September 2002 in
the months leading up to the war and invasion of
Iraq.

“I knew right from the
start that this war in particular was not the answer to September 11, but as the
war dragged on, I realized more and more I just could not go about the ordinary
business of my life while people were dying needlessly and that it was up to me
to take a clear and visible stand for peace in partnership with other committed
people of faith.” – Mary Pat Brennan

SPONSOR
ORGANIZATIONS: Adventist Peace
Fellowship, American Friends Service Committee, Baptist Peace Fellowship of
North America, Brethren Witness, Catholic Peace Fellowship, Christian Alliance
for Progress, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Declaration of Peace, Disciples
Justice Action Network, Disciples Peace Fellowship, Episcopal Peace Fellowship,
Every Church a Peace Church, Faith in Public Life; Kairos: A Time to Speak, A
Time to Act; Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, Leadership Conference of Women
Religious, Lutheran Peace Fellowship, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns,
Methodist Federation for Social Action, Peace and Justice Support Network of
Mennonite Church USA, National Council of Churches, No2Torture, On Earth Peace,
Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, Pax Christi USA, Pentecostal Charismatic Peace
Fellowship, Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, Protestants for the Common Good,
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, United Church of Christ Justice and Witness
Ministries, Sojourners/Call to Renewal.

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