Subject:            (NEWS ADVISORY) DC Democracy 7 trial resumes; Prosecutors try to censor political speech 
   Date:         Thu, 12 Oct 2000 19:07:27 -0700 (PDT)
   From:        DC Statehood Green News <dcsgpnews@yahoo.com>
     To:         dcsgpnews@yahoo.com

The DC Statehood Green Party
News Advisory

For immediate release
Friday, October 13, 2000

Contact:
Martin Thomas, (202) 332-6558
 

Prosecutors Seek to Censor Political Speech During
Trial of D.C. Democracy 7 

Trial Resumes Monday, October 16

*** What: Trial of D.C. Democracy 7 
*** When: Monday October 16, 2000 at 9:15 a.m.
*** Where: D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW, Courtroom 116
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The trial of seven District
residents accused of disruption on Congress during a
demonstration for D.C. democracy in the U.S. Capitol
House visitors gallery resumes Monday, October 16
after a two week delay.  On Monday, Judge Anne
Blackburne-Rigsby will hear arguments on a motion
filed by the U.S. Attorney s to prohibit any mention
of D.C. Statehood  or voting representation  during
trial.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) will testify as a
fact witness and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Rep. Ernest
Istook (R-OK) may be subpoenaed during the trial.

Suspicions that the trial would be politically charged
were confirmed at an early morning rally outside of
the courthouse on September 29.  Chanting Free D.C.! 
and No Democracy, No Peace,  about 75 people
demonstrated in support of the defendants and for
their rights to democratic government.

The rally was held before the scheduled opening of the
trial, which was delayed until October 16 so that the
defendants could respond to the prosecutors motion to
prohibit political speech.

The seven defendants were arrested on July 26, 2000 in
the U.S. House of Representatives Visitors  Gallery
after they spoke out on the District of Columbia
Appropriations Bill. The bill includes many riders
that overturn locally passed legislation, including:

***  Prohibiting D.C. from enacting Initiative 59,
passed overwhelmingly by D.C. voters in 1998, which
would allow use of medical marijuana by patients with
serious and terminal illnesses.

***  Gutting D.C. s locally funded needle exchange
program to control the spread of HIV.

***  Prohibiting the use of city funds to sue Congress
for D.C. voting rights.

The seven defendants Martin Thomas, Karen Szulgit,
Debby Hanrahan, Bette Hoover, Tanya Snyder, Queen
Mother ShemaYah, and Steve Donkin reacted to the
House floor debate by first addressing the Speaker of
the House, objecting to the blatantly
anti-democratic  nature of the process which prevents
D.C. residents from voicing their opinions.  Then they
cast their votes  by chanting D.C. votes No!  Free
D.C.! , after which they were arrested by Capitol
Police.

This motion to ban political speech during the trial
is another attempt to deny D.C. residents their
rights,  Martin Thomas, D.C. Statehood Green Party
candidate for Shadow  U.S. Representative said.  The
real crime here is the disruption  of democracy by
Congress , said co-defendant Tanya Snyder.

The Democracy 7 will be represented by attorneys Carl
Cannon, Veta Carney, Kenny Page, and Reggie
Williamson; two of the defendants will represent
themselves pro se.  If convicted, all seven face a
maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $500
fine.
 

More information:

*** The D.C. Statehood Green Party:
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org
 

END