After a first pre-trial conference between the nine arrested Binghamton University students (the ‘Binghamton 9’), their lawyers, and the district attorney, only one of the defendants' case is settled after the defendant plead guilty (to a charge of 'disorderly conduct'). The other eight are now facing future pre-trial conferences and possibly even a court hearing and succeeding trial. To help cover the legal costs arising from these proceedings, you can now donate to our defense by clicking on the "donate" button in the right-hand column.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Help Cover Our Legal Costs, Donate to Our Defense.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Benefit Show for the Binghamton 9!
With the tough-line the DA seems to be taking at our pre-trial conference this week, it looks like those of us arrested in the police riot on Vestal Parkway in March are in for the long-haul; more hearings, more negotiations, maybe even a trial.
But it's also a time to celebrate! The semester is over, there's a resurgence of political activism in our community, and we're building new friendships & alliances!
In this spirit, 32 North will be hosting a folk show & fundraiser this Saturday night, featuring:
Dawn Michelle (of BPI fame)
Jordaan Mason (amazing canadian)
Whatever Jailer (of Oh! Map Records)
Euphemisms (oberiut publishing collective)
Donations for legal-defense (and musician gas money) is up to you. Cheap beers, good friends. Things will kick off 'round 9pm at 32 North St. E-mail Andrew.Epstein1@gmail.com for details or directions.
But it's also a time to celebrate! The semester is over, there's a resurgence of political activism in our community, and we're building new friendships & alliances!
In this spirit, 32 North will be hosting a folk show & fundraiser this Saturday night, featuring:
Dawn Michelle (of BPI fame)
Jordaan Mason (amazing canadian)
Whatever Jailer (of Oh! Map Records)
Euphemisms (oberiut publishing collective)
Donations for legal-defense (and musician gas money) is up to you. Cheap beers, good friends. Things will kick off 'round 9pm at 32 North St. E-mail Andrew.Epstein1@gmail.com for details or directions.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
TODAY'S PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
It appears as though the District Attorney will, at least for now, play a bit of hardball.
After meeting with both of our lawyers for about 30 minutes this afternoon, we were informed that most of us were offered a conditional discharge only if we plead guilty to a Class A Misdemeanor (for most it was obstructing a governmental administrator). If we were to accept this offer we would avoid a trial but have a permanent criminal record, a huge fine, an admission of guilt and likely be unable to pursue any legal action against the police department.
Two who were offered Disorderly Conduct charges with 40 hours of community service. Another got an ACD for DisCon and is, barring some community service, pretty much off the hook.
Not much is likely to happen until a second pre-trial conference at sometime during the summer, after our lawyers finally get their hands on our police records, videos and radio transcripts. Any trial probably won't happen until the fall semester.
We'll keep everyone updated. This will be a fight after all....
After meeting with both of our lawyers for about 30 minutes this afternoon, we were informed that most of us were offered a conditional discharge only if we plead guilty to a Class A Misdemeanor (for most it was obstructing a governmental administrator). If we were to accept this offer we would avoid a trial but have a permanent criminal record, a huge fine, an admission of guilt and likely be unable to pursue any legal action against the police department.
Two who were offered Disorderly Conduct charges with 40 hours of community service. Another got an ACD for DisCon and is, barring some community service, pretty much off the hook.
Not much is likely to happen until a second pre-trial conference at sometime during the summer, after our lawyers finally get their hands on our police records, videos and radio transcripts. Any trial probably won't happen until the fall semester.
We'll keep everyone updated. This will be a fight after all....
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Two Articles in Today's 'Pipe Dream' About Protest
Administration says no judicial proceedings for Parkway protesters
"Students arrested in the Vestal Parkway protest will not have to face judicial charges from the University, after a meeting between students, administrators and the Graduate Student Organization last week settled the matter through a discussion." (read more)
Common sense prevails
"In the weeks following the March 18 anti-war protest on Vestal Parkway, the rally began to stand for more than just the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Professors and graduate students took up the cause and supported the protesters — rightly or wrongly — as emblems of free speech, student power and the return of collegiate activism. But while the nine protesters (eight of them students) faced the law of Broome County, the University’s judicial board was mounting its case against them as well." (read more)
"Students arrested in the Vestal Parkway protest will not have to face judicial charges from the University, after a meeting between students, administrators and the Graduate Student Organization last week settled the matter through a discussion." (read more)
Common sense prevails
"In the weeks following the March 18 anti-war protest on Vestal Parkway, the rally began to stand for more than just the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Professors and graduate students took up the cause and supported the protesters — rightly or wrongly — as emblems of free speech, student power and the return of collegiate activism. But while the nine protesters (eight of them students) faced the law of Broome County, the University’s judicial board was mounting its case against them as well." (read more)
Thoughts on Solidarity @ Pre-Trial Conference
As the pre-trial conference on May 6th is approaching, many of us are questioning whether or not to call out for a show of solidarity at the court house.
One the one hand, it's important to constantly demonstrate to the authorities that folks do have our backs and won't stand for police brutality and the smashing of dissent. However, it's not going to be a public hearing; our lawyer meets privately with the assistant DA, who will presumably make some kind of offer.
What do you think? Call out for solidarity? Or wait for a more important court date?
Post responses!
One the one hand, it's important to constantly demonstrate to the authorities that folks do have our backs and won't stand for police brutality and the smashing of dissent. However, it's not going to be a public hearing; our lawyer meets privately with the assistant DA, who will presumably make some kind of offer.
What do you think? Call out for solidarity? Or wait for a more important court date?
Post responses!
Monday, April 28, 2008
May 6: Pre-Trial Conference
All 9 of the defendants are being summoned to Vestal Town Court for a pre-trial conference with the office of the District Attorney on Tuesday, May 6th.
We'll know a lot more that evening about the DA's plans; is he going to play "hard-ball" and stick up for his friends in Blue, or look at the overwhelming evidence of excessive police force and drop these frivolous charges?
Only time will tell.
In the meantime, it's important to keep pressure on the DA's office to investigate the claims of excessive force being levied against the Vestal Police. The DA's contact info is posted here: http://www.gobroomecounty.com/da/
Tell him to take police brutality seriously and investigate thoroughly the accusations of undue force.
Solidarity...
We'll know a lot more that evening about the DA's plans; is he going to play "hard-ball" and stick up for his friends in Blue, or look at the overwhelming evidence of excessive police force and drop these frivolous charges?
Only time will tell.
In the meantime, it's important to keep pressure on the DA's office to investigate the claims of excessive force being levied against the Vestal Police. The DA's contact info is posted here: http://www.gobroomecounty.com/da/
Tell him to take police brutality seriously and investigate thoroughly the accusations of undue force.
Solidarity...
Open Letter to the University Community
Open letter to the University community:
On March 18, University members held a peaceful demonstration on campus on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Their point: that the Iraq war, which has now entered its sixth year, has been based from the start on blatant lies, is conducted in violation of international laws, and has made the United States an international pariah.
In an act of non-violent civil disobedience, a group of demonstrators continued the on-campus rally by marching down Vestal Parkway. They carried signs and banners that sought to raise awareness of the tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths that have devastated thousands of families both here and in Iraq and the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in this war, draining resources from our universities, schools, cities, and general infrastructure. The march was brutally broken up by the police, who arrested eight students and one alumna of Binghamton University.
As university faculty our mission is not only to teach students professional skills but also to prepare them as responsible citizens to engage critically with the social, economic, political, and moral conditions of the world in which we live. The courage and commitment of the students who undertook this action in support of peace and an end to an illegal war deserves our full support. The University Judicial Affairs Office is, however, considering whether to bring charges against the students under the Student Code of Conduct. This action sends a chilling message to all members of the University community: dissent by students will not be tolerated. As concerned citizens and members of the faculty, we call on the Judicial Affairs Office not to bring charges against these students. We also appeal to the administration, students and staff of the university to express their solidarity with the students and their cause.
Signed by professors:
Barbara Abou-El-Haj, Art History
Jeffner Allen, Philosophy
Bat-Ami Bar On, Philosophy
Reinhard Bernbeck, Anthropology
Herbert Bix, History and Sociology
Mark Blumler, Geography
Gisela Brink-Gabler, Comparative Literature
Virginia Brown, Political Science
David Cingranelli, Political Science
Marylinn Desmond, English
Aruna D’Souza, Art History
Thomas Dublin, History
Bonnie Effros, History
Deborah Elliston, Anthropology
Nergis Ertürk, Comparative Literature
Carmen Ferradas, Anthropology
Ross Geoghegan, Mathematical Sciences
Thomas Glave, English
Douglas Glick, Anthropology
William Haver, Comparative Literature
Gladys Jimenez-Munoz, CCPA Human Development
Wulf Kansteiner, History
Gerald Kutcher, History
Ingeborg Majer O’Sickey, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Florence Margai, Geography
Randall McGuire, Anthropology
Rosmarie Morewedge, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Martin Murray, Sociology
Ravi Arvind Palat, Sociology
Susan Pollock, Anthropology
Donald Quataert, History
Jean Quataert, History
Kelvin Santiago, Sociology
Mahua Sarkar, Sociology
Kathryn Kish Sklar, History
William Spanos, English
Ann Stahl, Anthropology
Lisa Tessman, Philosophy
Michael West, Sociology"
On March 18, University members held a peaceful demonstration on campus on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Their point: that the Iraq war, which has now entered its sixth year, has been based from the start on blatant lies, is conducted in violation of international laws, and has made the United States an international pariah.
In an act of non-violent civil disobedience, a group of demonstrators continued the on-campus rally by marching down Vestal Parkway. They carried signs and banners that sought to raise awareness of the tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths that have devastated thousands of families both here and in Iraq and the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in this war, draining resources from our universities, schools, cities, and general infrastructure. The march was brutally broken up by the police, who arrested eight students and one alumna of Binghamton University.
As university faculty our mission is not only to teach students professional skills but also to prepare them as responsible citizens to engage critically with the social, economic, political, and moral conditions of the world in which we live. The courage and commitment of the students who undertook this action in support of peace and an end to an illegal war deserves our full support. The University Judicial Affairs Office is, however, considering whether to bring charges against the students under the Student Code of Conduct. This action sends a chilling message to all members of the University community: dissent by students will not be tolerated. As concerned citizens and members of the faculty, we call on the Judicial Affairs Office not to bring charges against these students. We also appeal to the administration, students and staff of the university to express their solidarity with the students and their cause.
Signed by professors:
Barbara Abou-El-Haj, Art History
Jeffner Allen, Philosophy
Bat-Ami Bar On, Philosophy
Reinhard Bernbeck, Anthropology
Herbert Bix, History and Sociology
Mark Blumler, Geography
Gisela Brink-Gabler, Comparative Literature
Virginia Brown, Political Science
David Cingranelli, Political Science
Marylinn Desmond, English
Aruna D’Souza, Art History
Thomas Dublin, History
Bonnie Effros, History
Deborah Elliston, Anthropology
Nergis Ertürk, Comparative Literature
Carmen Ferradas, Anthropology
Ross Geoghegan, Mathematical Sciences
Thomas Glave, English
Douglas Glick, Anthropology
William Haver, Comparative Literature
Gladys Jimenez-Munoz, CCPA Human Development
Wulf Kansteiner, History
Gerald Kutcher, History
Ingeborg Majer O’Sickey, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Florence Margai, Geography
Randall McGuire, Anthropology
Rosmarie Morewedge, German, Russian, and East Asian Languages
Martin Murray, Sociology
Ravi Arvind Palat, Sociology
Susan Pollock, Anthropology
Donald Quataert, History
Jean Quataert, History
Kelvin Santiago, Sociology
Mahua Sarkar, Sociology
Kathryn Kish Sklar, History
William Spanos, English
Ann Stahl, Anthropology
Lisa Tessman, Philosophy
Michael West, Sociology"
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