Posted on August 22, 2013 by the Communications Committee

Introduction

By Gene Ruyle

Although she hasn’t officially announced her candidacy, Peace Mom Cindy Sheehan is actively preparing for her 2014 campaign for Governor of California. She recently spoke at a demonstration for the so-called “Beale 5,? activists who were arrested on October 30, 2012 for peacefully blocking the main gate to Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, notorious as home to drones operating in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. Predictably enough, the judge handed down a guilty verdict that could lead to a possible fine and/or up to six months in federal prison. Sentencing is set for September 9, but all the defendants have said they will not pay a fine or accept probation.

We are reposting an article with the permission of Popular Resistance: Daily Movement News and Resources (an excellent source, by the way). Be sure to check out Cindy’s brief speech, where she reveals an incident that reveals a lot about our Federal Government.

On her bicycle trip across the country, she tried to visit Fort Mead, where Bradley Manning’s court martial was being held, but was refused entry. When she complained that she was a Gold Star Mother, and, asked: “Don’t we have a constitutional right?” The guard replied: “Ma'am, this is a federal facility, the constitution does not apply here.”

After watching Cindy’s inspiring talk, you’ll probably want to get involved in her campaign for Governor of California. To do so, contact her campaign manager, Andy Conn, at: (530) 906-8077 or andy - at - systemsnspace.com.

Five Anti-Drone Activists Found Guilty of Trespassing

Reproduced with permission from Popular Resistance.

By Staff, www.popularresistance.org

AUGUST 13 – Five peace and anti-drone activists were found guilty late Monday in U.S. District Court in Sacramento of trespassing on federal property.

The so-called “Beale 5? were arrested October 30, 2012 at the main gate to Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, CA, where they had stood peacefully blocking the entrance. Beale AFB is home to the Global Hawk, a surveillance drone that provides reconnaissance for the weaponized predator drone, used in the majority of CIA drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

Sharon Delgato speaks before the trial in front of the U.S. District Courthouse in Sacramento.

The guilty verdict, handed down by federal judge Carolyn K. Delaney, means a possible fine and/or up to six months in federal prison. Sentencing is set for September 9.

All the defendants have said they will not pay a fine or accept probation.

The court refused to allow the defense of necessity, in which the defendants could argue they engaged in civil disobedience in order to prevent a greater harm, the killing of innocent men, women and children by the U.S. government. It also refused to allow the defendants to invoke the Nuremberg principle, which provides that a citizen is complicit in the killing of civilians if they do not protest or try to stop that killing by their government.

Cindy Sheehan and about 50 peace advocates from Northern California attended the trial.

Cindy Sheehan speaks before the trial of the "Beale Five."

The defendants were represented by volunteer lawyers coordinated by the National Lawyers Guild of Sacramento, which said the government also denied defendants a jury trial, even though they could be sentenced to six months in prison.

Those found guilty were Janie Kesselman of Camptonville; Sharon Delgado of Nevada City; Shirley Osgood of Grass Valley; and David and Jan Hartsough of San Francisco.

A second anti-drone trial is scheduled later this year for another group of five people arrested at Beale AFB this past April 30.

For more on drones, see "Drones Are Coming to Someplace Near You".