Golden – Twelve anti-war protesters contended in court Monday that they were using nonviolent means to prevent more serious crimes when they were arrested in November for allegedly blocking access to a Lakewood military recruiting office.
“We were attempting to stop … the serious crimes of murder of thousands of Iraqi people and the destruction of billions of dollars in property,” said Claire Ryder, one of the “No Blood for Oil 12,” who read the group’s opening remarks.
The dozen defendants, who range in age from 27 to their 80s, are representing themselves in the Jefferson County court trial on charges of obstructing a passageway and trespassing.
They were arrested Nov. 18 after about 50 people staged a protest at the Armed Forces Recruitment Center at 215 S. Sheridan Blvd.
Prosecutor Ben Sollars said the case was not about beliefs on the war or President Bush.
“This is a case about the when and the how” those beliefs were expressed on private property. A representative of the strip mall’s owners said the protesters had to leave when they blocked people trying to do business, Sollars said.
Ron Allert, who manages the property for the owners, said that, at first, he wasn’t too worried about a problem because “I saw it was an older crowd. … They looked pretty mellow.”
But when protesters bunched up around the Army recruiters’ door, Allert said he told Lakewood police, “That’s enough.”
Police said they asked the protesters to move several times and took action when they blocked a recruiter from entering the building while shouting “Baby killer” and “How does it feel to kill people?”
Wearing T-shirts with anti-war slogans and symbols, the protesters said Monday that their actions are legally justified under international law.
Ryder said the protest aimed to focus attention on “the people of Iraq, the civilians, the children and on our young people being recruited and sent there.”
The protesters said they have tried rallies, town meetings and other means to “openly and honestly” express their views, but “there were no other options available,” Ryder read.
Defendants in addition to Ryder are Cheryl Distaso, Bonnie McCormick, Betty Goebel, DeAnn Major, T.J. Bowen, Janet Roberts, Drew Edmondson, Carolyn Bninski, Ellen Stark, Scott Foreman and Richard Conn.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
