Sauk River Review: spirit of democracy

Friday, August 3, 2012

spirit of democracy

photographer: brynn anderson/ap

presidential candidate dr. jill stein

arrested at fannie mae protest.

green presidential and vice presidential candidates jill stein and cheri honkala were reported arrested in philadelphia wednesday during a fannie mae protest. the candidates were charged with "defiant trespass and conspiracy to commit a sit-in at a bank" (wow). they were among five arrested at the demonstration, on video, in part, below.

seated cross-legged on the floor, dr. stein spoke about the importance of publicly funded college education for the public good, health care as a human right, the right to protest and petition for grievances without fear of being thrown into jail or put into indefinite detention, and protecting the environment in a way that supports our food supply and our economy. she described an economy driven downhill by wall street whereby, "one of two americans are now in poverty, or low income heading to poverty" and that the people in the room were "no longer the exception" - but "the rule" - and that they are "bringing the spirit of democracy" into these matters by leading the way into a green future.

from ap: 

Attorney Lawrence Krasner says Stein and Honkala spent the night in jail and were released without bail Thursday afternoon.

and

The demonstrators included several city residents struggling to keep their homes. Two met with Fannie Mae officials.

photos of the arrest at the green party's website here.

ap reports that cheri honkala is a long-time philadelphia activist. as blogged earlier, she was the first woman to run for sheriff in philadelphia, and on a no-eviction platform. she has been arrested over 200 times in eviction protests, and is regarded as one of the nation's leading poverty organizers. ms. honkala is a single parent who has experienced homelessness first-hand herself.