Anti-war protestors acquitted of conspiracy, guilty on lesser charges News
Anti-war protestors acquitted of conspiracy, guilty on lesser charges

[JURIST] Four Iraq war protesters have claimed victory after they were acquitted on federal conspiracy charges and convicted on lesser trespassing charges in the first federal conspiracy trial of anti-war protestors [JURIST report] since the Vietnam War. The group, known as the St. Patrick's Four [advocacy website], were arrested after throwing blood on the walls of a Army recruitment office in 2003 outside Ithaca, NY to protest the war in Iraq. The protesters were charged in federal court after a state court prosecution ended in mistrial in 2004. The four were all acquitted of felony charges of conspiracy to force, intimidate and threaten federal officers, but all four were convicted of damage to property and trespass. The four called the trial a victory, even though they were convicted on lesser charges and were prevented from testifying on certain subjects throughout the trial. Sentencing is scheduled for January. The St. Patrick's Four have a news release on the outcome of the trial. The Ithaca Journal has local coverage. The New Standard has more.