[Vision2020] Megaload protesters proud to disturb the peace

[Moscow Cares]

"Its destructive power rivals that of a nuclear holocaust.  Climate change is based on sound science.  Knowing the facts, I have no choice but to disturb the peace."

- Cass Davis on the Tar Sands Project

Courtesy of today's (April 7, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Megaload protesters proud to disturb the peace

Two megaload protesters pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace for blocking a convoy of Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil shipments in Moscow on March 4 before being given the opportunity to explain how their perception of the environmental devastation tied to the Kearl Oil Sands project left them no choice.

James Prall, 67, and Cass Davis, 47, both of Moscow, had been facing obstruction charges, but a deal brokered with counsel Dana Johnson of the Northern Rockies Justice Center and city of Moscow prosecuting attorney Rod Hall amended the charges to disturbing the peace with the penalty being a $240 fine.

"I seem to always be disturbing the peace," Prall told Magistrate Judge John C. Judge on Friday at the Latah County Courthouse. "I have tried to slow down, if only for one minute, our societies rush to squeeze the last bit of oil out of an otherwise pristine place."

Davis said his actions were morally justified and in the public's best interest, condemning the Moscow Police Department and other law enforcement agencies that were reimbursed for shepherding the 78 shipments through the city and condoning environmental harm to the planet for the sake of commerce "by shredding the U.S. Constitution."

"Its destructive power rivals that of a nuclear holocaust," said Davis of the tar sands project. "Climate change is based on sound science. ... Knowing the facts, I have no choice but to disturb the peace."

Judge told the two defendants he admired their convictions prior to imposing the fines.
"I don't think either one of you were irrational or insane for what you did," he said. "I think nonviolent protest is one of the things that has made this country great. ... Pay your fine and costs and keep standing for what you believe in."

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Thank you, James Prall and Cass Davis, for not only drawing the proverbial line in the sand, but for standing behind it.

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"Have You Been To Jail For Justice"

http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Jail_for_Justice.mp3

"Was it Cesar Chavez? Maybe it was Dorothy Day
Some will say Dr. King or Gandhi set them on their way
No matter who your mentors are it's pretty plain to see
That, if you've been to jail for justice, you're in good company

Have you been to jail for justice? I want to shake your hand
Cause sitting in and lyin' down are ways to take a stand
Have you sung a song for freedom? or marched that picket line?
Have you been to jail for justice? Then you're a friend of mine

You law abiding citizens, come listen to this song
Laws were made by people, and people can be wrong
Once unions were against the law, but slavery was fine
Women were denied the vote and children worked the mine
The more you study history the less you can deny it
A rotten law stays on the books til folks like us defy it

The law's supposed to serve us, and so are the police
And when the system fails, it's up to us to speak our peace
It takes eternal vigilancefor justice to prevail
So get courage from your convictions
Let them haul you off to jail!"

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown


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