For Immediate Release: ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS’ TRIAL STARTS THIS WEDNESDAY

When: Wednesday January 27 2009, Press Conference at 8:30am, Trial Begins at 9am

Where: Pierce County District Court: 930 Tacoma Ave South Tacoma, WA 98402-2115 Room 936

Press Contact: 347 385 2195

www.worldcantwait.org seattle@worldcantwait.org

Opening arguments are set for the trial of two local anti-war activists on Wednesday January 27th in Tacoma, Washington. Patti Imani and Brianna (Emma) Herrera were arrested in August 2008 for allegedly blocking military Stryker Vehicles near Fort Lewis, Washington. Both have pled not guilty, maintaining they were non-violently demonstrating against the unjust war in Iraq. Ms. Imani is a local anti-war activist. Ms. Herrera is a member the national steering committee of World Can’t Wait. They along with their attorney, Larry Hildes will be holding a press conference and are available for interviews.

Arrests linked to Spy Scandal

Following these arrests, evidence emerged through the Freedom of Information Act that John Towery had infiltrated PMR and spied on the group September 2007 and July 2009. Fort Lewis’ Public Affairs office has publicly acknowledged that Towery was a military operative and Towery has admitted he spied on PMR for the government. Evidence suggests he often fed the U.S. Army, Olympia and Tacoma Police Departments information during PMR protests, including in the case being tried this Wednesday.

Ms. Herrera’s police report details communication between Defense Security, the Tacoma Police Department and the Military Police during her arrest. Under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1887, it is a crime for the US military to become involved in civilian law enforcement.

In this context, the arrests that were made and the charges that are being brought forward are both illegal and totally unjust. All charges must be dropped against Ms. Imani and Ms. Herrera.

World Cant’ Wait has issued a statement and call to pack the courtroom:

“Under Obama, the U.S. continues its illegal occupation of Iraq. War criminals in the Bush administration that defied international law walk free. And Obama has escalated the war in Afghanistan and is further spreading it in Pakistan while threatening U.S. attacks on other countries in the “war on terror”. The wanton killing of civilians remains a pillar of the war on Afghanistan as the U.S. military targets wedding parties and schools. The war crimes of torture and indefinite detention remain in effect at Bagram air base in Afghanistan while Obama is leaving Guantanamo open, despite his promises to close it this January. The horrors continue every day and the need for resistance to these crimes is greater than ever, but people have been paralyzed and demobilized. This must be changed. All those who oppose these wars have the responsibility to throw off this paralysis and struggle to shake others out of it. Crimes are crimes, no matter who the president is that is committing them. All those who are against the war must support, take up, and spread active opposition to the war!

We call on all those who are against the illegal Iraq and Afghanistan war and occupations, to support Patti Imani and Brianna “Emma” Herrera and join us continuing political resistance to the war. What is needed, and what we pledge to help do, is to spread mass resistance to this unjust and immoral war throughout the country.”