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20-Year Veteran to Face Jail Time for Act of Civil Disobedience
NationofChange / News Report
Published: Thursday 12 April 2012
“Disruption of Congressional ‘Super Committee’ could result in 6-month sentence.”
Retired Naval Commander Leah Bolger will appear in court Thursday, April 12th 2012 on charges stemming from her arrest on October 26th, 2011. Bolger, who is a peace activist and the President of Veterans For Peace, interrupted a public hearing of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, commonly known as the Super Committee.
In a calm, articulate manner Bolger spoke for nearly a minute in the well of the Senate hearing room before Capitol Hill police escorted her out and placed her under arrest. Prominent social activist Ben Cohen praised Bolger for her courageous stand in this video which includes footage of her action: http://youtu.be/aZVtPhVBM5Q Bolger accused the sole witness, Chief Budget Officer Douglas Elmendorf, of obfuscating the true costs of military spending, and implored the Committee to enact the people’s plan for reducing the deficit—end the wars and tax the rich.
Ralph Nader, a member of Veterans For Peace, applauded retired Naval Commander, Bolger's effort to challenge the Super Committee for a minute of an un-scheduled reminder that cutting much needed social programs that saves lives rather than cutting the bloated military budget and taxing the 1% is Congressional insanity. "The government is dysfunctional, working for corporate interests rather than providing for the peoples necessities. Bolger showed what active citizens should be doing peacefully-- confronting the corruption head on and making sure the public knows what is really going on. She should be honored for her actions."
Bolger was a member of the Occupation of Washington,DC at Freedom Plaza. The occupation protested the Super Committee by holding an Occupied Super Committee hearing which was aired on C-SPAN, see CSPAN Coverage of Occupied Super Committee Hearings, and produced its own report. By cutting military spending and taxing the wealthy, the Occupied Super Committee reached the ten year deficit targets set by President Obama and Congress in two years, and was able to fund a jobs program, forgive student debt and secure social programs. See The 99%’s Deficit Proposal: How to create jobs, reduce the wealth divide and control spending. As a result of the actions of Bolger, the Occupy movement and other activists, the Super Committee, which had been on course to cut Social Security and Medicare, decided not to issue a report.
A press conference will be held at 8:30 am, Thursday April 12th in front of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 500 Indiana Ave NW, Washington DC. Those scheduled to speak and/or answer questions include:
Leah Bolger, defendant, President of Veterans For Peace (VFP)
Mark Goldstone, attorney for the defendant
Art Brennan, NH Retired Superior Court Associate Justice, member of VFP
Kevin Zeese, Co-director, Its Our Economy, organizer of Occupy Washington, DC
David Swanson, author, activist, radio host, member of VFP
14 comments on "20-Year Veteran to Face Jail Time for Act of Civil Disobedience"
April 13, 2012 7:34am
It's just sick how authority is treating freedom, and, people, with utter contempt.
April 13, 2012 12:01am
Mutiple arrests on false or trumped up charges won't blind the American Public. The idea that creating an air of fear by convicting people under false pretenses will only bring their game to the forefront of public knowledge through outrageous headlines like this. They need to stop killng. And not just people overseas in other countries, but the people of the U.S.. Killing us by killing budgets for schools, and medical care so as to spend more on a bloated military and more wars. And never enough for the veterans who suffered and fought to end war. She did what her conscience dictated. She was in the right place at the right time. I applaude her and sneer at the representatives who wouldn't hear her out. She is a representative of all U.S. Veterans who have served and protest for peace. Those representatives owe her respect. End all war!
April 12, 2012 11:46pm
Your brain is your prison. BTW Isn't zircon just sand? Shes fighting for your rights too though you may not realize it because you were sleeping during your high school U.S. History class.
April 12, 2012 2:49pm
Retired Commander Leah Bolger is still serving her country honorably as an Occupy DC member and President of Veterans for Peace .
It's time for the courageous, intelligent, honest, insightful, and dedicated Leah Bolger to become the Honorable Congresswoman Leah Bolger and continue serving her country with honor and distinction.
Our country would be a lot better for it.
April 12, 2012 2:22pm
zircon70 are you saing that this RETIRED Commander Leah Bolger does not have the right to speak her mind to those who would take away our RIGHTS and what we have worked for all of our lives?Just because SHE was in the armed forces doesn't mean that you or anyone else has a right to take away her pension or anything else. She is ready to face the court and will HONORABLY serve her time. Do not think she is not a BRAVE woman who believes our Country should live up to its obligations and not waste taxpayer money just so some Big Businesses need to make a Big Buck. I ask you what you have done to SERVE This Country? Leah Bolger has done more toward Service than many others. I show my face why don't you?
April 12, 2012 1:05pm
Double post.
April 12, 2012 12:57pm
Brava, Leah Bolger. Now if only the men in uniform who agree with you had the courage to speak up, we might see change we can believe in. I can't decide whether we've regressed to 1964 or landed in Orwell's "1984."
April 12, 2012 12:53pm
Please start a defense fund for Mr. Leah and to support his family. We need more people with heart among the military establishment to come forward and stop the insanity of GOP dictatorship mentality. You cannot keep doing the same failed thing over and over and expect different result. That is what the GOP is trying to do with its corporate wars and taxation without representation.
April 12, 2012 4:24pm
PLEASE SIR READ THE ARTICLE . . .. Capitol Hill police escorted her out and placed her under arrest.
. . . Retired Naval Commander Leah Bolger . . . . SIR, THE CORRECT TITLE IS MADAM - MISS - MS . . HER TITLE IS "SIR" AS IS "HER" RANK
April 12, 2012 12:42pm
Leah, Your in trouble now, good luck but your going to spend some time in jail. they should take away your military pension. then you would need to get a job and then not have time to piss away with the OWS wack jobs. I hope you get 10 years hard time. You need to take Nader with you to wipe your tears.
April 12, 2012 4:28pm
you should consider what you consider freedom of speech is for. . what if any value do you place on our military personel and the "Constitution of the United States"
Their putting their lives on the line is what gives you the right to speak . . . not Chicken Hawks in Washington - who put nothing on the line - and expect and reap monetary rewards for their decisions
April 12, 2012 1:03pm
She at least earned her military pension. I doubt if you have ever served. And you are a good little government wannabe bot that always goes along with the 1% who are screwing the rest of us. In the end you will ultimately get yours. Enjoy the double entendre.
April 12, 2012 12:40pm
Let's see what stupidity our government comes up with now.
What would happen if we were all arrested for the right reasons?