New England Courts Jail Civil Disobedients - Sen. Lieberman's office

Three Connecticut Catholic Workers spent 30 days in jail last fall following conviction on trespass charges. Last July, the four entered the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman and refused to leave, seeking to hold the Senator accountable for the hypocrisy of his public criticism of "virtual violence" in entertainment and public support for bombing Iraq and Yugoslavia.

During a week-long trial beginning November 1, Hillel Arnold, Mark Colville, Brian Kavanagh, and Cal Robertson spoke to the eight-member jury and court officials on behalf of the suffering Iraqi people. The judge would not allow the evidence to constitute a defense of necessity, and the jury convicted. Having no previous record, Hillel Arnold was free to go, but the other men were compelled to sign a conditional release promising not to break the law for one year. None of the three could make the promise, so they were sentenced to 30 days in jail. All were released in mid-December. (See Colville and Kavanagh's Writings from Jail, The Inside Line)

For more information, contact Cesar Jerez Catholic Worker, 203 Rosette St., New Haven, CT 06519, (203)624-5517.