John Phillips receives Adjournment in Anticipation of Dismissal in Civil Disobedience Case.
On Friday, February 3, John Phillips appeared in a state court in Islip to answer charges that he occupied the office of Senator Hillary Clinton on the day in late October when the American death toll in Iraq reached 2000.
After several protesters occupied the Senator's office, only Mr. Phillips refused to leave when ordered to do so by police.
With supporters from various peace groups in attendance, all of whom stood in solidarity when the judge called his name, Mr. Phillips, a retired New York City policman, delivered the following statement:
"The basis for my actions was to call to the attention of Senator Clinton the apparent misuse of our US military and the National Guard of the State of New York, subjecting them to injury and death and forcing them into combat against the civilian population of Iraq.
The premise of this war has been proven baseless and therefore the continuation of this war constitutes a crime! It is in the effort to halt that crime that I raise my objections.
Since October 26, over 275 more of our military personnel have been killed! And it appears that a criminal motivation is perpetuating this war. We need to object to the inaction of our local leaders as to protesting the continuance of this crime, and investigating the reasons behind these actions.
My conscience demands that I be here before you today. Just as that conscience dictates that it is my civil responsibility, upon observation of a violent crime in progress, to halt that crime for the protection of the victim or victims; and to report the details to the authorities responsible for the jurisdiction.
I have probable cause to believe that a crime is being committed against the people of this state. And I bring that premise before you today, and while I am no longer an active police officer in this state, it does not lessen my responsibility to speak out."
Mr. Phillips received an adjournment in anticipation of dismissal becoming effective in July.
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Reported by Sheila Croke and Bill McNulty
