Six Declare Emergency Supporters Sentenced to Jail
ROCKVILLE, MD (December 14th, 2022) On Tuesday, six Declare Emergency supporters were sentenced to jail by Montgomery County Judge Sherri Koch, for stopping traffic on the DC Beltway on Indigenous People’s Day (October 10th, 2022). Judge Koch handed down sentences of 4 days for four defendants (60 days with 56 days suspended) and 10 days for two defendants (60 days with 50 days suspended). All defendants are required to pay $500 for each charge and will have 1 year of probation.
The DC Beltway disruption on October 10th was an act of nonviolent civil resistance by Declare Emergency supporters, to demand that President Biden declare a climate emergency and stop fossil fuel extraction on federal and Indigenous lands. It included supporters from the Wôbanaki, Dakota, Anishinaabe, Menominee, and Lakota nations.
“Blocking traffic is not my idea of fun,” said defendant Andy Hinz, a 61-year-old from Maryland who defended himself pro se in this trial.“I did this because I want President Biden to declare a Climate Emergency.”
The six defendants sent to jail are Andy Hinz, Bob Atchison, Holley White, Jason Goward, Maple Osterbrink, and Nora Swisher.
One other supporter, Will Regan, was also arrested in the October 10th action. He has been in jail since November 28th, serving a maximum penalty after Judge Koch overruled the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation of 4 days..
Supporters of the Declare Emergency campaign are raising funds for those sent to jail on Tuesday and other defendants. If you would like to donate, you can do so here: https://gofund.me/097c8e3e
Photos and videos of defendants below
VIDEOS:
Video of Nora Swisher during arrest
Video of Andy Hinz during arrest
Video of Bob Atchison before arrest
Video of Holley White during arrest
Video of Jason Goward before arrest
More videos from defendants released on Declare Emergency Twitter
ABOUT DECLARE EMERGENCY
Declare Emergency is a member of the A22 Network for Civil Resistance, an eleven-country coalition formed following the 1.2 degree celsius increase in global average temperatures. Each member has a distinct policy demand from their respective governments. In the United States of America, Declare Emergency demands that President Biden declare a national climate emergency, and cease all extraction on federal and Indigenous lands. https://twitter.com/DecEmergency
MEDIA CONTACTS
Michelle Wehner (503) 686-3141
Paul Severance (202) 560-3172
DeclareEmergency@protonmail.com
PHOTOS
All photos and videos copyright Declare Emergency, unless otherwise specified.
A22 NETWORK FOR CIVIL RESISTANCE
Media contacts and social media links for 11 International Campaigns
Read A22 Network’s Declaration on the Crisis
Climate Emergency Fund is the lead funder for Declare Emergency's recruitment, training, and educational efforts.