On Friday morning, March 21, over fifty members and supporters of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance met in the shadow of Thurgood Marshall's statue on Pratt Street in Baltimore. After approximately 60 minutes of sign waving and peace chanting, the group headed around the corner to the main entrance of the Federal COurt building. The aim was to deliver a letter to Judge Motz, seeking an injunction against the war. We had all hoped to be able to hand deliver a copy of the letter to the judge but it quickly became clear that this was not going to happen. One of the local police offered to take our letter to him and I gave up my copy. As it became apparent that our original goal was bneing thwarted, many members staged a die-in on a very damp lawn. At one point, the protesters read the letter in unison. Several ohter protesters attempted to move the police line back toward the building but that was thwarted as well. Having moved as far as possible, members including Ellen Barfield, Max Obuzewski, and John Dornheim held their ground. After an hour or so of die in, the protestors headed around the building to the driveway where a second die in was begun, effectively blocking the entrance. After 30 minutes of this, the group was told that a police van had to leave the garage and if we didn't move we would be arrested. 40 of the protesters remained on the pavement and were all eventually taken to Central booking for a stay at the city jail of up to 19 1/2 hours. During that time, many supporters kept a vigil outside, some waiting the entire duration of the incarceration. Food was graciously provided by Liz McCallister and Jonah House.

The protest was part of a series of nation wide acts of cd following the onset of Bush's war with the people of Iraq.Protesters were charged with four misdemanors and released on their own recognizance. A trial date of May 16th has assigned but as the group will probably request a jury trial(s), a different date will probably be picked.
Unlike the iuncarceration on March 1 in Towson, authorities were much more humane in their treatment of the protestors.

The next regular meeting of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will be Monday, March 24 at 7:30 at AFSC on York Road. Call 410 323 7200 for more info.