WTO: KWRU arrest

[colist-admin at comm-org.utoledo.edu]

[ed:  here is a call for action, as well as information on continuing 
fallout from the WTO demonstrations.  The KWRU is a very important 
organization and Cheri Honkala a very important leader, so I encourage 
everyone reading this one.  KWRU is linked through the COMM-ORG CO Groups 
and Networks page.]

From: GLDP <gldp at mail.bright.net

From: "KWRU" <kwru at libertynet.org

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

[February 15, 2000]: Cheri Honkala was arrested on November 29, 1999 in
Seattle, Washington.  Cheri is the Director of the Kensington Welfare Rights
Union and the National Spokesperson for the Poor People's Economic Human
Rights Campaign.  The Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) is an
organization of poor and homeless women, men and children who are fighting
both to survive and to end poverty.  The KWRU was named as one of the five
most significant human rights efforts in the world by the United Nations
High Commissioner on Human Rights.  This year, the KWRU was awarded the
Letelier-Moffet Human Rights Award.  The Poor People's Economic Human Rights
Campaign (PPEHRC) is made up of over 40 poor-led organizations from around
the country who are fighting for economic human rights.  The Campaign
recently completed a 400 mile "March of the Americas," from Washington DC to
the United Nations in New York City to protest poverty in the richest
country in the world.

Cheri has dedicated her life to building a massive movement to end poverty,
led by the poor.  Cheri has signed on to the case called "the Poor People's
Economic Human Rights Campaign vs. the United States."  This case, filed at
the Inter-American Commission of Organization of American States, attempts
to hold the United States accountable for the economic human rights abuses
being caused by downsizing, poverty and welfare reform in the US today.  She
has been organizing for over 15 years to insure that poor and homeless
families are not hidden in America, and that the voices of the poor are
heard.

WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY
Calling for human rights to be valued above corporate rights, Cheri Honkala
was arrested on November 29, 1999 in Seattle Washington.  Cheri was
participating in the protests of the World Trade Organization.  She is
charged with obstruction for her non-violent attempt to speak out.  All but
a dozen of the over 500 cases related to the WTO events have since been
thrown out of court, yet the District Attorney's Office is still pursuing
Cheri's case. Cheri was offered a plea bargain that included 5 days in jail,
$1000 fine, and a two-year gag order prohibiting her participation or
involvement in demonstrations anywhere in the country. Cheri has turned down
this attempt to silence her and deny her First Amendment rights. She is
scheduled to stand trial on March 14th, 2000 in Seattle.

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
Right now, people throughout the country, including musicians, labor
leaders, students, religious leaders, and lawyers are writing letters to the
District Attorney's office in Seattle asking that Cheri Honkala's case be
dropped. We ask that you do the same.  Cheri's case number is 371901. Please
address your letter to City Attorney Mark Sidran.  Mail your letter to
Municipal Building, 10th Floor, 600 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104, or fax
to (206)684-8284. Also, please cc the KWRU Defense Committee at PO Box
50678, Philadelphia, PA 19132, (215)203-1950 FAX, kwru at libertynet.org.
Thank you for your support.
************************************************************************

                The Grassroots Leadership Development Program
                         1875 North Ridge Rd, Suite A,
                             Lorain, Ohio 44055

                  Phone: (440) 277-6504 / Fax: (440) 277-7946
                            Email: gldp at bright.net


                   "We are the leaders we've been looking for"

****************************************************************************