Companions on the Journey

Members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance again went inside the U.S. Capitol with a message to end the funding of the Iraq War.  On September 20, 2007, thirty four NCNR activists did a die-in at the Capitol Crypt to plead with Congress to stop funding an illegal occupation of Iraq.

This time, on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, NCNR members went into the gallery of the U.S. Senate as Ghosts of the Iraq War.  Four of the Ghosts, Ellen Barfield, Joy First, Linda Letendre and Eve Tetaz, were not released from custody, while six other ghosts, Maria Allwine, Tim Chadwick, Judith Kelly, Art Landis, Max Obuszewski and Manijeh Saba were finally released early Thursday morning. During the incarceration, Art Landis, who has a history of mini-strokes, and Eve Tetaz, who suffers from glaucoma, were hospitalized.  
All ten of them were scheduled to be arraigned at 10:30 AM in Courtroom C-10 of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, but were not seen by the judge until close to 6 p.m.  The defendants are facing a charge of unlawful conduct. No explanation can be given why some were held, and others were released.