[Announce] Fw: News Flash from the Omaha Catholic Worker

[Robert Waldrop]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: omaha cw 


Dear Friends of the Omaha Catholic Worker

October 10, 2007

Several Friends of the OCW participated in a Protest Presence at the Quest Convention Center in Omaha, NE
Each year now, for the 2nd in a row the Quest Center was Host for the 
     
Strategic Space and Defense Conference 2007
     sponsored exclusively by OFFUTT AFB and     
                       STRATCOM

This event is otherwise known as an " ARMS BAZAAR"  where Defense Contractors and Corporations buy and sell their Military and Space Weapons to the US Government and Defense Department.

There were a few days of public Witness against this event with Nebraskans for Peace on Tuesday evening Oct 9th, and also on Thursday morning October 11.

In addition . . . . . there were 9 other folks present for a small demonstration and die-in on Wednesday morning October 10th.

Fr. Jack Mc Caslin, Peg Gallagher, Jerry Ebner, Sr. Marian Klosterman OSF, Mark Kenney, Leo Marks, Michael Murphy, Steven Welch, Sung-Hee Choi.

We gathered at the Quest Center at 11:00am, began with Prayer and the Daily Scripture Readings of the day:
        Jonah  4: 1-11   and the Gospel of Luke 11:1-4
We closed with personal prayer, silence and the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

The 4 of the group gently proceeded forward closer toward the doors of the Quest Center:  Jerry Ebner, Sr. Marian Klosterman OSF, Fr. Jack Mc Caslin and Peg Gallagher, all Omaha residents.  We all laid down on the ground in order to symbolically portray the death that would come from the use of Deadly Space Weapons, bought and sold inside this event. 

When we were notified by the Quest Center personnel and the Omaha Police Dept, that if we remained, we would be arrested, Sr. Marian Klosterman OSF rose from the ground and stood standing with other supporters standing by.  Michael Murphy dressed as the Spectre of Death began to play " Taps" on his flute in honor of the many dead soldiers in the Iraq War.
After about 20 minuets, the remaining 3 people, Jack, Jerry and Peg, were each arrested and handcuffed and led away to the paddy wagon and transported to Central booking station of the OPD and given citations and then released. The Officers of the OPD were very gentle and respectful of our presence. 

The Charge is:  " Refusing to Leave"  a misdemeanor of the Omaha City Ordinance Code # 20-155
We were released within an hour and told to be at court on Nov 14th at 1:30 pm

The Maximum penalty possible is:  $500 fine and or/both 6 months in jail.

Checkout the attached photos from the day.

Our Court Date:
Nov. 14th Wednesday at 1:30 pm
Place: Douglas County Court House  downtown Omaha, NE .
Come to Court if you'd like to support these folks.

I am sure that Jack, Peg and Jerry would appreciate a phone call.

Fr. Jack Mc Caslin  78,
7323 Shirley Street  # 305, Omaha, NE 68124
402- 926-2599    ( Jack does not do email)

Peg Gallagher   79,
4821 Chicago,  # 14,  Omaha, NE 68132 
peggallagher at webtv.net
402- 553-0111

Jerry Ebner  57
Omaha Catholic Worker  1104 N. 24th Street, Omaha, NE 68102
omahacw at gmail.com
402- 502- 5887


We will keep you posted about the court date. We will know more in the next 3 weeks if the City Attorney is wanting to go ahead with this case or not.

Thanks so much for your concern and support. Enclosed in attachments are some photos of the event. 

Thanks again, so much, 

Jerry Ebner 
-- 
Jerry Ebner and Leo Marks
Omaha Catholic Worker 
www.no-nukes.org/omahacw 
omahacw at gmail.com
1104 N. 24th Street 
Omaha, NE 68102
402-502-5887 
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