Posted on 09/21/2005 8:53:19 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
BINGHAMTON, NY—A U.S. soldier has testified in federal court Tuesday (September 20) that he was splashed with human blood by anti-war protesters during a 2003 protest.
The soldier, Staff Sgt. Rachon Montgomery, was working as an army recruiter on March 17, 2003, the day that four protesters threw their own blood around a recruiting center in Lansing, NY, a suburb of Ithaca. As a result of the incident, press reports indicate, Montgomery was tested for blood-borne illnesses such as HIV and hepatitis.
In addition to Montgomery, the protesters also poured blood on the American flag, a military banner and the walls and floor of the center.
The protesters, Clare Grady, Teresa Grady, Peter De Mott and Daniel Burns, all of Ithaca, are currently on trial in Federal Court in Binghamton on charges of conspiring to impede the duties of U.S. officials and damaging or injuring federal property and officials. The conspiracy charge, the most serious, carries up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The protesters, who have dubbed themselves “the St. Patrick’s’ Day Four,” while admitting to their actions, claim they have done nothing wrong. The four, who are representing themselves, claim that their actions were legally justified because they did it to stop the United States from invading Iraq.
That defense was accepted in an earlier state court trial in Ithaca, which resulted in a hung jury.
However, according to the New York Times, District Court Judge Thomas McAvoy “is allowing the defendants to talk about their state of mind at the time of the protest in their opening arguments, but not to raise their belief that the Iraq war was illegal or immoral.”
The group’s supporters, many of whom are from the Ithaca, have conducted a daily vigil outside the courthouse, protesting, making speeches and conducting mock trials of the Bush administration. 
In response, a counter protest 
, made up of veterans and others from around the state, has demonstrated their solidarity with the troops and the President.
Hate crime?
The DU'ers think this is soooooooo kewwwwwwwwlll! I was over there is AM and they were just beside themselves.
Throwing their own blood??? How much did they have? That is disgusting.
Are there any Freepers in that counter protest?
Limits of free speech
Looks like the college staff.
And this is exactly where free speech ends. I have a much higher tolerence for liberal protesting than a lot of people around here, but the line has been crossed.
Free tagline: "There is no one more militant than an antiwar protestor."
Some of them are in dire need of a savage beating. Let's see how keeeeeeeeeeeeeeewl they think their blood is when it won't stop pouring from their noses.
I strongly suspect that these protestors would want them prosecuted.
Not even vampires would drink the blood of these four.
Darn I was actually called for jury duty for Sept 19th but for the local Ithaca area (Tompkins county) court. (Then they did not need me to report anyway). and I live in Lansing. If only....
Terrorism, assault, emotional damages, etc. This could be a great conviction and civil suit.
Good grief. What will the moonbats do next??
Give them the 6 years in jail to cool off.
Another thing, what if that blood had HIV in it?
Ping
People who do this kind of thing...aren't your run of the mill protester. These guys need to have a 300 lb guy just beat them as much as possible to feel real pain. They live in some galaxy in their basement, and smoke something to keep cool. They aren't normal, and people sure wouldn't invite them to a Thanksgiving meal.
Assault with a deadly weapon.
Stop the assault and disarm the attackers. Shoot to bleed 'em out...
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