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PETER DE MOTT AND FELTON DAVIS IN PRISON ... IS IT THEY - OR IS IT THE PENTAGON - THAT IS ABOVE & BEYOND THE LAW?

from Jonah House, Oct 24 2000
Today Peter Demott of Ithaca, NY and Felton Davis of New York City were sentenced in the Federal court in Alexandria, Va. for their participation in an Hiroshima commemoration vigil at the Pentagon in August of 1999. The two were charged with refusing to obey a police officer who ordered them to leave the steps of the Pentagon. They were not blocking or impeding traffic in any way. They were simply holding banners and praying.

Peter and Felton both received 60 day sentences; Felton received an additional 30 days for probation violation - consecutive to the 60 days otherwise imposed. The prosecution asked that they be given time in prison because it's clear that they feel that they are somehow above the law and that the limits that others accept don't apply to them.

Felton had no prepared text for sentencing and was able to respond to the condemning spirit that the prosecution expressed. He pointed out that both he and Peter were there for sentencing; they were ready to take the conseqences for their actions; they always have. Further, he said, it is the Pentagon that feels above the the law; it is the Pentagon that accepts no limits. This is manifest by their actions around the world.

It's unclear, as of now, as to where Felton and Peter will be serving there time. We will give further information later.

Peter De Mott had a prepared statement for the court. His statement follows:
I have been duly tried and found guilty of refusing an order to leave the Pentagon. I freely and openly admit to having so refused and furthermore to having done so now consistently in numerous non-violent protests for more than twenty years.

Why? As a husband and as a father of three beautiful, loving daughters I cannot help but persevere in my protest at an institution which generates fear, hatred and violence, which threatens to destroy with its vast arsenal of nuclear and other weapons not only my family but the entire human family , to say nothing of the very planet on which we all live.

As a veteran of the Vietnam war I cannot help but cry out belatedly, in an act of atonement, against the martial mentality which justifies warmaking as a means of resolving human conflict and differences. I know from first hand experience that death and destructiion perpetuate a cycle of violence that results in yet more death and destruction.

As an aspiring Christian I refuse to stop protesting at the Pentagon because Jesus tells us to love one another, to love our enemies, not to kill, that the greatest in his kin-dom will be the least of all and the servant of all. I cannot tacitly approve by my silence and inactivity the Pentagon's policy of developing ever more deadly and ever more numerous weapons such as depleted uranium, even as its diversion of resources claims lives every day both here and around the world.

The federal government finds it necessary to punish me in hopes of discouraging me and others of like mind and heart from further acts of protest. As a husband and father, as a Vietnam veteran and a would be Christian I cannot and will not stop until the Pentagon transforms itself into an institution promoting unity and love, justice and peace.

As an aspiring Christian I refuse to stop protesting at the Pentagon because Jesus tells us to love one another, to love our enemies

What is an "aspiring Christian" or a "would-be Christian"?

Is it similar to "aspiring pregnant" or "would-be pregnant" or "almost pregnant"?

Christians have the right to be conscientious objector to war. On the other hand, Christians usually do not impose their conscientious decisions on other Christians.

As St. Paul said, some Christians find no objection to eat meat sacrificed to idols, other Christians do not eat meat.

On conscientious issues, Christians do not judge each other.