Cape & Islands News

Barnstable Police arrest four peace protesters

   Sarah Thacher, three others get pinched for trespassing on Delahunt's turf

   When Sarah Thacher drives off in her "peace-mobile" in her unending quest to bring the boys home and stop the Iraq War, she usually doesn't end up in the Barnstable slammer like she did last night.

Cape Codders for Peace & Justice protest, read war dead names, get arrested

By Walter Brooks 

The passion and determination of these Cape Codders seems to only grow as America enters the sixth year of war in Iraq.

Protesters always have to be prepared to pay a price for their patriotism, ask Mahatma Gandhi. 

Late this Thursday afternoon four of them paid the price. 

Sarah Thacher, Diane Turco, Mike Risch and Paul Rifkin were arrested by Barnstable Police for trespassing around 4pm.

Three of the miscreants, Mike Risch, Diane Turco and Paul Rifkin, are shown on right before their arrest

How it began Wednesday 

The local activist group, CCPJ, marked the start of the sixth year of the war in Iraq by holding a "speak-out" on the village green in Hyannis Wednesday afternoon at 3:15.

Afterwards the group marched down Main Street to Congressman William Delahunt's office and read the names of the nearly 4,000 US servicemen and women who have died in this conflict.  They also read the names of many Iraqis who have been killed since our invasion.

They tried all day Wednesday to get Congressman Delahunt to agree not vote for any more legislation to fund the war.

Endless talk, no agreement 

The negotiations went on for four hours.   When evening came with no agreement, four of the  protesters agreed to stay in Delahunt's office until either he agreed or they were arrested.  They spent all night and most of Thursday in his office.

These not-too-young peace warriors slept on the wooden floor.  They were brought food by other protesters. They spent most of Thursday negotiating again with the congressman or his staff to no avail.

The group had the impression that the congressman was embarrassed by the thought of his constituents, all past middle age, spending the night in his office.  Their demands were still that he agree not to vote for further war funding.  

The arrest came around four Thursday afternoon. They were taken to a cell where they spent four hours awaiting for a bail bondsman, and they were finally released after posting a $40 bond.

Booked, bailed, in court Friday 

Delahunt is reported to have said "The landlord called the cops" according to Paul Rifkin.  But he added that Delahunt had out-sourced the arrest much as President Bush has out-sourced the war itself.

Paul Rifkin said the most poignant moment came around 11 this morning  when  octogenarians Charles & Joyce Johnson came from Falmouth with food and stood in the rain outside with their signs. 

 Rifkin owns the Moonakis Cafe in Waquoit and a videographer, so missing working by stayingall night and getting his name in the papers is not a problem.  The other three are retired of simply unafriad of any negative reaction from emplyers, etc.

Mike Tork, an Iraq vet who had spent last week at a meeting of Winter Soldiers,  stayed for much of the night, but like most Cape Codders had to be a work in the morning.

In Court today, return with more troops April 18 for trial 

"We hope to fill the courthouse with fellow miscreants and  make a scene." -Paul RifkinIt makes protesting for your beliefs costly. 

These dangerous geriatrics will return to face their fate in Barnstable Court Friday at 9am. 

They pleaded "not guilty" at that time, see their photo this morning at courct below.  When they return for trial on April 18 Paul Rifkin said, "We hope to fill the courthouse with fellow miscreants and  make a scene."
    Mike Risch, Sarah Thacher, Paul Rifkin and Diane Turco.