Judy Rich: Statement to Court re Arrest for Civil Disobedience Against Escalation of War

Good afternoon, Judge Singer. My name is Judy Rich. Four years ago, I stood before you, in this same courtroom, having done a similar action of nonviolent civil disobedience at the U.S. Army Natick Labs. That action and my more recent arrest in Sherborn were both protests against our government’s illegal and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq. At that time, I told you that I had an obligation to follow my conscience and speak out when wrong is being done. It’s hard to believe that four years later the war continues, with consequences more dire that we could even imagine at that time. The war was wrong then and it is still wrong. Today Iraq is a failed state, with ever expanding sectarian violence. We read about 655,000 Iraqis dead, a million refugees, a crumbled infrastructure, massive unemployment and view scenes of utter chaos. We call the other side terrorists. We need to remember that war and terror are not opposites; they are interchangeable. It’s a myth that U.S. war actions are not also seen as terrorism by others. My heart breaks over every American soldier who has been killed. The number of dead is now at 3,154. I know first hand what it is like for a parent to lose a child. Twenty-two years ago, my 19 year-old daughter died in a car accident and our family experienced the shock and terrible loss that so many families are experiencing as a result of this war. Another 23,000 men and woman have been wounded in combat, many seriously maimed for the rest of their lives. Other soldiers return emotionally damaged by what they have experienced. Peace will not come to Iraq through military force. War just brings more conflict, death and destruction. The road to peace IS peace. As one of the regional coordinators for Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, I am active in promoting nonviolence and peace education. Pax Christi rejects every form of war and domination, and works toward a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. Currently, Pax Christi is circulating a petition that demands “all U.S. troops and military bases be removed from Iraq and that U.S. military spending be redirected to relief and reconstruction efforts overseen by Iraqis.” There are many ways to solve conflicts that are nonviolent. On the evening of Jan. 10, a group of us held a Peace Chain across Rt. 27, because we wanted to speak out against the increase in troops that President Bush was at that very moment announcing to the American people. Our message is end the war and bring our troops home. Thank you for listening and giving me the time to make public my reasons for being arrested. I plead no contest to the charges. Court Statement Judy Rich Natick, MA Feb. 27, 2007