The “Hancock Five,” arrested mid-morning on September 21 whilst displaying three large banners across the main entrance of the Hancock Reaper Drone Base – home of the 174th ATTACK Wing of the NY National Guard – were arraigned before DeWitt (NY)Town Judge Robert Jokl on Tuesday, October 14, 1995.
The Five are all Hancock recidivists and include Ed Kinane, Julienne Oldfield and Bonny Mahoney of Syracuse and James Ricks and Dan Burgevin of Trumansburg (near Ithaca).
Their three one-word banners said: DRONES KILL CHILDREN.
The Five, represented by NYC pro bono attorney, Jonathan Wallace, had been held by Onondaga County sheriffs for a couple of hours before being released with appearance tickets.
The Hancock Five were charged with the violations of trespass and disturbing the peace for this act of nonviolent civil resistance which sought to expose Hancock war crime in Afghanistan (and likely elsewhere).
Judge Jokl declined to levy bail and, despite Hancock’s asking him to do so, refused to impose Orders of Protection on the defendants (a most dubious practice formerly typical of the DeWitt Court).
The Hancock 5 will next appear in the DeWitt Court to argue motions at 1 p.m., Wednesday, December 16.