Tulsa World

Tulsa World

Demonstrator's day in court: Cases tossed against 8 who protested visit by Cheney
MIKE SIMONS / Tulsa World
Judy Ramsey (left) reads a statement as Angela Spotts and Carl “Huti” Hoyt listen outside Municipal Court on Thursday. The three were among 10 people who were charged with illegally refusing a police order during an April 27 protest against Vice President Dick Cheney in Tulsa. The charges were dismissed Thursday after the police officers failed to appear in court.


By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
6/22/2007
Last Modified: 6/22/2007 2:47 AM

Misdemeanor charges were dismissed Thursday against eight of 10 demonstrators who were arrested during Vice President Dick Cheney's April 27 visit to Tulsa.

The two others had previously pleaded no contest to the same charges.

The 10 were spelling out the word "impeach" with their bodies by lying down in Sixth Street while Cheney was speaking at a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe in the Doubletree Hotel Downtown.

The 10 were charged with illegally refusing a police order.

Greg Bledsoe, an attorney for the eight who were scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon in Municipal Judge Brad Powers' courtroom, said the case was dismissed after the arresting officers failed to appear.

In similar fashion, charges were dismissed earlier this month against author Billie Letts for her part in the demonstration.

Seven of the defendants addressed reporters on the plaza outside the police and municipal courts building.

Judy Ramsey of Tulsa said, "I took the actions I did in the hopes of bringing some attention to the facts -- that this administration, and specifically the vice president, manipulated the American
public into this war . . . (and) is disregarding the Constitution.

"I will submit to the rule of law but believe the real criminals in this case are running the country," she said.

The other statements were in much the same vein. Several also mentioned Inhofe, with one, Joni LeViness of Tulsa, saying the senator "continues to use his position of power to perpetuate falsehoods and downright willful ignorance."

Charges were dismissed Thursday against Ramsey, LeViness, Carl "Huti" Reynolds, Jean McMahon, the Rev. Valerie Mapstone Ackerman, Angela Spotts, the Rev. Melinda Foster and the Rev. Jay Hoyt.

Mapstone Ackerman, who has since moved to New York, was not present Thursday.

Clark Inkanish and Harry Allison had earlier pleaded no contest in the case.