MEDIA ADVISORY 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 29, 2000


CONTACTS:   Anise Jenkins       (202) 483-3478   
                  Karen Szulgit         (202) 547-3237                          




D.C. Democracy Trial Verdict - NOT GUILTY


Washington, D.C. -- The trial of Anise Jenkins, of the Stand Up for
Democracy in D.C. Coalition, and Karen Szulgit, of the D.C. Statehood Green
Party, on charges of "Disruption of Congress," concluded today in District
of Columbia Superior Court with the jury handing down a "Not Guilty"
verdict.  The acquittal was announced at 5 pm, after slightly more than an
hour of deliberation.  The defendants faced a maximum penalty of 6 months
in jail and/or a $500 fine if convicted.  They were represented in court by
attorneys Mark Goldstone and Kenneth Page.


The trial resulted from the defendants' arrest on July 29, 1999 in the
House of Representatives after speaking out against the passage of the
"Barr Amendment."  This amendment to the D.C. FY2000 budget, introduced by
Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA), prohibits the implementation of D.C.'s local
Initiative 59 ("Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative
of 1998"), which passed with 69% of the vote.  Initiative 59, which was
designed to protect seriously ill AIDS and cancer patients from criminal
prosecution when being treated with medicinal marijuana under a doctor's
supervision, became a target of congressmembers who regularly intervene in
local D.C. affairs in ways that the Constitution prohibits with regard to
the 50 states.  Unlike the rest of American citizens, D.C. residents have
no voting representative in Congress, yet must submit their annual budget
and locally approved legislation to Congress for review and final approval
or rejection. 


After the verdict was announced, the defendants described their mood as
"ecstatic."  "People say that D.C. doesn't care about democracy, but it's
not true," said Ms. Jenkins.  "We just have to get the word out.  When
people hear the message, then they do care, and they do something about
it."  Ms. Szulgit, reflecting on their 7-month ordeal from arrest to
acquittal, added, "Freedom isn't free.  I look forward to the day when we
stand together -- all the D.C. democracy advocates, our locally elected
officials, and every member of Congress -- and finally address the
unfinished business of the civil rights movement."


Supporters who were present throughout the trial expressed similar
sentiments.  Wayne Turner of ACT UP/D.C., the sponsor of Initiative 59,
said, "This is a victory for democracy, a victory for the people of D.C.,
and a victory for the patients."  Senator Florence Pendleton (D-DC), one of
the District's two elected "Shadow" Senators, encouraged activists to "keep
inching along, keep inching along.  Victory will be ours by and by.  Each
court success is a success for freedom in D.C."   Ben Armfield, who was
acquitted in January of a "Disruption of Congress" charge stemming from his
own verbal protest in the House of Representatives, stated, "I felt sure
they would be acquitted.  The scenario was so absurd.  Here were two people
committed to democracy for D.C., being judged by a jury of fellow D.C.
residents."  


While savoring this victory, democracy activists also acknowledged that
their struggle isn't over.  In the coming months, Congress again will
consider D.C.'s annual budget, when another "Barr Amendment," as well as
other "anti-democratic" riders to the FY2001 budget, are expected to be
proposed.


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