90-year-old protester stands her ground

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10486089

Published Thursday November 13, 2008
90-year-old protester stands her ground
BY CHRISTOPHER BURBACH
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The petite 90-year-old woman had every reason to be shaking in her shoes as she went toe-to-toe with a Douglas County judge Wednesday.

There was no doubt that Peg Gallagher had committed the crime of which she was accused — refusing a request to leave. She and seven other peace protesters were arrested Oct. 8 when they lay on the floor of the Qwest Center Omaha and pretended to be dead during a space defense convention.


Peg Gallagher, shown here at a 2006 demonstration, was fined $150 Wednesday for an Oct. 8 protest but can work it off with 20 hours of community service.


And Judge Stephen Swartz had already shown himself to be in no mood for courtroom antics, barking at several defendants as Gallagher waited her turn at the bench.

Swartz had brusquely sentenced two of Gallagher's cohorts to $150 fines. Another protester got probation and a $250 fine. Three protesters had already been sentenced to a few days in jail. The last is awaiting trial.

But Gallagher appeared calm, standing there in a black sweater with a snowflake pattern that set off her snow-white hair. The veteran Omaha Catholic activist, well-known in peace protesting circles, held a cane but did not lean on it as she looked up at the judge.

Yes, she said, she understood that the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor offense was six months in jail and a $500 fine.

FULL story at link.

[liberal N proud]

1. 90 now, she would have been 50 in the 60's... hmmm!

Do you suppose she is the one who started all those Vietnam War protests?



Just kidding.

[shadowknows69]

2. OMG this woman shames me.

[pleah]

3. K&R #5 for Peg Gallagher.

:patriot:

[man4allcats]

4. Go Granny, go Granny, go Granny, go!

:thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast:

[Sequoia]

5. What a Pioneer sort of lady!

[yodermon]

6. that picture alone rock my world. n/t

[roguevalley]

8. yes. Lady Liberty

[rvablue]

7. "Omaha CATHOLIC activist" reread that party those on DU who love smearing

Catholics left and right.

For all us that do the wrong thing.........there are many more that do the right thing.

And the generalized, and accepted, smears against Catholics should end.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Politicising the lady's religion is not very appealing

Perhaps you need to organize another proposition to end the smears? That seems to be the modus operandus of the Catholic church these days, when they don't like something, isn't it?

And this is not a smear, just reality biting your ass. We love the Catholics, we just hate the sin... wait, did I just appropriate a Christian rationalization? lol :P

[Pastiche423]

10. Keep on inserting religion into a political discussion

and you will enjoy more (bullshit) "smears".

This article is about a strong, prinicpled peace activist, not about your god.