On Long Island They're Resisting the War in the Malls

Susan McKeon-Steinman was arrested in the Smith Haven Mall on Long Island in New York State on the occasion of the death of the 4,000th US soldier in combat in Iraq. She was among 30 protesters that day, and she refused to leave the mall when asked to by guards. Malls in New York are not considered public places, but private property - and anyone can be charged with trespassing. Since then, a movement has been growing, and activists are going on a Mall Tour taking peace demonstrations to these privatized public spaces around Long Island.

This Thursday morning McKeon-Steinman goes on trial. She will plead not guilty by reason of following a higher law and attempting to save lives. She will request a jury trial. Please be there to show your support.

PEACE ACTIVISTS COURT APPEARANCE

The two peace activists arrested at the March 29 demonstration at Smith Haven Mall will be arraigned on Thursday, May 22 at Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip.

The day's events will begin at 7:30 AM with a demonstration in the parking lot in front of Suffolk County District Court. We will be in the courtroom for the first arraignment, scheduled for 8:30 AM. At its conclusion, we will return to the parking lot until the start of the afternoon arraignment, scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM.

Our purpose is to put the Iraq War on trial -- The war is wrong, The war is criminal … Not the peace activists. Additionally, we challenge the Mall's right to limit freedom of speech.

Susan McKeon Steinmann, a member of South Country Peace Group, who was arrested for reading the names of American soldiers killed in Iraq at the center of the Mall, said, "This war needs to be brought to a speedy end. It damages our reputation in the world, erodes our moral fiber, kills innocent people and bankrupts our economy. We must speak out. We must resist going along when we know the path is a wrong one."

She continued, "It is ironic that mall personnel told me they wanted to create a 'pleasant shopping environment' for their customers. It is immoral that I was arrested for reading the names of the dead. Calling attention to the human cost of this war is of a higher moral order than maintaining a pleasant shopping environment. As an American citizen, and as a person who truly believes in the sanctity of human life, I chose to speak out."

Members of Long Island peace groups including the Suffolk Peace Network, South Country Peace Group, Women in Black, Code Pink, Pax Christi, Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives and Veterans for Peace will be present to show solidarity and support.

**GREAT VISUALS, 4000 DEAD T-SHIRTS, SIGNS, PEACE FLAGS, STATEMENTS BY PEACE ACTIVISTS **