War protester found guilty

Testimony from a historic figure from the Vietnam War era didn't help an Olympia woman beat a disorderly conduct charge in Pierce County District Court.

A jury convicted Patricia Imani of the misdemeanor charge late Thursday afternoon following a two-day trial.

Judge Margaret Vail Ross sentenced Imani, 48, to pay a $500 fine but will allow her to perform 50 hours of community service instead.

Imani put on a “defense of necessity” during the trial. She admitted she stepped onto an Interstate 5 offramp near what’s now Joint Base Lewis-McChord two years ago to block a flatbed truck carrying an Army Stryker vehicle to the base for repairs.

Imani testified Thursday that her actions were necessary to stop a greater evil. She told jurors she believes the war in Iraq is illegal and immoral and that blocking the Stryker was a peace-ful way to protest the conflict.

Deputy prosecutor Daniel Womac argued there are legal ways to protest, including writing letters to Congress and voting for anti- war candidates. Imani chose to break the law, Womac said.

Imani’s attorney, Lawrence Hildes, called Daniel Ellsberg to the witness stand on his behalf.

In 1971, Ellsberg leaked the so-called Pentagon Papers to The New York Times. The top-secret report revealed that the United States was expanding the war in Vietnam without the public’s knowledge.

Some scholars credit their release with contributing to public dissatisfaction with the war that ultimately led the United States to pull out of Vietnam.

Ellsberg testified Thursday that sometimes it’s necessary to break the law to achieve a greater good.

Jurors were not convinced. They deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Imani.

Imani said Friday she was “shellshocked” by the verdict but glad she had a chance to put her story into the court record.

“It’s a faith-breaker, but I’ll get it restored,” she said.

Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644 adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/crime