Reading, N.Y. — Thirteen protesters arrested for protesting a proposed gas storage facility near Seneca Lake were arraigned in Reading Town Court Wednesday night.
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The protesters have been charged with trespassing for protesting at the Crestwood facility in Schuyler County. Ongoing acts of civil disobedience have led to over 130 arrests at the facility since October.
Three of Wednesday night’s defendants were from Tompkins County — Deborah Cipolla-Dennis of Freeville, Peter Tringali of Ithaca, and Rosalie Richler-Goldberg of Ithaca.
One defendant of 13 entered a guilty plea. Eight pleaded not guilty to his or her charges. Many refused to enter a guilty or not guilty plea and said that Judge Raymond Berry should recuse himself from the case.
Faith Meckley, 19, an IC student and the youngest of the defendants, pleaded guilty to trespassing. Meckley said that she would refuse to pay any fine imposed by the Court.
“I will not pay money to a [justice] system that I believe is broken,” she said.
Judge Berry adjourned her sentencing (Meckley objected to the postponement) and stated he wanted to think about her statement before imposing a sentence.
Before the 7 p.m. arraignment, court officials had made a statement that only the defendants would be let into the courtroom, and that the media would not be permitted in, based on the size of the courtroom and the number of people present. After negotiations with Dr. Sandra Steingraber, a leader in the protests, court officials changed their stance on opening the courtroom.
Previous Ithaca Voice coverage of Crestwood
Schuyler County sheriff says Crestwood protests are straining law enforcement – “When we have to deal with this every day we are putting our citizens at risk for a real emergency.” Ithaca Voice
4 more from Tompkins County arrested at Crestwood gates – Four more people from Tompkins County — and nine in total — were arrested protesting at the gates of the Crestwood gas facility on Thursday. Ithaca Voice
5 from Tompkins, including 90-year-old woman, arrested at Seneca gas protest – Five people from Tompkins County, including a 90-year-old woman, were arrested Monday for their role in a protest of a new gas storage facility near Seneca Lake. Ithaca Voice
Hundreds descend on Schuyler court as Cornell prof, other protesters face charges – Hundreds of people filled the parking lot of Reading Town Court in Schuyler County Wednesday night for the arraignments of 10 protesters. Ithaca Voice
Drummer for Ithaca’s Sim Redmond Band among 9 arrested at Crestwood gates – A drummer in the Sim Redmond Band was among 9 people arrested Wednesday at the ongoing protests of the Crestwood expansion. Ithaca Voice
Ithaca College student, 19, among 10 arrested at Seneca Lake gas protest – An Ithaca College student was among 10 people arrested for protesting a proposed gas storage facility on the shore of Seneca Lake on Monday. Ithaca Voice