Hearing for Lancaster Pipeline Protesters Cancelled at Last Minute

From Lancaster Against Pipelines (http://www.wearelancastercounty.org/):

Late last week we received word that LAP’s highly anticipated court hearing, scheduled for yesterday, was cancelled.

The purpose of the hearing was to give LAP an opportunity to present a Justification Defense for our peaceful actions in opposition to the forced installation of the ASP through our community. We had an impressive lineup of expert witnesses prepared to testify about the dire threats this pipeline poses to public safety, public health, and the integrity of the environment.

Hundreds of hours have been invested in preparation for this hearing by our talented attorneys. Hundreds of additional hours have been logged by our expert witnesses, as well as members of LAP, conducting research and carefully crafting testimony. Thousands of LAP dollars have been spent preparing charts, maps, and other materials for the hearing. Airline tickets have been purchased. People have sacrificed vacation time and rearranged work schedules to be present for this event.

Then, three business days before the hearing, it’s cancelled.

We are profoundly disappointed by this decision.

Here’s the plain truth: the seven community members who are pleading “not guilty” to charges filed against them by the State of Pennsylvania stood bravely in front of a giant excavator because we had exhausted every other means of defending our constitutional and human rights to clean air, pure water, and a livable future for our children. In short, our community was driven to use our bodies for this cause out of necessity. And yet, absurdly, we’re being prohibited from raising a necessity defense on our own behalf in a court a law.

Our trial will still proceed before a jury, at a date yet to be determined. Despite the judge’s decision to deny us the right to argue for justification, we will nonetheless mount a robust and spirited defense when our trial comes around. Aided by a remarkable team of dedicated attorneys, we will continue to stand boldly for our safety, wellbeing, and natural world.

Let’s remain passionate, vigilant, and more determined than ever to upend a system rigged for corporate interests at our expense. As we’ve said many times, our future literally depends on it.