Action Alert: Stand With Kate
Two weeks ago we sent an action alert about the unfair targeting of activists in New York City. The response was tremendous. Hundreds of people made calls last week and successfully pressured the DA’s office to take the unusual step of inviting Kate Barnhart and her lawyer to a 40-minute meeting.
One can hardly find a more caring, morally upright, and socially responsible person than Kate–someone who has devoted her life to working with homeless LGBT youth and at the same time takes care of her elderly father with Alzheimer’s.
Both Kate and her lawyer thought the meeting went well, so it was an unpleasant surprise that the DA is still refusing to drop the case and officially re-filed the charges against Kate. The DA decided not to go through the process of re-arresting Kate or having Kate turn herself in, but simply to calling Kate to return to court to re-open the case on Sept 15.
This gives us time to organize in support of Kate Barnhart.
Healthcare-NOW! is asking for you to three things right now to raise awareness about this unfair targeting of a health activist.
1) Call the DA and tell them to drop the charges against Kate Barnhart – (212) 335-9400.
2) Mark your calendars to join Kate at a demonstration outside of the NYC Courthouse on September 15. More details coming.
3) Sign, and circulate widely, this petition to “Stand with Kate Barnhart.”
We have to organize loudly against the unfair treatment of Kate. These kind of actions from the DA set very bad precedent for activists fighting for justice in the future.
she beat this case plz let the poor woman go
I think the charges against Kate Barnhart should be dropped. She was involved in activities that are in no way illegal, as a means of demonstating on behalf of a comprehensive national health care plan. People still have the right to protest peacefully.
That phone number is the number for the press office. What is the name and number of the Deputy District Attorney handling the case?
Deputy District Attorney Eric Kratzville is handling the case. He can be reached directly at 212-335-9141. He is working evening (night court) today and so will be in after 3:30 p.m. Eastern. He reports to Cyrus Vance, Jr., who can be reached in care of his secretary, Mary Turner, email mturner at dany.nyc.gov
I’m so sorry, I got Marlene Turner’s name and email address wrong too. It’s turnerm at dany.nyc.gov, not mturner. Sorry.
I’m sorry, District Attorney Vance’s secretary is Marlene Turner, not Mary