Fighting the Odds

One Woman Strives to Create Her Own Opportunities by Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) – For local actress Calmesha Givens – playing the role of a boxer is exactly what she was born to do. “I always said to myself if I had the opportunity to choose the role that I want, I’d play the role …

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How To Make Humor Your Advantage

Public Speaker and Author Yvonne Conte Shares How She Made a Career Out of Laughter by Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) – For Yvonne Conte, laughter has always been a driving force behind her success. Yvonne is a public speaker, author, and founder of Humor Advantage, an organization that advocates the power of humor and laughter …

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Women Talk on Her Story About How Beauty Standards Have Impacted Their Lives

Her Story Episode 1 Thank you for coming to www.sasclass.com for the first episode of Her Story. Ever since I was old enough to write comprehensive sentences I had a deep passion for the media industry. As time went on I developed an appreciation for women like Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg …

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Walking Into My Reality

… Becoming the talk show host The most difficult part of being ambitious is that feeling I get. It’s the hard thump in your chest coupled with an accelerated heartbeat. It’s the feeling that comes from having dreams bigger than yourself; envisioning it, feeling it, seeing it in your head and literally on your wall …

View full post

Starting My Vision Board

The other day my boyfriend and I sat down to watch The Secret, a film about the law of attraction, which the creators said govern our lives. The film talked about the power of positivity, saying to accomplish success one must “ask, believe, achieve.” The Secret encouraged people to have faith in their dreams until …

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Fighting the Odds How To Make Humor Your Advantage Women Talk on Her Story About How Beauty Standards Have Impacted Their Lives Walking Into My Reality Starting My Vision Board

May
09

Fighting the Odds

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One Woman Strives to Create Her Own Opportunities

Calmesha Givens "Caly" training for her role in Fighting the Odds

by Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) - For local actress Calmesha Givens – playing the role of a boxer is exactly what she was born to do.

“I always said to myself if I had the opportunity to choose the role that I want, I’d play the role of Lala Ali,” said Calmesha.

Calmesha, however, realized that roles like Ali and others weren’t coming her way, after she pursued her career in Los Angeles, California.  She decided to return to the south side of Syracuse where she grew up and is known by her community as Caly. Now that she is home and surrounded by an array of support, love and resources, Caly will star in her original film – Fighting the Odds. Caly will play – Naima Faunderf – a woman who discovers her independence through boxing – after battling an abusive relationship. Like Faunderf, Caly has also had to rise above struggles.

“I had to fight the odds, first generation college student, grew up in a single parent home, my grandmother raised me while my parents spent the majority of their time in prison,” said Caly.

When Caly was five years old she witnessed her mother being taken from her grandmothers’ home by police for drug possession. Her father- a known drug dealer also spent about 11 years in prison for dealing drugs. The absence of her parents combined with the violence in her neighborhood pushed her to fight.

“I did a lot of fighting whether it was inside this house with my younger cousins or if it was outside in the streets,” Caly said. “I was fighting with something in my life as well. I think it was just part of my parents being gone. Whatever I was experiencing here, sometimes I didn’t feel like it was home.”

Caly visiting her dad in prison

Caly visiting her mom in prison

After five and a half years in prison Caly’s mom returned home but the fighting continued. When Caly was12 years old she and her friends started a gang called 911 Quickness. Now gang life is a part of Caly’s past. She said she attributes much of her  success to a program called On Point For College – an organization that helps low income youth prepare for college. On Point helped Caly to escape gang life and gave her the emotional and financial support needed to become a first generation college student, earning a bachelor’s degree from Howard University with a minor in acting.

Samuel Rouser, Caly’s former mentor at On Point said that Caly has always portrayed qualities of strength and determination that have helped her to be a success.

“She wasn’t one that would march to the beat of others. She had her own mind and her own ideas about how things should be done,” Rouser said.

Caly at her Graduation at Howard University

The production Company

In an effort to use her leadership qualities for the greater good, Caly decided Fighting the Odds will not be her last film production. The movie will be the first film to come out of her production company Eraced Productions – which strives to look past the racial identities of individuals and instead take a deeper look at the person and where they come from. For that reason Caly teamed up with a local artist to create a logo that represents a mixed race -androgynous look.

“We shouldn’t have to be judged based on the color of our skin, how we wear our hair, or the texture of our hair,” Caly said when talking about why she decided to start Eraced productions. “I just really want to show us as people.”

Eraced Productions logo Copyright Eraced Productions

Paying it Forward

Arthur Harrison, one of Caly’s boxing coaches at the Faith and Hope Community Center, said he is excited to help with the project because it will have a winning impact on the community.

“When Calmesha makes her film I think it will make a great difference. It will show young individuals here who believe that this is like a plantation that they are on that they can do some good and positive things here,” Harrison said.

Caly said she is looking for locals to help in all aspects of her film from makeup to videography. Caly’s goal is to bring an even bigger film to Syracuse.

 

 

 

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May
09

How To Make Humor Your Advantage

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Public Speaker and Author Yvonne Conte Shares How She Made a Career Out of Laughter



by Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) - For Yvonne Conte, laughter has always been a driving force behind her success. Yvonne is a public speaker, author, and founder of Humor Advantage, an organization that advocates the power of humor and laughter through speeches and workshops.Yvonne describes herself as a “corporate culture expert.” She coaches professionals on techniques that create and maintain a positive work environment.

“It’s my job to make it so that everybody loves to come to work, can’t wait to get there, doesn’t want to leave at night, is friends with all these people and parties on the weekend. Now is that not an awesome job?” Yvonne said in an interview with Her Story’s Candace Dunkley.

The evolution of Yvonne’s career came after the loss of her prior job, selling telephone equipment to businesses. She said after she refused to relocate in order to keep her position, she found it difficult to find work again. Seeing his mother distressed over the situation, Yvonne’s son suggested she pursue a career in comedy. Although Yvonne said she was often the entertainer in the family she dismissed the idea. It wasn’t until her accountant made the same suggestion that she considered a career in the industry. It wasn’t long before her accountant was able to get her a gig at Wise Guys comedy club, in Syracuse, New York.  After the first performance in front of what was a very receptive crowd, Yvonne realized she had found her niche.

Yvonne Conte at Wise Guys comedy club

“I looked at the clapping, and the standing up and all of that as love coming from the audience, and it was a drug,” Yvonne said.

Throughout Yvonne’s career as a comedian she maintained many odd jobs to bring in additional income, including dressing up as a clump of grapes at a bar mitzvah. Hiding amongst a table filled with fruit, Yvonne waited until people approached to then say “you know that’s going straight to your hips don’t you?”

Yvonne Conte disguised as grapes

A shift in Yvonne’s career path took place after an executive at the National Society of Fundraising Executives in Rochester, New York mistook her for a motivational speaker.

Yvonne said a person at the event loved her speech and  recommended her to an individual who owned a group of nursing homes in Ohio.  When asked for her price, Yvonne stated that she would charge $400 for five workshops. The executive thought Yvonne was charging $400 for each workshop and  still believed it was a steal.

Now Yvonne can command thousands of dollars to speak at a national event. In her speeches she encourages people to find the joy in life despite obstacles they may endure. This is a lesson all too familiar to the public speaker. Yvonne said she is the person she is today because of the example her father, a disabled war veteran with Rheumatoid Arthritis, was to her. Despite his disability, Yvonne said he never complained and was a diligent sales representative at the Permanent Stainless Steel Corporation where he later became the president.

As Yvonne also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, she says her father continues to be an example to stay positive and make the most out of life.

“The things that are not going right in my life, I will pray about those things, I will do what I have control over, I will lift the rest of it up,” Yvonne said in a speech at the 2012 Women igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship (WISE) conference.

Finding happiness in the midst of struggle has continued to be Yvonne’s message. She is the author of six books and travels around the country to inform people about how humor can become their advantage.

 

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Apr
13

Women Talk on Her Story About How Beauty Standards Have Impacted Their Lives

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Her Story Episode 1

Thank you for coming to www.sasclass.com for the first episode of Her Story. Ever since I was old enough to write comprehensive sentences I had a deep passion for the media industry. As time went on I developed an appreciation for women like Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg and the list goes on and on.

These are women taking on various parts of the media industry from, hosting to reporting, acting and authoring. The one thing these female media moguls I admire have in common is that they are a positive representation of women and what we are capable of.

Unfortunately there are just as many or arguably more examples, of negative images of women being portrayed as sexual objects, incompetent, or weak individuals.  I wanted to do my part in seeing that women are given their due respect and are noted down in history. As our saying goes “you can’t tell history without telling her story.” Please feel free to voice your opinion by leaving comments. We want to hear from you!

Segment One:

For the first Episode of Her Story I had the chance to speak with three inspirational women.  In the first segment we spoke with Jill Ouikahilo – Syracuse University’s Communications director of the division of student affairs and dance instructor at Wacheva Cultural Arts.

There is something about dance that ignites your body with energy and emotion. It allows you to have fun whether you are in a glamorous night club or listening to Pandora in your bedroom. For Jill however, dance is more than just a means of having a goodtime, it was the movement that changed her life. Jill said after battling an eating disorder it was dance combined with her travels that helped her fight the disease.

“For me to heal at the core I needed to understand who I was,” Jill said while describing why she decided to travel. “Not the way the world knew me. It (traveling) helped me to wake up and better understand who I was.”

After years of being an athlete in high school, Jill said many of her insecurities stemmed from not looking like the girl on “Shape Magazine.”  Jill said the insecurity combined with a bad break up in her freshman year of college, in part lead to her eating disorder.

“I started running; I started exercising beyond what I had ever done before. That was the moment where things started physically coming into fruition.” Jill said. ”It was years and years of messaging from my community, from coaches, from family, from society, that I always had this negative self-chatter about myself.”

Eventually Jill said she started to travel around the country; visiting places like Colorado, Oregon and Washington. She said it was her trip to the Hawaiian island of Kauai that Jill said had the most profound effect on her. There she decided to really learn the art of African drumming. Jill said eventually she was invited by women to learn African dance. Although she was hesitant at first, Jill said it proved to be a life changing experience.

“Coming into dance it really made me embrace my body in a feminine way that sports didn’t allow me to do,” Jill said. “Once I started to go through that process it started to really heal those insecurities and really made me start to love my body the way it moved the way it felt and African dance particularly because it’s a form of movement that is very expressive and the culture of African culture which holds African dance embraces all body types, embraces shapes, it actually welcomes that.”

Now Jill said she has learned to love herself and live by her own standards and encourages other women to do the same.

Second Segment:

In the second segment we introduce you to a woman who created a pageant for high school girls. On the surface her pageant may seem like many that you would see on television; the young ladies are required to compete in four segments; the introduction, interview, talent and formal wear. Mia Adams McSherry – The Founder of the Miss Central New York Scholarship Pageant – however says that the scholarship pageant is unique from the average beauty pageant.

“The Miss Central New York scholarship pageant promotes personal accountability, self-esteem, awareness, goal setting and a healthy lifestyle.”

Leading up to the pageant Mia said the girls – 17 to 18 year old high school seniors – participate  in activities like a day of service where they go to church, a day of fitness where they participate in activities like zumba and on other days engage in volunteer work.  Mia said in addition the pageant has less girls participating which enable every participant to walk away with something; one aspect being friendship.

Mia said she wanted to create the Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant because she heard there was a high dropout rate in Syracuse city schools. She said she wanted to create an organization that would empower young women with education.

For more information visit the Miss CNY Scholarship Pageant Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/misscny.

Third Segment

 

In our third Segment we introduce you to Syracuse University Masters student Amanda Watkins. Amanda is studying broadcast digital journalism at Newhouse. As someone who is constantly in front of the camera, she was the perfect person to join the panel discussion with Jill, Mia, and myself – to talk about the pressures many women face – to live up to beauty ideals.

 

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Mar
13

Walking Into My Reality

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… Becoming the talk show host

My first episode of my first talk show called The Focus Group. I can't wait to tape Her Story!

The most difficult part of being ambitious is that feeling I get. It’s the hard thump in your chest coupled with an accelerated heartbeat. It’s the feeling that comes from having dreams bigger than yourself; envisioning it, feeling it, seeing it in your head and literally on your wall but not knowing the exact way of getting there. The question is how do I shake that feeling so it doesn’t eat away at me?

Recently I found at least part of the answer while sitting in a packed auditorium at Syracuse University. Settled amongst a sea of intent gazes, I fixated on the words of Dr. Cornel West. West stood tall, his voice not too loud, nor too soft; just strong; strong enough to tell us about the “New Youth Movement.”

According to West, we are entering a new era where youth take on issues of social justice and put the needs of their neighbors ahead of their own. We would emulate the love and dedication to the people that great activists such as Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X (just to name a few) had for The People. The problem, West said is individualistic individuals. Many people are too concerned with getting glory and approval to actually dedicate their time to political and controversial matters.

Standing with Dr. Cornell West outside Syracuse University

His words were like a good friend, I knew them all too well. Could that be part of what was holding me back; the fear of failure for the world to see? Was I too preoccupied with the superficial praise from the audience and not the change my talents could bring? That is definitely part of it. The idea of putting my work, dreams and efforts out on a stage for my audience to possibly reject is simply terrifying.

In light of positivity I rather focus on what I do want. So I choose to envision myself standing in front of a packed audience. Stepping out onto the set I grab the microphone and with a voice that bellows enthusiasm I say “welcome to the Candace Dunkley Show.” The crowd stands and applauds unaware of just how serious things would get in just moments.

The crowd is silent so invite my first guest; a teacher. With a bank account at zero, a sick mom who needs all of her love attention and funds, she still finds the gumption to treat her students as her own children. This teacher definitely deserved what I was about to hand her; a million dollars.

When the show ends I rush to get ready for my other show; Her Story. I was so excited to interview Staceyann Chin a Lesbian activist from Jamaica. She would recite original poetry and share examples of her struggles living openly as a Lesbian.

Over the past couple of weeks I stepped out of that dream and into reality.  I decided the only way to be a talk show host is to be a talk show host. So there I was, in front of Professor Robinson; the director of the Orange Television network at Syracuse University. He liked my idea for Her Story, all I needed to do was iron out the details.

“So how many people do I need in order to start a show?” I asked.

“You will need about four people,” Robinson replied. “You will need someone to direct, someone to take care of the technical aspects and people to work the cameras,” he continued.

Finding crew was the easy part, I already had a team of people that I had been talking to about my show.

The question was where would Her Story take place? I needed a studio. I looked all over, class rooms, various parts of the building and the studios at Newhouse. The problem was the only studio I wanted was the one that was unavailable. Apparently the Orange Network did not have access to studio A. Although Studio A was not the only place for me to have a show,  it was beautiful and had everything I needed; a simple set with a nice background that was professional and sophisticated.

I had to talk to the head of the studio; Professor Wenner.

“Professor Wenner do you have a moment?” I asked.

“Yes what’s going on?”

“I am doing a talk show this semester, as an independent study. It’s going to profile the lives of women. I wanted to use studio A. Although the show is running on the Orange Network I am doing it as an independent study for Broadcast Digital Journalism. Is it possible that I can have access to the studio?”

Wenner explained to me the problem was that I would need people who knew how to operate that studio equipment. I already had that part covered, I already got permission to use the portable equipment from the Orange Network. I just had to confirm that information and then email Professor Wenner with the details. He would then let me know if I was approved.

I did just that, and within days it was settled! I had my studio, I had my crew, and pretty soon I would have taped my first episode of Her Story.

I did my first talk show: The Focus Group,  as an undergraduate student at SUNY Oswego. Watch a part of an episode here:

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Feb
27

Starting My Vision Board

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My first vision board. Copyright SAS Class Media LLC

The other day my boyfriend and I sat down to watch The Secret, a film about the law of attraction, which the creators said govern our lives. The film talked about the power of positivity, saying to accomplish success one must “ask, believe, achieve.”

The Secret encouraged people to have faith in their dreams until they can literally see them. In the film, the use of a vision board, a tactic used by many successful individuals, such as Oprah Winfrey was encouraged. The idea is that if you believe in your vision and see it endlessly, it will become a reality.

I started to think, is the vision board really a straight and narrow road to success? For years people including my grandmother have been encouraging me to get all my dreams and goals down on this “board.” Winfrey believes in it so much she has a section on her website dedicated to helping people make their own vision board.

I decided to try it; I mean what do I have to lose? Taped to my wall, across from my pillow, lies my personal vision board. I have many goals, including becoming a published author, getting out of debt, becoming a billionaire by the age of 30 and … there’s more.

Ok well I know some of you may be thinking who becomes a billionaire at the age of 30, and what else could you possibly want? Well I am aiming high and dreaming big. Oh and if you want to know about the “more I could possibly want” and my road to achieving all of it, then be sure to check out my blog The Vision Board, every week.

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Feb
01

The Pregnancy Project

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Life Time movie, The Pregnancy Project tells the true story of a teenage girl’s quest to expose how pregnant teenagers are treated. In this movie 18 year old Gaby Rodriguez explores this issue by conducting a scientific experiment for her senior project where she pretends to be pregnant. Rodriguez confides in only a handful of people including her boyfriend Jorge and her mother Juana Reyes. While keeping the truth about her fake pregnancy a secret to the rest of her school, Gaby recorded the positive and negative comments made by her peers and teachers.

As Gaby’s artificial bump continued to grow she realized more and more the difficulties that came with being a teenage mom. After being referred to by friends and teachers as “a waist of life,” Gaby was left emotional at her final presentation when she revealed that she in fact was not pregnant. Showing the crowd her clay baby bump she passed out index cards asking members of the audience to read the negative comments that were made about her.

Through this movie Gaby said that her goal was to expose the stereotypes faced by pregnant teenagers and to prove that their life does not have to stop because they are pregnant. There is no doubt that Gaby is a remarkable, courageous and brilliant young woman. The passion that she must have had in order to see through an experiment that required her to deceive friends and family for six and a half months is immeasurable.

After watching the movie it is clear the project met one of its goals. Gaby was in fact able to reveal the ill treatment that pregnant teenagers face through her own experiences. Gaby seemed stunned as classmates stopped talking to her and even teachers expressed their lack of faith in her. The experiment however did have its flaws. Gaby’s experiment lasted for six and a half months. While she was able to witness how others would treat her, she did not have to deal with the hormonal effects, and other discomforts of being pregnant. At one point in the movie Gaby was extremely emotional, crying to her mother to take the lump off of her. Although I am not denying the courageousness of the project, it is important to note that in a real pregnancy there are no breaks.

Even if Gaby kept the belly on for the entirety of her project, she did not experience motherhood. For that reason this experiment couldn’t possibly prove that teenage moms can do anything they put their mind to. For Gaby to prove this she would have had to extend her pregnancy experiment to nine months and then experience mother hood while fulfilling some of her goals such as attending prom, finishing high school and attending college. An experiment with motherhood however would have also been difficult. I have seen many experiments on television where kids are given dolls in order to simulate life as a parent, however nothing can compare to taking care of a real life that you love unconditionally.

Although Gaby’s project did not prove all of the points she wanted to get across, it definitely deserves the attention it is getting. Gaby Rodriguez has received national recognition for her study and has even appeared on NBC’s Dr. Phil show. I hope The Pregnancy Project inspires people to think about the way they treat people around them and the power of words.

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Dec
29

Liverpool Cafe Serves Food and Self Love

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One Woman Uses Painful Experience to Fight Against Negative Body Images

by Candace J. Dunkley (Liverpool)

Mary Ellen Clausen was devastated when she found out her two daughters had eating disorders.

“It literally turned our families upside down and inside out.”

Due to a lack of resources her daughters had to go out of state for treatment. Clausen says when their youngest daughter returned home the need for support groups were just as prevalent.

“The lack of resources only fueled that devastation and sense of powerlessness.”

That is why Clausen created Ophelia’s place, a not-for profit organization that provides treatment and support groups for people dealing with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.

“Unless you’ve been impacted by an eating disorder you can’t even comprehend, people can say I understand what your going through but they really can’t.”

To show people dealing with the sickness that there are other’s like them that do understand, the walls are filled messages of hope and triumph.

Clausen needed a consistent way of funding her organization, so she created café at 407.

To spread their message the café does not list or provide customers with calorie information.

“We really are trying to change the face of what healthy is. We are trying to tell people that beauty isn’t a size; so when people come in and ask us about how many points are in our oatmeal and how many calories we say you know that’s not really who we are, let me tell you what we do and who we are.”

Cafe at 407 is a place for customers like Kathryn Hollenbeck to promote change. She says she developed a low self esteem when she noticed people judging her for becoming a mother at 17.

“My sexuality was then put on the stage … peoples opinions then become imposed on you.”

Now Hollenbeck says she is planning on having discussion groups at the cafe to encourage positive dialogue between women.

Clausen says positive discussions can help free people of low self-esteem.

Web Extra:  “Ophelia’s Place” founder Mary Ellen Clausen on why she won’t discuss specifics of her daughters’ eating disorders:

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Dec
05

Auburn Church Reaches Community in an Unconvential Manner

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Pastor Says Their Goal is to GoWhere the People Are


Like many church services, the one located at Swaby’s Tavern, has music, prayer and a sermon. If you look closely, however, you will see that there is something a little different about this place. That is because it’s really a church at a bar.

Sean Wrench is the Campus pastor at Bar Church at Swaby’s and he is the pastor at Lakes Church which holds more traditional services. He says Lakes Church created Bar Church, held at Swaby’s Tavern, for people who might be uncomfortable at a traditional church.

“We believe that as a church instead of running from our culture we should embed ourselves into the heart of it. And that’s why we decided to have our church service at a bar because we want to embed ourselves into our communities culture and impact their life with unconditional love and that’s what its all about.”

There has been some negative criticism about having church at a bar, but Pastor Sean says that if your offended by this setting its because your not one of the people the church is trying to reach.

They’re goal is to reach people like Sue Rice. She says that Bar Church helped her to find answers after her daughter died in a car accident.

“It helped me to realize that she is in a better place and that she’s gonna be okay.”

During his sermon Pastor Sean encourages people like Rice who are hurting to never forget they always have a friend in God.

“You are gonna face difficulties in life, you are gonna face challenges, you are gonna face circumstances, your gonna have trials. Do not let them get in the way of God’s love. Claim this scripture in faith over your life that I am convinced that death nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor any power can separate me from God’s love.”

It’s a  love that the folks at Bar Church say is worth Celebrating.

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Dec
02

Verdicts Reached for Members of Hancock 38

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One Protester Gives Reaction to Sentencing

Today Ed Kinane and SAS Class correspondent Nilanjana Gupta spoke about  his reaction to the sentencing that took place yesterday, for 31 of the Hancock 38. Recently the protestors stood trial for protesting military operated drones out of Hancock airport base. Drones are remote controlled airplanes used in warfare.

Many of the demonstrators including Kinane faced $125 worth of court fees and $250 worth of fines, stated Kinane. According to Carol Braum of the Syracuse Peace Council, an organization working closely with the protesters, at least four of the defendants were given jail time from four to fifteen days.

Kinane stated that many of the protesters including himself do not plan to pay the fees.

Watch Interview Here:

 Click here for background information on trial

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Nov
01

Central New York Drone Opponents Say Civil Disobedience Is The Way To Justice

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Protesters Say They Are Not Afraid of Trial or Prison

 

by, Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) – Today marked the first day of trial for the Hancock 38, according to Syracuse peace Council Activist Carol Baum. Yesterday was suppose to be the first day of trial but the protesters spent the day in court in an arraignment. All protesters were arraigned on new charges of obstruction of vehicular or pedestrian traffic. According to Baum 21 of the 31 defendants will go “pro se,” meaning they will defend themselves.

Hancock Drone resisters are expected to present their case on Thursday.

by, Candace J. Dunkley (Syracuse) – The idea of civil disobedience is no stranger to United States history. For years activist have publicly disobeyed the law in order to stop what they see as injustices in society.

Meet One Defendant

Vicki Ross is one activist living by this principle. She is one of 38 people arrested last April for a “die in” protest against drones that are remotely operated at Hancock Air Force Base. The protesters were charged with disorderly conduct after they refused an order to leave.

The protesters say they had a permit to rally at Hancock airport but then stepped outside of those boundaries for the “die in.” They say when police asked them to leave they refused, leading to their arrest.

Civil Disobedience

Ross says although they did not have a permit they were not participating in illegal activity.

“There is something called a necessity defense…the standard text book case is that you should be able to trespass into a house to save a child who is in a burning house that’s not illegal…the necessity defense allows you to break that minor law…for the greater good of saving a life and that is exactly what we did.”

Syracuse University media law professor Courtney Barclay says necessity is really a form of civil disobedience a tactic that various activists have used for years in order to fight for justice in their communities. She says although this has been used to promote change it is not an actual defense in court.

“One of the reason the first amendment doesn’t protect civil disobedience is so that as a whole in society we don’t encourage lawless action. That being said looking back sometimes it necessary but the protesters who engage in that have to be willing to take the consequences.”

Another defendant in the case  Ann Wright says that she believes all the protesters will be acquitted but she is ready to face prison if need be.

“We all knew that there could possibly be jail time and many of the people here have gone to jail for extended periods of time as acts of conscience and challenging various issues of our government policies.”

The prosecutor Fred McRoberts declined to comment until after the trial.

 

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