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Protester wins & loses 03/13/01 - by Dave Racher - Philadelphia Daily News Kathleen "Kate" G. Sorenson said her long struggle through the Philadelphia criminal justice system made her a better person. "I've learned a lot of patience," she said, "and I think I'm a stronger activist." Yesterday, a Common Pleas Court jury acquitted Sorenson of felony charges of riot, risking a catastrophe and conspiracy in connection with her activities at last summer's Republican National Convention. It convicted her of a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe set sentencing for May 5. Under sentencing guidelines, Sorenson should wind up with a term of probation. However, Assistant District Attorney David Desiderio said he would press for some jail time. Criminal mischief carries a possible term of 21/2 to 5 years. Sorenson plans to appeal that verdict. The jury found that Sorenson, 37, an activist with the AIDs group ACT-UP and the Philadelphia Direct Action Group, did not, as the prosecution contended, give the marching orders to the hundreds of protesters who sought to disrupt the convention. Demonstrators overturned trash cans, set small fires, blocked roads, harassed cops, broke car windows and spray-painted vehicles during a day of mayhem in Center City on Aug. 1. Fifteen police officers were injured and more than 20 city vehicles were damaged during the mayhem. "Bummer," smiled Sorenson on her way out of the courthouse with several supporters. "At least no felonies." "There were 20 charges when I was arrested on Aug. 1," she said. ". . .I haven't done anything wrong. If you look, there is no evidence of me doing any criminal mischief. No one said I did anything that points to me doing any criminal mischief." "The city was willing to give me 20 years of jail time. The city was willing to give me a million dollars bail for what they've come up with now, $1,800 worth of damages I had nothing to do with. I was nowhere near, and there is no evidence I had anything to do with it. That's not justice. "Police say they never saw me do anything personally. I never touched cars or smashed windows." When Sorenson was arrested, her bail was set at $1 million. It was later reduced to $100,000. Charges of arson, possessing an instrument of a crime and obstruction of justice had been previously dismissed in Municipal Court. Defense lawyer Larry Krasner said he was confident the verdict would be overturned. Nearly 400 demonstrators were arrested during the convention, but only about a dozen were convicted, all for misdemeanors. About 100 accepted plea agreements last fall that reduced misdemeanor charges to summary offenses. About 20 cases, mostly felony trials, remain on the docket. At the time of her arrest, Sorenson was a special assistant to Henry Nicholas, president of the Hospital and Health Care Workers Union 1199C. Nicholas has called her "an excellent loyal and dedicated employee." |
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