Sugarhouse casino protesters found not guilty
A Philadelphia judge has found 13 anti-casino activists not guilty. The ruling came down today in the case that grew out of a September demonstration the Sugarhouse Casino construction site.
A Philadelphia judge has found 13 anti-casino activists not guilty. The ruling came down today in the case that grew out of a September demonstration the Sugarhouse Casino construction site. [audio:100216LFCASINO.mp3]
The activists faced charges of failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, and criminal conspiracy.
Casino Free Philadelphia spokesperson Dan Hajdo calls the ruling a victory, even though the casino is already under construction.
Hajdo: If they do open we’re prepared to shut them down. We are prepared with more direct action and eventually we’re thinking our representatives will start to listen to us. If they don’t well, there’s always election day.
Sugarhouse spokeswoman Leigh Whitaker had no comment on the trial of the protestors.
Whitaker said the casino is already putting people to work in construction jobs on site, and will start to generate millions of dollars in revenue to the City and Commonwealth once the casino opens this summer.
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