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Madeline pleads not guilty: Support Madeline ffitch legal fund

Madeline ffitch was arraigned on Wed., Aug. 15, at the Athens County Courthouse. She was charged with a fifth degree felony for disrupting the “peace and dignity of the state”!! and “inciting panic.” She was released on her own recognizance.  The State had requested she be ordered not to attend “any protests against fracking” while the case is pending. The presiding judge granted the State’s request with the modification that the restriction be to “fracking protests in Athens County.” Athens News coverage here.

Please support Madeline’s legal fund.  Donations can be made using WePay, an online secure server.  If you would prefer to make your donation anonymous, there is a check box which allows you to do so on the site. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this link or sharing the legal fund link through Facebook or Twitter.
Youtube video of Madeline speaking to supporters after arraignment, Wed. Aug. 15, 2012:

From Madeline’s support announcement prior to the arraignment:

PLEASE COME SHOW SUPPORT! PLEASE COME SHOW YOUR OUTRAGE AT THESE INJECTION WELLS!

Madeline ffitch, the 31 year old Athens County Resident who was arrested June 26th at the Ginsburg frack waste injection well in Alexander Township, was handed her indictment papers last week.  She’s officially charged with a fifth degree felony of “Inducing Panic.” She plans to plead NOT GUILTY to this charge! We hope to PACK the courtroom Wednesday morning (in an orderly manner).  Or stand outside with signs–we’ ll also have some signs there if you can’t bring one of your own.
We must let the State of Ohio know:

  • Ohioans have used all conventional means to demand meaningful oversight of injection wells, and these requests have been ignored by the state of Ohio.
  • Ohioans will NOT STAND for our region becoming a dumping ground for HAZARDOUS WASTE.
  • Madeline ffitch is being OVERCHARGED.  Compared to other recent comparable anti-fracking actions in Northern Ohio and in Pennsylvania, where protesters received citations or misdemeanors, this felony charge is ridiculous.  The State of Ohio is attempting to make an example of this Ohio citizen as it creates an industry of dangerous frack waste injection.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! SUPPORT MADELEINE, AND SAY NO TO FRACK WASTE INJECTION IN OHIO! posted on behalf of Madeleine’s support team.