Andrew Holden and Jennifer Conner were arrested on Sept. 9th, after a Living Wage protest in which 16 people walked into the lobby of the Marriott Hotel and protested loudly for a living wage - a scalable wage high enough to live out of poverty - for the employees there. People have been protesting outside the Marriott for over 103 weeks.

Last month, 17 year old activist Ian Burke, who was on trial for his refusal to leave the Marriott Hotel on West Main St, during a sit-in organized by CAGE, received deferred sentence of 6 months, and ordered not to be on Marriott property. The charge was trespassing.

On November 18, 2002, Andrew Holden received 60 days in jail, with 30 days suspended, under the condition that he not engage in trespass within the next two years. Andrew Holden was one of the Omni Four, who chained themselves to the elevators back on July 13, 2002, and the 30-day sentence that he is actually serving is a consequence of violating the conditions of the previous sentencing.

For her participation in the protest on September 9, 2002, Jennifer Conner received 30 days suspended, with 5 days of community service, conditional that she not engage in trespass within the next two years.

Prior to the trial, about 15 or so people demonstrated in support of a living wage in front of the Charlottesville General District Court, and for the trial inside the courtroom, the number of supporters rose to 20.

Andrew Holden began his sentence immediately.

If you would like to visit Andrew Holden, I would suggest that you send him a letter at Charlottesville Albemarle Nelson Regional Jail, 160 Peregory Lane, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. [Call first to see if the mailing address needs to include a prisoner ID #.]

If you would like to comment on visitation procedures and policies at the Charlottesville Albemarle Nelson Regional Jail, please send your thoughts to the Superintendent at the address above, to the Charlottesville Albemarle Nelson Regional Board, Richard L. Jennings, Chairman, Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, #87, 87 Bishop Ridge Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911-4603 or to george@loper.org where the most representative comments will be placed on my web site with full attribution.

Jennifer Conner's Statement

There are many people in the Charlottesville community who have put in hours and hours of work towards a living wage for all people in our community. Because the Marriott continues to trespass on their workers' dignity by not paying them a living wage, despite the efforts of so many, I have felt it necessary to act beyond the bounds of what is considered acceptable.

One of my current jobs is with a foster care agency. The kids that I see, who come from such broken backgrounds, are products in part of a system that does not pay people enough to support their families who are trying to get away from welfare, and that forces people to choose between spending time with their families or supporting them. I can help these kids to a degree but they will always be marred. If I care about them, if our community cares about them and their families, then we have to provide good jobs within our community.

Jennifer Conner, November 18, 2002