C.A.G.E. (Citizens Against Global Exploitation) is happy to announce the result of member Ian Burke's trial today.

Ian, a 17 year old activist and Charlottesville native, was on trial for his refusal to leave the Marriott Hotel on West Main St, during a sit-in organized by CAGE. The charge was trespassing.

Ian was found guilty by the state, and then given a deferred sentence of 6 months, and ordered not to be on Marriott property. Essentially, he was let go without a fine, jail time, or other form of punishment.

As of the day of his trial, Living Wage advocates have been protesting for over 101 weeks outside the Marriott Hotel in support of a living wage- a minimal, scalable, wage sufficient to live out of poverty, and without government assistence.

C.A.G.E. will soon release the trial date of Jennifer Conner and Andrew J. Holden, who are asking folks to protest their possible imprisonment. We believe that all people deserve a living wage, and the fact that the state enforces such conditions of life (poverty) detestable.

But for now, let's be glad there are people like Ian out there, and be glad he's home tonight :)

Andrew J. Holden (electronic mail, October 15, 2002)