Meet the anti-war movement's newest folk hero: 69-year-old Rosemarie Jackowski

Vermont Woman Becomes a Cause Celebre as She Faces a Second Trial Over Antiwar Protest

By John Curran
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1:40 a.m. December 18, 2006

BENNINGTON, Vt. – Meet the anti-war movement's newest folk hero: 69-year-old Rosemarie Jackowski, whose arrest during an anti-war protest has made her a cause celebre.
A prosecutor's plan to retry her for blocking traffic while protesting the Iraq war is turning the feisty 4-foot-10 inch former schoolteacher into a darling of the dove crowd.

Bloggers have rallied behind her, peace activists are deluging her with messages of support, and advocates have established a defense fund.
“She's not a loony toon by any means,” said Andrew Schoerke, 73, a retired U.S. Navy captain who was arrested with her. “She's a very down to earth, sensible, caring person with some very strong convictions.”

Jackowski was one of a dozen protesters arrested at a March 20, 2003 protest, staged within hours of the start of the United States' “shock and awe” bombing campaign in Iraq. Carrying a sign that read “Impeach Bush” on one side and listed U.S. “war crimes” on the other, Jackowski refused police orders to get out of the street and was arrested for blocking traffic.

“It was really hard for me to stand there and just hold my sign,” she said in an interview. “I came from a strict ethnic, religious background. I was taught to never ever be disobedient to anyone – teacher, parent, policeman. That was my very first act of disobedience to anyone.”

Asked during booking whether she had any aliases, she replied: “Yes, I do. 'Mom.'”

To police, it wasn't funny. >>>cont

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