Protesters in front of the D.C. Superior Court on May 5. At right is former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly. (Photo credit: Keri Douglas)

From Keri Douglas. She is a writer, photographer and communications consultant who lives in Logan Circle.

Seventeen citizens of the District of Columbia challenged their recent arrests for civil disobedience at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on Thursday, May 5, for the freedom and democracy for all citizens of the District of Columbia.

The 17 in court yesterday were arrested on April 11 or on April 15 during demonstrations for DC representation and voting rights.

Related articles: Martin Moulton, #39 and Call a Congressman and Ask, “Are You My Rep?”

Magistrate Judge Richard Ringell, presiding over the D.C. Misdemeanor and Traffic Community Court began the hearing with praise for those with character and conviction to stand up for their beliefs. However, adding pressure to the citizens, the government informed them that a new charge was being added to the initial charge of unlawful assembly — one of failure to obey a police officer, which incurs a heavier fine and penalties.

After a closed session between the 17 citizens and the seven attorneys, half of the group decided to post the $100 fee and forfeit. Statehood Green Party member Adam Eidinger, one of the three arrested on April 15, explained that he posted the fee so that he could protest one more day.  The rest have until the next hearing date of June 28 to decide to pay the fine or continue to trial.

If only Martin Luther King, Jr. could see us today. Invoking legendary civil rights methods of non-violent civil disobedience, a growing group of diverse D.C. citizens are protesting the lack of democracy in the District of Columbia.

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Martin Moulton, #39. He was one of 41 D.C. residents arrested April 11 during a sit-in demonstration near the U.S. Capitol. (Luis Gomez Photos)

From Keri Douglas. She is a writer, photographer and communications consultant who lives in Logan Circle.

What does an American Freedom Fighter look like in 2011? Meet Martin Moulton: a tall, handsome man sporting a sky blue bike shirt, and donning a Tiffany-like black choker strand with a thick red charm fitted front and center, marked #39.

Moulton, a Shaw resident and entrepreneur, when asked what it felt like to be arrested on Monday, April 11, 2011, smiled and responded instinctively while holding the police issue #39 tag, “Fun.”

It began as an impromptu street protest of Congress for imposing its will on D.C. residents regarding spending restrictions and obligations. City leaders finally had enough and decided to stage a sit-in. Provoking arrest, detention and risking a police record for a lifetime, Moulton, too, sat down. The location as the middle of Constitution Avenue at 1st Street NE. According to dcist, they were chanting, “don’t tread on D.C., we demand democracy.”

Along with 40 other leaders of Washington, D.C. — including Mayor Vincent Gray, Council Chair Kwame Brown and several members of the D.C. Council — Moulton, president of the Convention Center Community Association (CCCA), was arrested.

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