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A national call: free the Catonsville Nine
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A national call: free the Catonsville Nine
View smaller version of imageDivision of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Collection: Cornell University Library
Date: 1968-10
Date of Digitization: 2004
Source: Daniel and Philip Berrigan Collection at the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Original Dimensions: ?
Creator: Baltimore Defense Committee
Description:
A leaflet issued by the Baltimore Defense Committee calling for a protest action in defense of the Catonsville Nine on October 7, 1968 - the day the trial took place.

Transcription: 
A National Call:

FREE THE CATONSVILLE NINE

           On May 17, 1968, nine people -- seven men 
     and two women -- "napalmed" about 800 draft 
     records in Catonsville, Md., a suburb of Balti-
     more. Many of these records were those of men 
     classified 1-A.
           The record burning was an act of symbolic 
     resistance. The Nine did not try to escape.
           But the action was very real to some young 
     men in Catonsville. It may have already saved 
     some lives.

Come to Agnew Country

           The trial of the Catonsville Nine begins in 
     Federal Court in Baltimore on Monday, October 7. 
     The Baltimore Defense Committee is organizing 
     a mass march through the city to the courthouse 
     to demand that the Nine be freed.
           In spite of Agnew (or, if you will,  because of 
     Agnew),  this march will take place.
           The streets belong to the people.

Confront the Slavemakers

           In addition to the FREE THE NINE mobilization 
     march, the Defense Committee is planning continual 
     actions to keep attention focused on the trial.  (If you 
     liked Czicago,  you'll love Balamer.)
           These actions will include a rally Sunday night 
     (October 6) to hear the defendants, a funeral march 
     to celebrate the death of Selective Slavery, visits to 
     local draft board members, a daily press forum,  a 
     Resistance supper and rap -- and some surprises.