Smoketown Six
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Smoketown Six refers to a group known for its protest against President George Bush and the then-recent Abu Ghraib prison scandal. On July 9 2004 the participants stripped down to thong underwear, forming a pyramid resembling the one from the infamous Abu Ghraib naked prisoner photograph. The demonstration was quickly broken up minutes before Bush's tour bus passed by, and its members arrested. Charges against the six protesters were later dropped by Lancaster County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Donald Totaro.
On December 9th, 2004, members of Smoketown Six announced a lawsuit against the law enforcement officers involved in the arrest. The individuals planning to file the lawsuit included Tristan Egolf, 32, of West Lemon Street; Jonathan Kohler, 21, of North Marshall Street; Russell Willard, 18, of September Drive; Adam Willard, 21, of South Lime Street; Benjamin Keely, 22, of West Lemon Street; and David O'Bryant, 21, of Ruby Street. Egolf had been the unofficial spokesman for the group until his death in May 2005.
In July 2005, the East Lampeter Township and the plaintiffs reached a settlement, however the Pennsylvania State Police remain named in the lawsuit.
[edit] Notes
- Egolf makes a tongue-in-cheek reference to East Lampeter Township in his final novel Kornwolf, where it is referred to as Lamepeter.
