While watching the proceedings of Hershe Krammer's trial last Friday, I just kept thinking, "Alexander Berkman."
Berkman is an anarchist who lived around the turn of the century. He was imprisoned for about 11 years for attempting, unsuccessfully, to kill Henry Clay Frick. Frick was a Carnegie Steel boss who had, just before the attempt, called in pinkertons to violently suppress a strike.
Berkman handled the trial his own way. He delivered a statement explaining what he did, why he did it and what the principles were that he thought justified his actions.
He knew that taking this course was likely to land him in prison for a long time, and it did. But he preferred dealing with the consequences to sacrificing his principles.
Before I give you the wrong impression, let me assure you that the two trials were not exactly alike. Unlike Berkman, the actions that led up to Hershe's trial had nothing to do with violence or attempted violence.
On the night of Feb. 13, a group ranging up to around 40 held a kiss-in near the Copper Lounge, as part of an on-going boycott in response to bias related violence.
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After a little more than an hour, three women were cited, without warning, for sitting on a couch. Two were just cited and released. One - as it happens, the only woman of color - was handcuffed and put in the back of a police car.
After trying unsuccessfully several times to ask an officer where they were taking her friend, Hershe decided she had to take more decisive action to prevent them from driving off without knowing where they were going or where she needed to go to help her. So Hershe sat down.
Had the officer simply answered the question and told her that they were just going to drop the third woman off by her car around the block, he could have avoided the whole mess.
What Hershe and Berkman do have in common is that she, too, is unwilling to sacrifice her principles.
Believing herself to have done the only thing she could do in that particular situation, Hershe didn't try to conceal or apologize for her actions. Instead, she gave the judge the full history, explaining the reasons for and background of the protest, admitting the facts of what she did and explaining why she felt she had to do it.
Sentencing is still pending. But, as with Berkman, it would seem that being principled is not a good way to win the sympathy of the court.
I'm generally not a big fan of martyrdom. I'd be willing to take a risk to protect someone I care about, but if it's solely a matter of principle, well, preserving my life, health and freedom is something I consider a higher principle.
But somehow, I can't help but admire Hershe for what she is doing. She doesn't want to serve any jail time. She's not trying to be a martyr to the cause. She just isn't willing to compromise her principles, even if sticking with them carries some risk.
I cannot say that about many people - and I'm glad of that. From a purely selfish stand point, I'd be perfectly happy if Hershe backed down before sentencing, to prevent the judge from denying me her company.
Funny thing about the trial - the judge and prosecution kept comparing the situation to what would happen if they were dealing with someone who was committing an act of violence. Like they didn't think a nonviolent and essentially harmless act should or could be handled differently.
I guess that's the difference between law and principle. Laws are designed to deal with masses, not individuals. They can't be adjusted to deal with each situation in the manner most suited to it.
Hershe, on the other hand, doesn't make a general rule about sitting down in front of police cars. It was only the particular circumstances of the moment that drew her to take that particular action, in accordance with her principles - namely, the principle of protecting her friend.
I'm not saying that principles are always wise. But then again, neither is the law. Even that most exalted body of law, the U.S. Constitution, made slavery legal. I think we can all agree that was a pretty bad idea. And I would hope we can agree that the people who escaped or helped others escape were doing the right thing, even if it wasn't the legal thing.
Principles, unlike law, can be adjusted to deal with the situation and people at hand. And they can grow with us as we grow, without waiting a year or decade or century for the legislation to catch up with the people.
by Sari Krosinsky
Daily Lobo Columnist
E-mail Sari Krosinsky at michal_kro@hotmail.com.
