Gazette-Times reporter

A Corvallis peace activist who was arrested twice in Washington, D.C., during anti-war events in September was acquitted Friday of one charge while the other was dropped.

Leah Bolger, who represented herself during both trials, said her decision to act as her own defense attorney “had to do with continuing the protest by speaking for myself. It was a very empowering thing.”

Bolger was arrested on Sept. 15 for crossing a police line in front of the Capitol Building during a protest. During her trial, she cross-examined the arresting officer, who admitted he had not actually witnessed Bolger crossing the line. She then moved for a judgment of acquittal, which was granted by the judge.

In her second trial, she was charged with unlawful assembly when she shouted anti-war remarks during a political rally in the Upper Senate Park on Sept. 18. During the event, Sen. John McCain and others were meeting with pro-war veterans and their families. In that trial, the charges against her were dismissed.

In preparing for court, Bolger worked with an attorney advisor who is writing a handbook for activists who want to represent themselves in court.

“I’m helping him by being a test case,” she said. “He gave me advice but let me handle (the trials) myself.”

Bolger has faced previous arrests in Washington, D.C., for her anti-war activities. In February 2007 she was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful conduct for shouting in the gallery of the House of Representatives, and had to pay a fine, was put on probation and asked to do 100 hours of community service.