It was a long but successful day for the 21 defendants represented by Mass Defenders Committee members Kylah Clay and Andrew Fischer. The day began with a rally organized by XR and the local SPJE (Stop Private Jet Expansion) chapter in support of the defendants, who were arrested for protesting the proposed expansion of private jet hangars at Hanscom Field. Private jets are one of the most selfish and self-indulgent uses of carbon emissions. One private jet flight across the country erases all the decarbonization of a town the size of Concord, Lincoln, Bedford, or Lexington, which surround Hanscom Field, or Wellesley, Dedham or Brookline, which do not. The day ended with Kylah and Andrew checking out the “scene of the crime,” which resulted in a State Trooper pulling them over demanding to know why they went to the private jet buildings at Hanscom Field.

The highlight was in between, when Kylah argued a motion to dismiss a felony charge on behalf of one of the protesters. The prosecutor filed an additional, separate charge of malicious destruction of property against this protester for opening a door at the airfield. In our history of representing folks throughout Massachusetts, no climate action protester has been charged with a felony. Unfortunately, the motion to dismiss was denied. 

Our next report will come some time in December.