Trespassers arraigned and sentenced after protest
Posted: 12.17.2012 at 11:27 AM

Eight people pled guilty after they wouldn't leave Governor Snyder's office in Marquette last Wednesday

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MARQUETTE -- The eight people arrested following last Wednesday's protest at Governor Snyder's office in Marquette were arraigned Monday morning.

Appearing in Marquette District Court on charges of trespassing were:

Forty-eight-year-old Todd Michael Aschmitz of Fond du Lac, Wis.; 50-year-old Susan Marie Cameron of Manistique; 44-year-old Todd Alan Flath of Escanaba; 45-year-old Michael Roy Johnson of Escanaba; 65-year-old Janet Bea-Maslotti Joswiak of Marquette; 65-year-old William Carl Joswiak of Marquette; 66-year-old Barbara Elliot Michael of Marquette; and 63-year-old Zelda Louise Ziemer of Gwinn.

The eight individuals were sentenced on Monday at their arraignment hearing. They each owe $375 in fines and costs.

"We want Governor Snyder to know we're serious," said Zelda Ziemer, one of the defendants. "This isn't a childish thing, we're not playing games. This is our livelihood, this is our state."

"I stood up because I teach children that you have a right," added Janet Joswiak, a former teacher. "This is a democracy, and your voice counts."

The eight refused to leave Governor Snyder's Northern Michigan office when it closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. There were ten protesters in the office. Two left when police told them they would be arrested. The remaining eight who didn't comply were cited for trespassing.

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