The following news item is printed in its entirety as it appeared in the New Haven Register,
November 15, 2003:

More cases from Yale labor strike dismissed
November 15, 2003 - New Haven Register
By Kara Ouellet, Special to the Register

NEW HAVEN — More than 150 cases of disorderly conduct in connection with civil disobedience during the recent Yale University labor strike were dismissed Thursday and Friday, said one of the defense attorneys.

In such a short time period, “It is a record number of dismissals for criminal cases in the court,” attorney Hugh Keefe said.

Approximately 30 defendants appeared on Thursday and 125 on Friday, said Jim Fraenza, a paralegal working for Keefe.

These men and women are representatives of “heavyweight labor” organization, Keefe said.

Judge David Gold presided on Thursday and Judge Karen Sequino on Friday.

Keefe and Attorney Tara Knight are representing the people charged with disorderly conduct during the Yale strikes that took place over the past year.

Twelve cases of people who were arrested twice or whose charges were nolled were continued to Nov. 25.

These defendants will attempt to get the charges dismissed — and cleared from their record — rather than nolled.

The demonstrators were taken into custody following massive acts of disobedience on Aug. 29 and Sept. 13.

John Sweeney, president of the international AFL-CIO, John Olsen, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, Douglas MacCarron, president of the International Carpenters Union of America, and Roger Toussant, president of the Transportation Union, were among those whose charges were dismissed.

All were charged with disorderly conduct in connection with the Sept. 13 incident.

John Wilhelm, president of the International Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union, and Robert Proto, president of Local 34, were issued continuances until Nov. 25. Both were charged in connection with both summertime demonstrations.

Demonstrators Mary Kilton of West Haven and Donald Frigo of Milford, whose charges were nolled last month, are also scheduled to reappear on Nov. 25.