Antiwar Protesters In Court

All six pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct for bringing traffic to a standstill on eastbound 520 in Seattle.

"[The drivers on 520] are a lot better off than the people in Iraq now, whose homes are being bombed by operation shock and awe and who aren't going to have an infrastructure in their country. It's a small price to pay to sit on 520 for 15 extra minutes," said Kim Russell-Martin, one of the protesters.

The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

Two teenagers who were arrested will be sent through a Juvenile Court diversion program.

The demonstration caused a traffic jam Feb. 18 on the Highway 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. Demonstrators carried signs and erected a tripod.

Prosecutor Norm Maleng said the First Amendment does not give demonstrators the right to block traffic and create safety hazards.