Dwight Watson (farmer) facts for kids

Dwight Ware Watson (born September 28, 1952), known as the "Tractor Man," is a tobacco farmer from Whitakers, North Carolina. In March 2003, he caused a big stir in Washington, D.C. for two days. He drove his tractor into a pond in the Constitution Gardens area of the National Mall. Watson claimed he had explosives, which led to a standoff with police. He later gave up and was found guilty of making a false threat and damaging government property. He spent 16 months in prison.

Why Dwight Watson Protested

Dwight Watson used to be a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He had a 1,200-acre tobacco farm in Nash County, North Carolina. This farm had been in his family for five generations.

Watson found it harder and harder to make enough money from his farm. He blamed new government rules about tobacco. People said he would talk for a long time about these problems, even at the local grocery store.

In 1999, Watson reportedly drove his tractor to D.C. for the first time to protest. He drove around the city and then left without any trouble. After a bad drought and his tobacco crop quota being cut in half, Watson felt he couldn't afford his farm anymore. So, in March 2003, he drove his tractor to D.C. again.

The Standoff in Washington, D.C.

On March 17, 2003, around 12:30 p.m., Watson drove his John Deere tractor into a shallow pond. The pond was in Constitution Gardens, near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He was wearing a military helmet and had an upside-down American flag.

Watson said he was protesting cuts to government help for tobacco farmers. He also wanted to highlight how the government treated veterans from the Gulf War. Police said Watson claimed he had explosives and would set them off if they came near him.

How the City Reacted

Because of Watson's threats, the United States Park Police blocked off a huge area of the National Mall. This area stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument. Several government buildings nearby were emptied. Major roads in the area were closed, which caused massive traffic jams. The traffic in Washington, D.C., was stuck for two days during busy travel times.

About 200 FBI and Park Police officers surrounded the pond. Watson drove his tractor in circles and dug up part of an island in the pond. He talked to the police and news reporters using a cell phone. After 48 hours, on March 19, Watson finally gave up. No explosives were found.

What Happened After the Standoff

Watson was charged with federal crimes for making a false threat and damaging government property. He went to court in Washington, D.C.

Watson first tried to be his own lawyer. He tried to call famous people like Bill Clinton to testify, but the judge said they were not important to his case. Watson told the court that when he mentioned an "organophosphate bomb," he meant two cans of bug spray he had. He said he only threatened to use them to show how harmful insecticides are. However, when police first questioned him, he admitted he let them believe he had real explosives.

The jury decided Watson was guilty on both charges in less than an hour. This happened on September 26, 2003.

Watson's Sentence and Release

Watson's sentencing was delayed several times. The judge wanted him to have a check-up to understand his thinking. The judge eventually sentenced Watson to six years in prison. This was much longer than the usual minimum sentence of 16 months. The judge felt Watson's actions were dangerous and caused a lot of trouble. He wanted to stop other protesters from doing similar things.

However, a new rule from the U.S. Supreme Court changed things. This rule said judges couldn't give longer sentences based on facts that a jury hadn't decided. So, on June 30, 2004, the judge reduced Watson's sentence to 16 months. Since Watson had already been in prison for more than 15 months, he was released the very next day. He went back to his family and farm in North Carolina.

Later, prosecutors thought the reduced sentence was too short. An appeals court agreed. Nearly four years later, in February 2008, Watson went back to court. This was unusual because he had already served his time. The new judge believed Watson deserved more prison time, but he decided not to send him back. The judge noted that Watson was working and taking care of his sister. He felt it wouldn't help the public to put Watson back in prison.

How People Reacted to the Event

The fact that one man could stop so much of Washington, D.C., for two days worried many people. It made them think about how easy it might be for others to cause problems, especially after other events like the Beltway sniper attacks. Some people criticized the police for being too slow. They pointed out that Watson was even left alone to sleep on his tractor.

A newspaper columnist wrote that it was strange how one man could cause such a big problem. He felt the police should have removed Watson quickly. Others argued that because there was a possible bomb threat, it was important to be patient and solve the situation peacefully.

After Watson gave up, a Congressman from North Carolina, Bob Etheridge, said that while he didn't agree with Watson's actions, the farmer showed the "pain and frustration" in tobacco farming areas. He felt it was important to address the real problems faced by farmers. Many people, including other farmers, saw Watson as a patriot. They believed he used civil disobedience to bring attention to important issues. A website started by tobacco farmers even called Watson an "American hero."