Appeal for Testimonies from Gothenborg 2001

by Gerd P. in Gothnburg, Sweden

Make a complaint to the court of appeal of Gothenburg, Sweden, that you were really locked in by the police at the school of Hvitfeldtska during the EU summit of Gothenburg2001!

During the EU summit in Gothenburg2001, on the14th of June, the Swedish police surrounded the school of Hvitfeldtska and locked 650 lodgers in .
450 of these lodgers were deprived of their freedom for more than 12 hours and many were badly treated by the police.

The former commander of the police of Gothenburg, Jaldung, was recently charged at the court of Gothenburg with depriving all these demonstrators of their freedom on this occasion,
But last week this commander-in-chief was acquitted of the charges on the basis that the court didn´t find it proved that any of the lodgers really was deprived of his or her freedom.

Direct Action Contingency, Miami writes

This week thousands of protestors came to Miami to oppose the FTAA. The Free Trade Agreement of the Americas is an international trade agreement that aims to extend corporate control throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to the mass action there was a calculated campaign on the part of the police to intimidate and harass protestors. One officer characterized this campaign by saying "You can beat the rap, but not the ride".

As we feared, our protests were met by a massive show of state repression, backed by $8.5 million in US Government funding. Miami Police Commissioner John Timoney oversaw a massive, paramilitary assault on our constitutional and human rights

mikebrig writes:

Solidarity Campaign with Saloniki 7
c/o Dripht - dripht@di-ve.com

34 Rock bands, Political, Cultural and Social Organisations, Promoters, Publishers, Artists and Music Critics have presented a petition to the Greek Ambassador in Malta, in solidarity with the "Saloniki 7," namely Simon Chapman (English), Fernando Perez Gorraiz (Spanish), Carlos Martin Martinez (Spanish), Souleiman "Castro" Dakduk (Syrian), Spyros Tsitsas (Greek) and two Greek juveniles who were arrested on false charges following demonstrations at the EU Summit in Thessaloniki.

Five of the Saloniki 7, have been on hunger strike for between 38 and 55 days in protest against their imprisonment, and their health situation is in a precarious situation. Solidarity campaigns and actions are taking place all over the world.

"The Persecution of Sherman Austin"

Revolutionary Worker #1217, October 26, 2003

It was January 2002 when the government first came
after Sherman Austin because of his political
activism. On September 3, 2003, they locked him up for
it.

Sherman is the first person to be charged under 18
U.S.C. 842(p), a 1997 "anti- terrorism" law authored
by California Senator Dianne Feinstein. This federal
law mandates up to 20 years in prison for anyone
convicted of "distribut[ing] bombmaking information
with the knowledge or intent that the information
will be used to commit a violent federal crime"

Anonymous Comrade writes:

02.11.03: INTERNATIONAL ACTION DAY IN SUPPORT OF PRISONER MARCO CAMENISCH

dear friends and comrades,

in the last days, eco-anarchist prisoner marco camenisch was once again the target of an international police operation. on 17.09. and 24.09.03 italian state launched in cooperation with swiss federal police forces an immense attack against marco and the vast social and political solidarity he gets from his friends and supporters. while swiss police searched his cell in prison of pfäffikon/ZH (switzerland), in italiy special forces of the carabinieri raided about 40 houses and offices of suspected militants.

Five Anarchists Arrested in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 16, 2003

Six anarchists were arrested the morning of September 16th in Barcelona and charged as
terrorists. Among other charges, they're being accused of sending a book-bomb, urban
terrorism, planning two assassinations, illegal possession of firearms, arson attacks,
belonging to a terrorist group, etc.

hydrarchist writes: This from the lovely Counterpunch.

"On
the Bicentennial of the Execution of Robert Emmet"

By Peter Linebaugh

Robert Emmet was executed two hundred years ago
this day. "Behold, the head of a traitor!" the hangman
held up his severed head dripping with blood onto the cobblestones
of Thomas Street for the dogs to lap up. On the anniversary of
this ignominy let's pause to consider the project for which he
died.

His is an example of revolutionary sacrifice
to be compared to the self-stabbing of Kwong Hae Lee last week
on top of the fence separating the people from the U.S. and European
planners of capitalism at the Cancun meeting of the WTO.

"I have but one request to ask at
my departure from this world; it is--THE CHARITY OF ITS SILENCE.
Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives
dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse
them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and peace, and my name
remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice
to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations
of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written."

Support Stephen Funk, US Military Resister

Military resister Stephen Funk goes on trial Thursday, Sept. 4, for refusing to fight in Iraq. Please stand with Stephen -- Sign this online petition NOW.
Petition

Marine reservist Stephen Funk, a gay US conscientious objector of Filipino and Native American origin, faces a military tribunal on Thursday September 4.
He is refusing to kill and publicly saying so. "In the face of this unjust war based on deception by our leaders, I could not remain silent."

Support Stephen Funk, US Military Resister

Military resister Stephen Funk goes on trial Thursday, Sept. 4, for refusing to fight in Iraq. Please stand with Stephen -- Sign this online petition NOW.
Petition

Marine reservist Stephen Funk, a gay US conscientious objector of Filipino and Native American origin, faces a military tribunal on Thursday September 4.
He is refusing to kill and publicly saying so. "In the face of this unjust war based on deception by our leaders, I could not remain silent."

hydrarchist submits "

What
is The New School of Convict Criminology?

"That's
the reality, and to hell with what the class-room
bred, degree toting, grant-hustling 'experts' say
from their well-funded, air-conditioned offices far
removed from the grubby realities of the prisoners'
lives."

Rideau
and Wikberg, 1992: 59

Dr Jeffery Ian Ross and Stephen C. Richards •
FedCURE Newsletter. Winter: 6, 14.

[Introduction,
"What is the New School of Convict Criminology?"]

The
correctional system in the United States, and most
other countries, is unquestionably flawed. Efforts
to reform jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities
have largely failed and the number of individuals
incarcerated is at its highest historic level. There
is also something wrong when criminology/criminal
justice research is dominated by government funding,
conducted by academics or consultants who have had
minimal contact with the criminal justice system,
or by former employees of the law enforcement establishment
(ex- police, correctional, probation, or parole officers).
These individuals appear content to conduct research
from the safety and comfort of their offices, often
in an effort to simply increase the revenue of their
firms, improve their status inside their companies,
enhance their chances of tenure and promotion, or
improve the working conditions in correctional institutions.
Much of this "managerial research" routinely
disregards the harm perpetrated by criminal justice
processing of on individuals arrested, charged, and
convicted of crimes (Clear, 1994; Cullen, 1995).