A rare peace calendar appeal | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Charles Underwood (peacecalendarvisi.com) | |
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:39:44 -0700 (PDT) |
As many of you know, a number of police raids have occurred over the weekend. On Friday night, a Convergence Center on St Paul¹s West Side was raided, items confiscated and the building boarded on the authority of Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. On Saturday morning, at least 3 houses in Minneapolis and at least 2 in St Paul were also raided, also on the authority of Bob Fletcher. Various people driving or bicycling down public streets or roads have been stopped and detained. Only 6 arrests were made in these raids, and those individuals held on very questionable grounds (no charges have been made so far). There have been a very large number of others briefly held, however. At the Convergence Center Friday night, for example, Ramsey County deputies kicked in doors and entered with weapons drawn, and about 70 people were held face-down and handcuffed on the floor for several hours. No arrests were made there. In street stops and in individual homes, the doors have also been kicked in and police entering with weapons drawn. In nearly all cases, there have been no actual arrests and no evidence of any kind removed from the owners¹ possession. It is quite clear that Sheriff Bob Fletcher is attempting to intimidate those who oppose the war in the march this morning. Some of you may have been reading the newspapers with some concern. Let me give you my honest reassurance. I have been at countless meetings and listened to innumerable stories, and I believe that THE BIG LABOR DAY MARCH FROM THE CAPITOL WILL BE COMPLETELY SAFE. It is a legal march. It is a permitted march. All groups, including those groups that plan more confrontational tactics, have agreed to keep this big march safe. I would not hesitate to encourage you to bring your children or grandchildren, your mother and your great aunt. You should put on sunscreen, wear sensible shoes and drink plenty of water. But sunburn and blisters are the most likely health problem you will see tomorrow. There will be medics on the march to deal with any first aid problems. There will be march marshals to keep things smooth. There will be members of the Minnesota Peace Teams to intervene in any situations that might risk injury. It should be safe, moving, historic. If you want to continue having democratic freedoms to protest your government policies, however, the actions of Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher must be condemned and they must be condemned by all of us and they must be condemned by our elected officials. I never send petitions out on this peace calendar list. Only rarely have asked for any action from you at all. I don¹t even usually make recommendations about the events I list, knowing that we are all different and that we all work for peace in our own ways. This time I am asking for your help. If you have a home phone number for any elected official, please call them this morning (Monday). Ask them to join us in a legal march against the war. And ask them to please make a statement to the reporters present in favor or our free speech rights. Call Mayor Coleman or Mayor Ryback. Call your city councilperson. Call your state senator and your state representative. Call your federal senators and your congressperson. Ask them to stand up for peace by marching with us. And ask them to protect us from the arbitrary use of power shown by those who mistakenly believe we will be safer without so much freedom. Charley Underwood P.S. See you tomorrow at the State Capitol. The rally starts at 11. The march itself starts around 11. You will be home in time for dinner.
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