[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Fw: [noiatl] "FBI Raid on Black Newspaper in Augusta, GA..."

[Alfred Kagan]

>From: "Robert Wahlfeldt" <wally1 at cooketech.net>
>To: <akagan at uiuc.edu>
>Subject: Fw: [noiatl] "FBI Raid on Black Newspaper in Augusta, GA..."
>Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 11:18:28 -0500
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>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:philthorobred at mindspring.com>Philip G. Smith
>To: <mailto:wally1 at cooketech.net>Wahlfeldt, Robert J. ;
>Subject: FW: [noiatl] "FBI Raid on Black Newspaper in Augusta, GA..."
>Al thought this might interest you
>Bob W.
>
>
>Look at what is happening down here in Georgia...Phil and Elaine Smith 
>
>  FBI RAID ON BLACK NEWSPAPER RAISES FREEDOM OF SPEECH QUESTIONS IN AUGUSTA
>
>By Charles Walker Sr.
>
>
>In Augusta, Georgia , the African American community has been 
>violated. Our civil liberties were trampled, our freedom of speech 
>threatened.
>
>How else can one describe an FBI raid into a Black newspaper office?
>Wielding guns and wearing bulletproof vests, agents stormed the 
>offices of the Augusta Focus, where the only weapons brandished by 
>the workers were pens and notebooks.  Of course, the media was 
>tipped off to the events on August 18th, so the escapade was filmed 
>for the nightly news, just as if it were another episode of COPs.
>
>But this was not a made for TV movie.  Sadly, this is America in the 
>year 2003. Suddenly, we are a changed society. Freedom is in 
>retreat. The Patriot Act has established an atmosphere in which 
>federal authorities are discarding Constitutional rights.  J. Edgar 
>Hoover meet John Ashcroft; and in Georgia, meet Richard Thompson, 
>the staunch Republican, Savannah-based US Attorney, who has quickly 
>built a reputation for what appear to be politically motivated 
>investigations of Democrats. These so-called authorities are a 
>threat to the treasured American way of life.
>
>At the core of our judicial process is fairness. Thatâs what 
>separates our democracy from the oppressive regimes abroad.  There 
>is nothing fair, however, about what Mr. Thompson has done.  In the 
>aftermath of the raid on a newspaper office, neither Mr. Thompson 
>nor the FBI have given the slightest hint as to why they raided the 
>Augusta Focus. What federal crime are they investigating? They never 
>answered that question.
>
>Without answers from the authorities, it leaves us to piece the 
>puzzle together. All signs point to the Augusta Focus raid as 
>another segment in Mr. Thompsonâs effort to ruin my political career 
>and discredit my businesses.  Over the course of the last 18 months, 
>Mr. Thompson has been on a mission to seek and destroy, and I have 
>been the target, with my family and business associates.  I was also 
>the first victim.
>
>For 20 years, I served as a State Senator, including six years as 
>the Majority Leader of the Senate, one of the most influential 
>public officials in the state.  As a public servant, I brought jobs 
>and economic development to Augusta. Last year, after Mr. Thompsonâs 
>high profile, no-results investigation began, I was defeated in my 
>re-election bid by 236 votes. Needless to say, Iâm used to political 
>fights, and will likely run for office again.  Mr. Thompson, 
>however, has elevated the partisan battleground to a dangerous 
>level. Our justice system is not a political toy. But he made it one.
>
>During an 18-month investigation, which has yielded no hint of an 
>alleged crime or even a charge, Mr. Thompson has harassed my family 
>and customers. Authorities have arrived at my childrenâs offices, 
>demanding personal records, such as pay stubs.  He has subpoenaed 
>more than 300 of my advertisers, clients and business associates. 
>This behavior is not isolated. Other prominent Democrats, such as 
>former Gov. Roy Barnes,
>House Speaker Terry Coleman and State Sen. Van Streats suffered 
>similar harassment.
>
>This time, however, he has miscalculated. The raid on the Augusta 
>Focus is as much an attack on this community, as it is on my 
>business.  And, it is an attack on the Fourth Estate.   The mediaâs 
>role in our society is that of an independent voice; Mr. Thompson 
>crossed the line with his boorish act of intimidation.
>
>At home, our community is using the attack on their newspaper as a 
>rallying cry.  Our Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.  Just 
>as we marched together for the right to vote four decades ago, the 
>Black community is coming together to send a powerful message back 
>to Mr. Thompson.
>
>ãOur community will not stand around and allow our rights to be 
>trampled upon for partisan politics,ââ said Quincy Robinson, a 
>retired college educator.   ãThe Augusta Focus is the information 
>provider for our community. Mr. Thompson is attempting to silence 
>our newspaper. The community wonât let him. We stand as one in 
>support of Mr. Walker and our newspaper.ââ
>
>Rev. Leonard Smalls, a political activist from Savannah agreed, 
>saying, ãThe US Attorney is abusing his power and discrediting his 
>office. There is no explanation that can justify why the FBI raided 
>a newspaper office. This is a blemish on our Justice System, and a 
>scar on our society. Mr. Thompson should be reprimanded by his 
>superiors in Washington.ââ
>
>Moreover, our journalism brethren are asking, how can this be? 
>There would be an outcry if the FBI raided the New York Times or 
>Washington Post?  The Fourth Estate will also demand that Mr. 
>Thompson answer for his actions.
>
>We will shine a spotlight on Augusta, Georgia.  Our community will 
>send a message that reverberates all the way back to Mr. Ashcroftâs 
>Justice Department in Washington, and up Pennsylvania Avenue to the 
>White House. Our rights will not be trampled; our voices will be 
>heard.  The Augusta Focus will publish.
>
>
>(Charles Walker Sr. is publisher of the Augusta Focus and a former 
>State Senator.)


-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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