[Peace-discuss] FW: FCNL: Government Surveillance Hits Home (3/16/04)

[Joan Nelshoppen]

-----Original Message-----
From: BOUNCE_415_18722_54 at renetmailatl.blackbaud.com
[mailto:BOUNCE_415_18722_54 at renetmailatl.blackbaud.com]On Behalf Of
kathy at fcnl.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 2:19 PM
To: jnelshoppen at insightbb.com
Subject: FCNL: Government Surveillance Hits Home (3/16/04)


      FCNL INFOLINE: Government Surveillance Hits Home (3/16/04)

      The U.S. government has repeatedly assured the public that peaceful
and law-abiding citizens have no reason to worry about anti-terrorism
investigations.  The actions of the executive branch indicate otherwise.

      On February 3, 2004, three Des Moines peace activists, Brian Terrell
of Catholic Peace Ministries, Patti McKee, former director of the Iowa Peace
Network, and, Elton Davis, member of the Catholic Worker House, were
subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury.  A fourth person, Wendy
Vasquez, a peace activist who visited Iraq in 2002, was subpoenaed on
February 5, 2004.  Also subpoenaed were the membership and meeting records
of the Drake University chapter of the National Lawyer’s Guild, and Drake
University’s records of those who attended a university conference, "Stop
the Occupation! Bring the Iowa Guard Home!"

      The conference, which was widely publicized and a portion of which was
televised, met in Des Moines on Saturday, November 16, 2003.  The next day,
some of the people who had attended the conference protested outside the
Iowa National Guard Armory in Johnston, Iowa.  A dozen people were arrested
on state charges of trespassing, including two of those subpoenaed; another
woman, a Grinnell College librarian, was charged with misdemeanor assault, a
charge she denies.

      The subpoenas were served by a Polk County Sheriff deputy who is
attached to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.  On February 6, 2004, the
government obtained a gag order, citing concerns regarding student privacy,
preventing anyone connected with Drake University from disclosing the
"existence or contents of the subpoena."  The deputy’s affiliation with the
FBI task force and the secrecy surrounding the investigation led to concerns
that the subpoenas were part of a terrorism investigation.

      On February 9, 2004, Stephen Patrick O’Meara, a prosecutor for the
United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, released
a statement clarifying the scope of the grand jury inquiry, and denying
reports it was a terrorism investigation.  O’Meara stated that the
investigation had been narrowed to focus only on the potential violation of
federal law or a prior agreement to violate federal law.  The "violation of
federal law" refers to the government’s claim that on November 17, the same
day as the protest, someone attempted to enter the perimeter of Camp Dodge,
a National Guard base a quarter of a mile from the site of the armory
protest.  The demonstrators said they were unaware of any attempt to enter
the perimeter of Camp Dodge.

      On February 10, 2004, after widespread public criticism of the
investigation from peace activists, civil libertarians, and Congress
members, all of the subpoenas were withdrawn without further government
comment.

      The government’s use of subpoenas to harass law-abiding citizens
engaged in constitutionally protected activities--free speech and right to
assembly--is extremely troubling.  So are the subpoenas issued for the
membership records of the National Lawyers Guild and identification of
people attending the conference.  These investigations, conducted in secret,
chill First Amendment activities and dredge up memories of  "guilt by
association."  Unfortunately, the most recent government action is not an
isolated event but part of an emerging pattern of use and abuse of laws and
regulations meant to protect the liberty of U.S. citizens.  In May 2002,
Attorney General Ashcroft announced the elimination of regulations that
prevented the FBI from monitoring "open to the public" events without a
specific cause for investigation.  In November 2003, the New York Times
reported on a leaked FBI memo, which acknowledged the FBI has been
collecting information and tracking anti-war protestors, but did not possess
any information that such groups were planning violent activity.

      Visit FCNL's Civil Liberties and Human Rights web site to learn more
about civil liberties issues.

      Now is the time to make the protection of constitutional rights an
important campaign issue in the 2004 elections. You can write letters to the
editor of your local newspaper, organize delegations to your congressperson’
s district office, or hold local candidate forums.  Visit FCNL’s grassroots
web page for tips on these activities

      There is also an active national grassroots movement working to pass
city, county, and statewide resolutions to designate these places "Civil
Liberties Safe Zones."  Check out the Bill of Rights Defense Committee's
national web site to find out what is happening in your city, county, or
state.
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