[Peace-discuss] Fw: Presidential candidate Stephen Durham denounces police-state tactics against free speech in Chicago Test 1

[David Johnson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Doug Barnes 
To: Doug Barnes 
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:21 PM
Subject: Presidential candidate Stephen Durham denounces police-state tactics against free speech in Chicago Test 1





 
________________________________________________________________________
Freedom Socialist 2012 Presidential Campaign, VoteSocialism at gmail.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2012 

Contacts: Doug Barnes, Campaign Manager, 206-326-9771 

Presidential candidate Stephen Durham denounces 
police-state tactics against free speech in Chicago 

A massive concentration of police forces in Chicago culminated yesterday 
in a brutal attack on non-violent anti-NATO protesters. It was nationally 
coordinated, orchestrated by Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, and designed 
to manufacture a climate of fear and intimidation. But it failed to suppress 
political dissent. 

I arrived in Chicago last Thursday, May 17th with a team of supporters to 
get the word out about the Freedom Socialist Party presidential campaign. 
My running mate, Christina López and I were certain that demonstrators in 
Chicago would be highly interested in our un-million dollar campaign to get 
out the vote for the greater good, not the lesser evil. 

In all my years of activism, I've never seen so many cops. They were 
everywhere downtown - surrounding public buildings, on every street 
corner, in subways stations and on platforms. Even our hotel housed a 
multi-state conglomeration of police and K-9 units. 

It amounted to a police-occupied Chicago. In a preemptive police raid 
Wednesday evening authorities arrested three activists on charges of 
terrorism. It was quickly learned that they had been set up by police 
infiltrators. Unlawful and random questioning, searching and detaining 
NATO protesters before activities began also took place. As the National 
Lawyers Guild and the People's Law Office declared, "Preemptive raids 
like this are a hallmark of National Special Security Events. Clearly the 
hand of the Obama administration and Homeland Security was present 
in Chicago." 

This entire police operation was designed to stop free speech before it 
started. First, the mayor refused to issue permits for the demonstrations. 
The NATO/G8 protest coalition then took the city to court - and won. At 
that point President Obama decided to move the G8 summit to Camp David. 

I consider the brutish, bully clubs used by the police yesterday a direct 
response to this earlier court victory by protest organizers. 

None of these tactics prevented thousands of people from showing up for 
three days of spirited demonstrations. I was inspired by the message of the 
May 18th National Nurses United rally and its call for taxing the rich and 
diverting military spending to pay for healthcare. 

Another march on Saturday, May 19th had a similar message as they 
denounced the closure of mental health clinics in Chicago by marching to 
the mayor's residence. 

The week's anti-NATO activities peaked on Sunday, May 20th with a 
massive rally and march against NATO. Peaceful protesters steadfastly 
marched past phalanxes of city, state and federal police. 

During this closing rally, at the corner of Michigan and 22nd, veterans who 
had served in Iraq and Afghanistan gave heart-felt statements about the 
crimes that they had witnessed by U.S. and NATO forces. They then 
hurled their military medals towards the site of the NATO Summit. 

While the vets were still speaking, I witnessed riot police move in 
formation to block the main exit route from the demonstration. This military 
maneuver created dangerous conditions, corralling a crowd of thousands 
who had marched for over two hours in 90 degree heat into an area with 
no clear exit. 

My campaign team and I managed to scramble over a raised traffic island 
just as the police encircled the crowd. Those not able to make it out were 
shoved and beaten by row upon row of police in riot gear. I was appalled to 
see later on the news that the police brass justified their brutality by 
claiming protesters refused orders to disperse. I heard no such orders as 
police moved towards us in formation to block the main exit route. 

The Durham-Lopez campaign denounces this effort to smother free speech 
and criminalize legal protest. It amounted to a military training exercise for 
police forces. And, as a Chicago bystander told me, it was an attempt to 
"train" the public into silence. 

Clearly, it was a failed attempt. Despite Chicago and federal agencies 
police actions yesterday, public protest gained new ground in Chicago. As 
yesterday shows, thousands were ready to come out against the policies 
of war and poverty despite stepped-up efforts to harass, intimidate and 
chill political dissent. 

The Durham-López presidential campaign stands committed to free 
speech and the right of assembly along with every other right embodied 
in the Bill of Rights. We condemn the attack on demonstrators in Chicago 
and oppose encroaching police-state actions of state, local and federal 
governments, the FBI and Homeland Security. Their goal is to 
undermine the power of the public to organize and mobilize for change 
in every aspect of our lives. 

Chicago, during the NATO Summit, shows how important it is for us all 
to organize, protest and vote against every elected official - from the 
president on down - who fails to condemn the suppression that took 
place in Chicago over the past several days. 
___________________________________________________________

For interviews, contact Doug Barnes, Campaign Manager

Freedom Socialist 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee 
4710 University Way NE, Ste. 100
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: 206-985-4621 
Email: VoteSocialism at gmail.com

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OFFICES 

Baltimore - Email: fspbaltimore at hotmail.com 
Port Angeles, Wash. - Tel: 360-452-7534 - Email: lfdanks at yahoo.com
Los Angeles - Tel: 323-732-6416 - Email: fspla at earthlink.net 
Portland, Ore. - Tel: 503-240-4462 - Email: fsp at igc.org 
Newark, NJ - Tel: 973-643-0499 
San Francisco - Tel: 415-864-1278 - Email: bafsp at earthlink.net 
New York City - Tel: 212-222-0633 - Email: fsp at nyct.net 
Seattle - Tel: 206-722-2453 - Email: FSPSeattle at mindspring.com 
___________________________________________________________


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