U.S. Nixes Subpoenas Against Protesters

[reprehensor]

Federal prosecutors withdrew a subpoena Tuesday ordering Drake University to turn over a list of people involved in an antiwar forum in November, as well as subpoenas ordering four activists to testify before a grand jury.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=5&u=/ap/20040210/ap_on_re_us/activist_investigation

[indepat]

1. What the hell is going on? It's not like this bunch to back off.

[styersc]

4. This was just a shot across the bow-

intended to cause fear in people who might consider opposing this adminsistration.

You will see a lot more of this.

Another tactic is to arrest large groupd of people- hold them for hours and then let them go. Those who are young and new to protest will generally never return.

[indepat]

8. Sad to think of such going on in a former Republic hailed the land of the

free and home of the brave, where equal justice under the law meant something, where we formerly had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, had the right to free speech and assembly. But that was before this nation started drifting off toward a corporatist, theological totalitarian police-type state and society, as evidenced by such action. And the courts, the Congress, and the mainstream media, in effect, stood by and they did nothing.

[LiberalFighter]

14. A database of these instigators needs to be created

For identifying problem police officers, prosecutors and judges.
Compiling such a list for each incident would also reveal a pattern of abuse necessary for taking them down.

[saigon68]

13. The National Lawyers Guild is not backing Off

NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD TARGET OF FBI SUBPOENA

http://www.nlg.org/


Legal/Activist Group Will Not Divulge Membership Information

The National Lawyers Guild will move to quash an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force subpoena issued on Wednesday, February 4, 2004. The subpoena asks Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, to produce all records relating to a November 15, 2003 antiwar conference at Drake University called "Stop the Occupation! Bring the Iowa Guard Home!" The conference was sponsored by the Drake Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and was followed the next day by a demonstration at the Iowa National Guard Headquarters in Johnston, at which 12 protestors were arrested on misdemeanor charges.

The subpoena asks Drake University for all records relating to the November 15 conference, as well as information about leaders of the Drake University chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and the location of Guild offices and any annual reports since 2002. In addition, it asks for "all records of Drake University campus security reflecting any observations made of the November 15, 2003 meeting, including any records of persons in charge or control of the meeting, and any records of attendees of the meeting."

[Mithras61]

2. Pleased to hear it!

Although, troubling questions DO remain, as noted in the article...

[AZCat]

3. Yessssss!

Thank you, US Constitution!

[Just Me]

5. Damned straight!!! That was the most appalling violation of freedom,...

,...to politically dissent EVER!!! They should've known better than to even consider doing such an embarassingly anti-democracy act and likely backed-off because they saw it catching media fire!!! I am no less pissed off by such an intimidation tactic against non-violent protest!!!

[NeoConsSuck]

6. The ACLU is not giving up on this..

until they find out why the maggots in the U.S. attorney's office served the subpoenas in the first place.

I want this baby to go all the up to Asscroft.

[HereSince1628]

7. THAT is great news! Maybe the Republic still has a chance

I have to say, for me the subpoenas were a bridge too far.

[belle]

9. Glad to hear it.

[havocmom]

10. as many chanted back in the 60s "The whole world is watching"

(and keeping track of who's naughty and nice). Keep the heat on whenever there is an attack on rights. Keep it page one and shine bright lights on this sort of behavior. The insects tend to scurry under those conditions.

Also, remember there are quieter, less visable tactics which can and were used against dissent in the past. To the young among us, I urge careful attention to the history which was not in mainstream media. To the older ones among us: here we go again.

Wonder if there will be any ribbons and medals flying over the iron fence around the WH as troops start coming home from the invasion of Iraq.

[proud patriot]

11. woooooooo hoooooooo

:D

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Ashcroft getting cold feet?

I am really suprised that he didn't try the terrorist approach & really send us a message. Well, there is always next time. It will be interesting to see what the area around the republican convention will look like if things continue to deteriorate at the current rate.