A call for assistance at the National Guvs Conference in Indy

[Voltaire]

For background, Indyiraqaction is an umbrella group that was formed here in Indianapolis in response to the impending illegal invasion of Iraq and its aftermath. They have been active in planning non-violent protest activities around the city during the National Governors Conference, often meeting at the Solidarity Bookstore. Here is an email I got from them this morning:

From: Wildfire
To: [e-mail]

Just in case you have not heart yet the ATF, IPD (Indianapolis
Police Department), Fire Marshal and other characters forced
their way, without a warrant, into the bookstore last night
about 9 p.m. They stated they were looking for fire code
violations. Many of the collective members were there. . .
many of their cars were towed due to "being parked more than
than 10" from the curb". We need to expose the "law"
enforcement cronies and their accomplices as the terrorists
they are.
Donna

I ask that my fellow DUers spread this information far and wide. I do not have links to any source besides this email but I will vouch for the veracity of the members of Indyiraqaction. The masters of the Fourth Reich need to know that they are being watched from every corner of this nation and that their misdeeds will not pass without the most vigorous dissent and comment. Feel free to contact the Indianapolis Police Department, the Marion County Police and the Indianapolis Star newspaper and others as appropriate to make your feelings known. I sure am.

Thank you all for any assistance you can spare.

Voltaire

Mods if you need to move this out of General Discussion feel free. I posted it here to get wider and immediate dissemination.

[hippiechick]

1. KICK

I can't FARKING believe the BrownShirts did this !!!!


:nuke: :scared: :nuke: :scared: :nuke:

[Voltaire]

2. More. . .

From: Solidarity Books
To: [e-mail]

Over the past weeks, Solidarity Books has experienced a steadily-increasing amount of police repression. There has been a continuous stream of undercover police agents in and out of the space, a marked rise in parked, marked and unmarked police cars and tech vans on the Boulevard Avenue, and allegations that the infoshop was responsible for vandalism at a downtown Starbucks and at St. Mary's Church (which is the parish providing the NGA protests with a convergence space.

All this came to a head last night, Thursday, August 14th, at approximately 9:00 pm. After forming an initial perimeter in the 2 blocks around the collective space, the police proceeded to pull over 2 cars as they tried to leave, claiming minor traffic infractions. The police then moved in on the space itself. Tickets were issued to many of the cars parked outside, as fire marshalls demanded entry to make a safety inspection. These marshalls lacked any documentation of a complaint or report, let alone a warrant. Nevertheless, they not only entered the house, but they were accompanied by police officers who were supposedly protecting the marshalls. These police officers then searched every room in the house, including the personal belongings of the collective members who live on the second floor.

These police officers were shortly followed by officers with the ATF, bomb squad, and the Seattle Police Department (who stated that they were acting as consultants to the Indianapolis Police Department over the weekend). There were no weapons or other contraband in the space.

We had set up a phone list prior to the raid, and had between 30 to 50 supporters on the scene within a half hour. We staged an impromptu rally, and also amply documented the raid, with notetaking, photo cameras, and video cameras. Apparently due to this show of strength (since there were reports of multiple ATF officer staging points with dozens more officers), there were no arrests made.

As the convergence against the National Governors' Association draws closer (tomorrow is the first day of protests), we fear a repeat or an escalation. We would appreciate any shows of solidarity possible. Please call the following people to voice your opposition to the police repression we are experiencing:

IPD Chief of Police: 317-327-3282
Mayor's Office: 317-327-3601
Sheriff (Frank Anderson) 317-231-8201

Get in touch with us at [e-mail]

For more information on the NGA protests, email [e-mail] or visit the convergence center at 311 N. New Jersey.


Provide for the info of all interested DUers.

Voltaire

[Voltaire]

3. Kick

Because I would be interested in getting some national pressure on these thugs.

[Voltaire]

4. Re-kick

I am going to be stubborn about this one.

[Imalittleteapot]

5. kick n/t

[G_j]

6. kick

keep this alive.

[hippiechick]

7. Sheeple Media ....

Notice there is no mention in the article of the ATF presence, nor of the 'parking citations' that were given when they couldn't find anything else to harass the patrons about ??

http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/9/065472-6349-092.html

<snip>

Group angry over search of bookstore
By Tom Spalding
[e-mail]
August 16, 2003


"A bookstore run by an activist group as a meeting place for those with alternative political ideas was searched by Indianapolis police and several inspectors late Thursday.

The group, Solidarity Books Collective, scheduled a news conference for today to discuss the incident. Solidarity Books has said in a news release it was planning a nonviolent protest at this weekend's National Governors' Association conference being held Downtown.

Inspectors with the Indianapolis Fire Department and the city and county health departments entered the Near-Northside store in the 2100 block of North Boulevard around 9 p.m."


... more ....


:hippie:

[Voltaire]

8. Can't expect a Fair and Balanced Indianapolis Star can we?

I think a protest of the local media is in order all across the country. But I am always for a good protest!

[hippiechick]

9. I think even some Freep sites would be on our side ....

Especially the Libertarian Leaners .... violation of privacy, over- stepping of authority and all that ....



:hippie:

[Voltaire]

10. Sheeeeiiiitttt

Not in this town they wouldn't.

[Khephra]

11. Kick

:grr:

[Ouabache]

12. Any chance this means Bu$hie WILL be at the Guv's Conference ?

Funny, officially, he is not going to be at the Guv's Conference.
But why all this heavy-handedness like a Police State?

These are non-violent demonstrations planned and the local yocals are acting like there is a crime. Bullshit.

I think the announcement he would not be at the conference is bullshit.

On 11 pm news on wthr-13 on Thursday night they had a video snippet of the raid. Things like "known protesters" "no weapons found" like they are trying to setup the demonstrators as non-peaceful.

This group should sue. They should subpoena the news video from channel 13 because wthr was tipped and they were there filming. They Probably have more video than shown on 11 pm news.

wthr=nbc affiliate. Funny *nothing* on their website about their live tv coverage of this.

[Voltaire]

16. He is not supposed to be here. . .

But I tell you what, I work across the street from the hotel at the Indiana Government Center and the place is crawling with IPD, National Guard, State Police, bomb-sniffing dogs and Homeland Security goons. I would not be surprised if that Simian Sumbitch did sneak in here, the place is certainly secure enough.

[hippiechick]

14. No, not here ... but regionally ?

I can't imagine the Posse Comatotus <sic> in WI or the Michigan Militia being real excited at the prospect of the ATF dropping in on their organizing sites ....

Violations of personal rights makes strange allies, m'dear...



:hippie:

[Robbien]

15. The freeper site did find this article

They were very upset expressing their outrage. Then someone indicated the the group was a lefty group and the mood changed to one of 'served them right'.

They are as fair and balanced as Faux News.

[hippiechick]

18. So ask them how they'd feel if an NRA meeting got 'inspected'

... put it in terms that are near and dear to them.

And if Freepland won't 'get it', surely there are other Right/ Militia/Anti-Gov orgs that will realize the slippery slope that this represents for everyone.


:hippie:

[WilliamPitt]

13. Kickeroo n/t

[CatWoman]

17. k-k-

:kick:

[shirlden]

21. Kick for my Indy neighbors

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

19. Do we have more authentication of this incident??

This was reported on last night, but there was no mention of it in any newspaper that I checked.. This "could" be one of "those" stories that circulates from time to time, and ends up being "not true"..

Before we get all gung-ho, it might be nice to get more details..
For an event as dramatic as this was, it should have been covered somewhere except via e-mails and websites..:eyes:

[Khephra]

20. It was on tv last night

At least one DUer saw it when it was shown.

[SoCalDem]

23. Wellll ok, then

nevermind...channeling Emily Litella :hi:

[hippiechick]

22. Comment #7 - Today's article from the Indystar.com

:hippie:

[Ouabache]

25. See Post number 12 SoCal

I saw it on WTHR-Channel 13 on the Thursday 11 pm News.

They have videotape of the raid.
They were obviously TIPPED to go along.
Collusion of the local media and the Police State?

But when I checked their website www.wthr.com ---no mention of it.

Their videotape should be subpoenaed. They have to have more than was shown on the 11 pm. news.

[Walt Starr]

24. Kick for a Fair and Balanced request

It's the only Fair and Balanced thing to do.

[Robbien]

26. This has also been posted on Infoshopnews.com

A comment was added by a poster which gives more information about the conference:

NJ anarchist... it'd be nice if you could contact more people who may be able to make it for the actual weekend of protests... there will be at least 35 governors in town and on monday homeland security director TOM RIDGE will be addressing them.
The only way to get into the conference is to be from a select corporation and pay $12,000. Supposedly these corporate "fellows" are the sounding board of the people..

***The meetings of the NGA conference were scheduled to begin on saturday, but they've just been moved back to sunday, so i take this as a small victory for the organizers of the protest already. Likewise, G.W. Bush was originally scheduled to speak, but he has cancelled as well.

We want as many people in indianapolis to let them know that their phoney democracy won't fly.. please spread the word and encourage others to make the trip.. Thanks.

[hippiechick]

27. Kick ....

'cause I can't do same to the gov't officals who really need it in this case ...


:hippie:

[Khephra]

28. Kickerroo

:kick:

[Voltaire]

29. Taking a running start and. . .KICK

It will be your hometown next folks, these people won't stop unless we make them stop!

[Voltaire]

30. A Kick Before I Depart For Home

Thanks everyone for all your help today!

[RainDog]

31. the star article

...did you see the quote that the fire marshall had to investigate, and it just so happened to happen when the guvs were coming (and protests were planned?)

and, yeah, no mention of the ATF agents reeks of collusion by omission. that misrepresents the story for those who were not there.

Maybe people with video of the event could contact bpilgrim or someone to have it available online.

[Jokerman]

32. Not surprising in the home of the John Birch Society.

I didn't even know the place existed. I'll have to check it out. The ATF involvement makes the fire code story hard to swallow.

[Walt Starr]

33. A Fair & Balanced Kickeroo

It's the Fair & B alanced Thing to do!

[Voltaire]

34. Kick for Saturday

Guvs conference starts later today

[diamondsoul]

35. Kick for Sunday though it's late

And hiya Voltaire, nice to meet a fellow Indy resident here. :)

[efhmc]

36. That stinks!!!

eom