Rep Conyers On The Arrest of the Pro Peace Protesters

[PatriotMom]

Rep. Conyers one of a handful of Reps that did show up to support the Peace effort and Cindy Sheehan's message. He also did not stop there, after they were arrested he followed up on what happened to them after wards and is making some demands of accountability for the way these people were treated.
Go Get Em Conyers


http://www.conyersblog.us/

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Democrat_accuses_Washington_police_chief_of_mistreating_peace_pr_0927.html

Rep Conyers On The Arrest Of Antiwar Protesters
9-28-5
Congressman John Conyers writes:
September 27, 2005
Office of the Chief
United States Park Police
Dwight E. Pettiford
1100 Ohio Drive S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20242
Dear Chief Pettiford:
I am writing to request information regarding the treatment of individuals arrested on September 26, 2005 in front of the White House and processed at the United States Park Police Anacostia Station.
Yesterday 384 protestors, including peace activist Cindy Sheehan, were arrested outside the White House and were brought to United States Park Police Anacostia Station. I was very surprised to learn that many of those arrested were kept handcuffed in vans and buses for up to 12 hours before they were charged and released. Some of those were released at 4:30 in the morning after being arrested at 4:00 the previous afternoon. Many of those held captive the longest were grandmothers and senior citizens.
Those released after midnight were unfamiliar with Washington, DC and had no means to travel back to their hotels once the metro had closed. Anacostia is not frequented by taxicabs after midnight.
I have the following questions regarding the treatment of those arrested yesterday:
1. Why was the Anacostia Station chosen as the sole location to process all 384 arrestees when there were several other Park Police stations in the greater Washington, DC area?
2. In what other circumstances have arrestees been detained by U.S. Park Police for periods exceeding twelve hours before being charged with a crime?
3. In what other circumstances have arrestees been detained by U.S. Park Police, and kept handcuffed on buses for periods exceeding ten hours?
4. What is the established U.S. Park Police procedure for processing large numbers of arrestees in the Washington, DC area?
Please respond to the Judiciary Committee Minority Office at 2142 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, telephone number 202-225-6504, fax number 202-225-4423.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
Ranking Member
House Committee on the Judiciary '
Via Jonathan Godfrey Conyers's Internet Communications Director
:applause: :woohoo:

[democracy1st]

1. Who else showed Up

Conyers is awesome,always ready for a fight.We need more Conyers.

[PatriotMom]

2. Cynthia McKinny was another one, I am not sure who else n/t

[baby_bear]

3. This is reprehensible and something we should write our reps about

I am just aghast at this. I saw nothing about this on the mainstream media or even The Daily Show. But maybe I missed it. It makes me ill. I hope the internationa media pick it up.

I will definitely write to my representatives about it. I am ashamed.

b_b

[spuddonna]

4. God Bless You, Mr. Conyers! You are my hero!!

He's already fired off letters and started questioning the treatment these protesters received! What an amazing man... Is there a forum for Conyers groupies?! :)

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I believe there is a forum in the democrats section

And yes he is a hero. He's the hardest working guy in DC and always up on everything. I can't believe they kept elderly people there that long!

[spuddonna]

6. I had heard that they'd kept them for an unusually long time...

I had no idea so much of it was on the damn buses! :mad:

I just read in another thread about the Vietnam Vet that went to the Vietnam Memorial while waiting for the protests to begin. He had a protest flag, and a DC park policeperson told the vet he had to leave, or faced arrest! Insane! It's all insane...