Aug 31st, 2008 1 yr later. My letter to our DFL leaders

[annm4peace]

I stood with National Vets for Peace members listening to Red Wing chapter's President Dr. David Harris introduce one speak after another on the capital steps. The day before the start of the RNC. Behind the stage were many National Iraq (and Afghan)Veterans Against the WAR. some had just come home in the past year. Very emotional, unable to stay with us in the crowd.. some stood and Some sat together behind the stage, .. some crying, some cussing, some laughing at the Military Helicopters circled us over head.. drowning out the speakers. We could see the armed soldiers holding guns in the doorways. on the grass to the side of the stage where soldiers boots lined in rows.. each pair represented a soldier from MN who died in Iraq and Afghanistan.. and the name, date of death, age, and hometown. Lines of cops in Pre-riot gear stood at the back and to the side of the crowd.

I was in an orange jumpsuit as were about 30 of us.. representing those who were kidnapped and sent to Guantanamo to be held and tortured. about 100 held cardboard headstones with names of troops, journalists, and innocent civilians killed in Iraq/Afghanistan. I actually had a placard with the name of a female doctor would was kidnapped, tortured and held in an unknown location until her trial started in NY 3 years after her kidnapping.. and then she was send to TX.
Her children were picked up with her, one was born in the US so is a US citizen. He taken back and left with a person in Afghanistan. the other young child no one seems to know about. I stood for her. and for the other women in Iraq and Afghanistan who were kidnapped, raped and tortured by US soldiers/contractors/etc.

When I stood on stage in that orange jumpsuit, I kept my hood on and said her name. I took off the hood and said I was Monica Bicking, being held with others in the St. Paul jail. My house had been raided illegally by a Sheriff from sT. paul, although I lived in Minneapolis. And that not ONE! Not one Progressive democrat had tried to help me or the others who were organizers for those coming to protest. I was being held for those 5 days and charged with conspiracy to riot and terrorism.
I, Monica Bicking, who organized the 1st "eyes wide open" who had worked for a non-violent organization, was accused of terrorism.

The armed Helicopters again circled us and drown out our speeches.

Fuck you Mayor Rybak, Fuck you Mayor Coleman Fuck you Amy Klobuchar Fuck you Keith Ellison
Fuck you Betty McCollum Fuck you City Council of Minneapolis, and of St. Paul

You do not work for Democracy You do not work for the People
You did not protect our Bill of Rights and YOU DID NOT PROTECT the citizens of the Twin Cities

As I said that day. You should be here with us. Some of you marched with us in previous antiwar marches and rallies. The days you should have stood with us you abandoned us. We abandon you.