e-mail from UFPJ about the FTAA protests and anti-war demos

[Terwilliger]

Please forward far & wide>>>
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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe, visit www.unitedforpeace.org/email" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
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Bail and legal-support money urgently needed for Miami arrestees!!!
Donate now at: www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate


Send a free protest fax to Miami\'s Mayor:
www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19


Latest news from Miami: www.ftaaimc.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.ftaaimc.org
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Last week, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Miami to protest the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and in so doing, helped derail this disastrous agreement. The watered-down compromise FTAA deal that was brokered in Miami represents a real defeat for corporate globalization and a substantial victory for civil society.


BUT THIS VICTORY CAME AT AN INCREDIBLY HIGH COST FOR THOSE WHO COURAGEOUSLY TOOK TO THE STREETS OF MIAMI. In a vicious and utterly unjustified display of force, peaceful protestors were attacked by police wielding batons, tear gas, pepper spray, rubber, wooden, and plastic bullets. More than 250 people were arrested, some for nothing more than walking in the area of the protests. Many are still in jail, facing trumped up charges and outrageously high bail. They need your support NOW.


United for Peace and Justice has set up a special fund to cover legal and jail-support expenses for the Miami protests, including bail, transportation home for arrestees who missed their buses or flights, and other legal costs.


Let\'s not allow a single protester to languish in Miami\'s brutal jails for lack of bail money: Please donate what you can RIGHT NOW. You can make a secure online donation at www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate or send a check or money order ASAP to United for Peace and Justice/FTAA Legal Fund, P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108.


The police repression in Miami reflects a new and chilling stage in the post-9/11 crackdown on our Constitutional right to dissent. Much of the funding for the police and security operations against the FTAA protests -- $8.5 million -- came, tellingly enough, from a buried line-item in the $87 billion Iraq appropriations bill. Throughout the week, Miami was a city under virtual military occupation, with armored personnel carriers and hundreds of riot cops prowling the city and military helicopters buzzing overhead.


The campaign of intimidation began weeks before the actual protests began. The State Supreme Court temporarily suspended the right to a speedy trial, and the Miami City Commission passed a sweeping anti-protester ordinance. Activists were arrested for leafleting in downtown Miami, and store owners were asked to take down anti-FTAA posters.


One police officer was overhead characterizing the police strategy for the protests as, \"You can beat the rap, but you can\'t beat the ride.\" In other words, bogus arrests would be used to sweep protesters off the streets. \"We\'ll try to do as many arrests as we can,\" boasted Police Chief John Timoney to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel last Thursday, on the biggest day of protests. \"If we don\'t lock \'em up tonight, we\'ll lock \'em up tomorrow.\"


And indeed, protesters were attacked and arrested in large numbers for doing nothing more than publicly expressing their opposition to the FTAA. Over 100 protestors were treated for injuries; 12 were hospitalized. Police dispersed large groups of peaceful protestors with tear gas, pepper spray and endless volleys of rubber bullets. Small groups leaving the protests were harassed, arrested and beaten. People clearly identified as medics and legal observers were tackled and jailed. Once in jail, people were hosed down with cold water, denied food and essential medications, and subjected to both verbal and physical abuse.


Even as these abuses in Miami were still underway, The New York Times reported that the FBI initiated a major surveillance effort against the anti-war movement in advance of the recent October 25 protests against the occupation of Iraq co-sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and International ANSWER. Clearly, we are facing a coordinated assault on our basic rights to speech and assembly, and if we do not speak up vigorously now, the brutality in Miami may be an ominous harbinger of repression to come.


In addition to supporting the Miami arrestees by donating to the FTAA Legal Support Fund at www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate, you can raise your voice against the brutal treatment of FTAA protesters by sending a free fax to Miami\'s mayor. Visit:
www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19


For the latest news on what\'s happening in Miami and what you can do to help, visit www.ftaaimc.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.ftaaimc.org


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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545


To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit www.unitedforpeace.org/email" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
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