Report from Jail Solidarity - N21, 4 pm (today in Miami, FTAA)

[htuttle]

http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1697.shtml

As described by Evan from Chicago Indymedia and transcribed by Catfish from Midwest Unrest

At around 4:00 pm, demonstrators at 14th street and 13th avenue, about a half-block away from the jail, were told they had 15 minutes to leave the area because they were engaged in an illegal gathering.

(snip)

In what seemed to be less than two minutes, as activists were dispersing, a line of riot police moved in and split the fifty so activists into two groups.

The front group of 20-30 demonstrators had a clear path before them and began to run. Police were hitting them in the back with their billy clubs and pushing them in the back with shields. Police fired six shots from a gun loaded with rubber bullets were audible. There were several action medics with this group, all clearly marked with the red cross, at least one of whom was shot in the back with a rubber bullet. The reporter followed this group for a bit and says they all escaped the area.

(snip)

Then the riot police dragged the demonstrators out of the circle one by one. They were handcuffed with plastic ties and stood up in a line. The demonstrators were in visible distress and were drenched with liquid which the reporter believes to be mace. No clouds associated with tear gas were seen.

(snip)

At this point, the riot police began to move towards the press and the reporter ran from the area with two photo journalists from the corporate press.

http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1697.shtml

[htuttle]

1. Medic Press Release

November 21, 2003 (Miami). The street medic and clinician team providing medical support in conjunction with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) protests
decried the violent police tactics employed Thursday, November 20, 2003.

Street medics covering protests on Biscayne Boulevard near Flagler and elsewhere downtown assisted numerous injured activists. Hundreds were decontaminated and treated for the effects of pepper spray or tear gas, either on the streets or at the Wellness Center. Many others were treated for injuries caused by police baton blows or fired projectiles, including rubber and plastic bullets and chemical-filled pellets.

�I have worked in the emergency room and seen some horrible injuries,� said Eowyn Rieke, MD, a street medic and family practitioner from Boston working in the Wellness Center yesterday. �These injuries were among the worst I�ve ever seen.�

Street medics often found it difficult to provide care on the spot due to aggressive police tactics. �Every time we tried to stop and treat someone, we were overrun by police,� said Rob, an EMT from New York City. �Basically, we were picking up the walking wounded and trying to get them to a safe space.� Several medics reported being shot at as they tried to assist injured activists.

(more at link)

http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1703.shtml

Among the other atrocities described in the linked article, is an account of riot police firing a tear gas canister through the door of the Wellness Center clinic.

[Say_What]

2. UGLY: Group encircled by riot police who blocked the view of the press

Violence with US taxpayers money. *democracy* in the Banana Repulic of Miami

From the FTAA website:

At this point, approximately 4:30 pm, the reporter returned to the back group of demonstrators, who numbered 20-30. The back group was pushed off the sidewalk by the riot police and moved into a parking lot about 50 feet away from the street. This group was then encircled by riot police who blocked the view of the press. In the space of three minutes, police in a circle around this group fired over 100 shots into the group from guns loaded with rubber bullets. An aerosol sound, which the reporter believes to be the sound of mace being released from canisters, was heard. This went on for ten to fifteen minutes.

Then the riot police dragged the demonstrators out of the circle one by one. They were handcuffed with plastic ties and stood up in a line. The demonstrators were in visible distress and were drenched with liquid which the reporter believes to be mace. No clouds associated with tear gas were seen.

While this was happening, a man was pinned to the ground by riot police. One police officer held the man down with his knee pressed into the man’s back and handcuffed him with a plastic tie. The man being arrested was heard to say, “No, that is not OK!” The reporter interprets this statement to be a response to questions from the riot police about the tightness of the handcuffs.

At this point, the riot police began to move towards the press and the reporter ran from the area with two photo journalists from the corporate press.

[Say_What]

3. Corporate Media Distorts Protests Friday

<clips>

The Miami Herald reports conflict with the reality of protest on the streets of miami.

While I was taping unprovoked cops beating protestors while they fled, corporate reporters for the Miami Herald were busy rewriting history. In the linked article, you will find a report that conflicts with every other report on this website of this afternoon's Jail Solidarity rally. I was there. The Herald lies.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/7318976.htm

[54anickel]

15. It is my understanding that the Seattle protester violence was also

mis-reported, making it seem as if the majority of protestors were violent.

[Say_What]

4. FTAA overview

<clips>

The FTAA protests in miami are a good example of why ALL Americans (North, Central, & South) should recognize what they are up against - An autocratically imposed mechanism (to accelerate transfer of wealth from many to a few) that has been designed by a few unresponsive, unelected people; a mechanism that will be enforced and protected with violent force by existing quasi-legitamite government entities, while those same government entities will lie about the mechanism as freely as they lie to silence opposition.

FTAA is autocratic because no american government will actually allow the people or their freely elected representatives to vote on it.

Example:

The Bush (& Clinton) administrations have demanded 'fast track' authority to unilaterally (autocratically) impose multinational trade agreements upon US peoples without a vote by the US legislature (actually unconstitutional), and have demanded they be given this authority before the trade deals have even been formed, making for the amazing reality where the peoples quasi democratic representatives have given up their constitutional charge over a matter they literally know nothing about. There is no broad support for FTAA.

FTAA is autocratic because it is designed be a cabal of rich individuals who are completely unresponsive to the peoples they will affect.


http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/11/275220.shtml

[lostnfound]

5. When DemocracyNow! people get arrested/rubber bullet, there's no doubt..

where the fault lies. DN! people are top notch professionals. This is so wrong.

[htuttle]

6. Two Activists Abducted by Goon Squad in Miami

NOTE: This is from The FTAA IMC open newswire. There is no way to verify either who wrote it, nor the veracity of the report. Is it true or not? I don't have anyway of knowing at this point. I give this caveat, because I don't want people to get overly paranoid. Given the unverifiable nature of the information right now, I wanted to point out that it is in the interest of the establishment for people to be afraid. On the other hand, the possibility that this is true (which is actually likely...the FTAA IMC hasn't been a big troll hangout so far) compels me to repost it, caveat and all. -htuttle

http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1725.shtml

An article based upon an interview of two eyewitnesses who saw undercover law enforcment thugs kidnap two activist

Miami Nov 21, 2003] Two activists attempting to disperse from the police violence in downtown Miami late on the afternoon of November 20th were severely beaten and abducted from the sidewalk, two eyewitnesses reported. The witnesses reported that, at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, a unmarked dark colored small to mid-sized SUV pulled up and stopped quickly along side the pair who, along with several other small groups of people were spread varying distances apart as they walked briskly north up NE 2nd Ave. Four men jumped out of the vehicle, one shouting, �GET �EM� and the men knocked the two activists down, began beating and kicking them, and then dragged them into the vehicle through the hatch-back door.

The eye witnesses reported feeling stunned, as the thugs were dressed the same as Black Block activists, appearing the same as those who, on the streets, are respected as committed activists who protest with their faces protected with black covering. The two eyewitnesses quickly realized the imminent danger to them, as well as their inability to assist the two victimized activists walking a very short distance ahead of them. They turned around and ran in the opposite direction, heading back towards downtown on NE 2nd Ave. looking over their shoulders frequently for their own safety and observe more of the crime being committed. They turned the corner heading west at NE 19th St., still running, and attempting to flag-down help from cars passing by. They were picked up by a car belonging to some other activists, and soon convinced the others to return to the scene where they hoped to find either the injured activists, or perhaps be able to get more identifying information about the attackers if the assaulter�s vehicle was still in the area.

There two activists were gone and the witnesses noticed no additional evidence at the scene as they drove by; and along with their rescuers, they decided to retreat to a safer location. Fearing possible repercussions, this writer agreed to maintain confidentiality of the two eyewitnesses. However, they seemed to be resolved to follow up that appropriate responses to this incident be made.

(snip)

One of the people who were abducted was a legal observer. Based upon information that this reporter was able to attain from both the legal observer�s media liaison; and communication with representatives of the body of volunteers working for the protestor�s Legal Assistance Hotline, it can not be determined exactly what happened. Was this case of a violent kidnapping of two people by covertly disguised thugs was in fact an illegal arrest by undercover law enforcement operatives? Or, was it an event similar to cases in Columbia and other developing countries where the abducted people were assassinated without a trace of investigation by law enforcement agencies?

(more at link)
http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1725.shtml

[htuttle]

7. Additionally...

I would point out that there have been reports of several SUVs (and their occupants) harrassing and threatening demonstrators the last few days.

Yesterday, there was another report of an occupant of a red SUV waving a pistol at a demonstrator and threatening them.

[htuttle]

8. Is this what Democracy looks like?

Here's another account of this afternoon's timeline, in reverse chronological order:

From http://arkansasdada.devel.indypgh.org/feature/display/2431/index.php

4:31 pm: Legal obeservers and IndyMedia reporters are trying to reenter the cordoned off area where police are running rampant.

4:26 pm: In a live call from a paddy wagon, a woman describes how, after the police ordered them to disperse, they were surrounded by police who encircled them and prevented them from dispersing. She was pepper sprayed, even as she tried to surrender to police, and police are now handcuffing people so tightly that their circulation is being cut off, all requests for needed medical attention are being ignored.

4:16 pm: Bicycle police are attacking and beating people who are trying to get away. One woman, trying to surrender, with her arms in the air, was thrown face down on the concrete. One medic was shot in the back three times with pepper spray and rubber bullets.

4:11 pm: Police are preventing 5 ambulances from reaching the injured.

4:06 pm: Free for all arrests are underway. The last two callers to FTAA Resistance Radio had to cut off their calls to run from attacking police. Street medics on the scene are being beaten by police.

4:00 pm: Even as the demonstrators began moving away voluntarily, the police opened up with rubber bullets and pepper spray. Indymedia people are being arrested and violently dragged away. Police are keeping outside observers as far away as possible. It seems that inymedia folks are being specifically targeted for physical beatings and arrest.

3:55 pm: Police are lined up across the street in a line 8-10 ranks deep, giving yet another order to disperse, threatening to arrest anyone in the area after two minutes.

3:52 pm: Police are aiming rubber bullet shotguns at everyone present, including the corporate media. The crowd, with all their hands in the air, is chanting "Put your weapons down!"

3:49 pm: 5 jail solidarity demonstrators are sitting down, refusing to move. Police are pushing the media away, and moving in to arrest all five. 100 people across the street are chanting "Shame! Let Them Go!" Many of the police officers are not wearing their badges. Police are now moving against the 100 people across the street.

3:45 pm: Previously identified undercover agents impersonating the black block have been seen on a nearby rooftop according to a caller to FTAA Resistance Radio .

3:41 pm: Police are issuing another dispersal order to the jail solidarity rally, giving people three minutes to disperse.

3:36 pm: Two seperate groups of 100-150 riot equipped police are converging on the jail solidarity rally.

3:16 pm: Police expelled all media, corporate and independent, from the courthouse area where the jail solidarity rally is being held.

3:11 pm: 4-6 cars, 2 vans, and 10 officers are outside the CTC Welcome Center. The atmosphere inside the Center is tense.

3:09 pm: At SE 1st and SE 9th, nine people walking to their car were attacked by police, slammed face down on the sidewalk, and searched, as officers knelt on their backs. When a person on the scene with a cell phone was talking live to FTAA Resistance Radio and asked an officer for his name and badge number, the officer could be heard live, on the air, laughing and refusing to answer. When asked why people were being detained, the officer could be heard, live, on the air, refusing to give a reason. Witnesses present said that all the uniformed police officers there had removed their name tags and badge numbers.

[tlcandie]

10. I believe the point has been made that the US police and military

is now one and the same since the $8million of the monies for Iraq from the $87 billion went to fund these black block people. Maybe they are neither police or military and Dynacorp (If I recall that right...the peeps the US employees to do all their dirty work).

FEAR and more FEAR. It will only stop when those who are comfortable believe they have nothing else to lose. Right now it is all smoke and mirrors, but they gladly look into it as acceptable. The veil will fall...it has been...but then what will those who didn't want to see in the first place do? React against those who put them into the horrible situation or against the people whom they've always thought were their enemies...the protesters and peace loving people.

When these people start seeing their own kind dying, beaten, etc., then maybe it will change.

If this cabal can get rid of the seniors and draft the men, then they are all set to rip and roar.

I want to be optimistic, but I can't find anything to be optimistic about. Currently, I'm awaiting THE shock and awe that will come to keep us from the 2004 elections being held; disrupted; or yet again, stolen.

The black hole is growing and gaining momentum throughout the world and it is interesting to me that those who are in the so-called less affluent or civilized areas are the ones who are actually taking back their lives, freedoms, lands, and governments.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for your efforts to inform us

These photos are hideous. Why the little tank-like vehicle if we are so "free" as Dubya boasts? Why behave this way towards dissenters?

This doesn't happen when Democrats are Presidents.

[htuttle]

9. Kick!

For the morning people

:kick:

[htuttle]

11. Activists cry for freedom for fellow activists only to lose their own

From http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1759.shtml

Universal equality activists staged a jail solidarity rally outside a Miami-Dade county jail Friday afternoon, November 21, 2003 that ended with another round of aggressive and unfounded force by Miami police.

The three-hour long rally was abruptly ended when police suspected that protestors were compiling contraband materials, mainly rocks. Two separate resistant groups, about 60 people, were placed under arrest.

“This was another show of unnecessary force,” said Naomi Archer of the South Floridians for Fair Trade Coalition. “This is the true visualization of the police state we live in and the iron first that is needed to pull off such an unjust arrangement as the FTAA.”

(snip)

Many of the activists taken in during the Thursday protest were targeted or snatched at random, said Brenna Bell with the Miami Activist Defense. Activists Zowe Baldwin and Josh Park of Burgen, N.J. saw two friends taken while waiting in line to get in to the permitted rally on Thursday. “You could tell they were just looking for a description,” said Park. “They pointed to my friends and then grabbed them without any reason.”

Because of the baseless arrests, many of the charges are already being dropped or reduced, said Bell.

(snip)

Grim faced protesters ducked into paddy wagons as the loud chop of helicopter blades sounded overhead and a platoon of riot cops filled the streets. The silent protesters did not have to chant to produce the message: This is what a police state looks like.

[loudsue]

12. And Jeb Bush....you say....actually WON the last election??

The same way his brother did. Stop the bush-mafia from stealing your votes, and we can turn this whole country around in no time!!

www.blackboxvoting.org

JUST DO IT!!

They have left this country with NO semblance of Democracy, whatsoever.

:kick::kick::kick:

[htuttle]

14. Medical Clinic was attacked by police

Protesters and Wellness Center Attacked, Resulting in Over 125 Injuries

Miami, Florida: In the violent response by the police to demonstrations and direct actions against the Free Trade Area Agreement of the Americas yesterday, according to Eowyn Rieke, the media representative for the Wellness Center, protesters suffered over 125 injuries, including serious facial lacerations, bone fractures, exposure to chemical irritants and a host of other ailments. On top of all of the injured protesters that were treated at the Wellness Center, the Center itself was attacked by the police.

Rieke, who is a MD family physician and a street medic, said that amongst the worst of the injuries, was an unconfirmed report of someone who lost their eye thanks to having been shot by a rubber bullet at close range. The worst confirmed injury was a bone fracture of another protester shot at close range. After relaying how the bone was petruding out from the skin of this person, thanks to the close range shot, Rieke remarked that, "I'm a MD, and I've worked in emergency rooms, but this is really some of the worst onslaught of injuries I have ever seen."

According to Chris Giovanis, an audio news reporter for Free Speech Radio from Chicago who has done extensive research on globalization protests, manufacturers of the guns that shoot rubber bullets instruct their clients that they should not be directly shot at people. Instead, the guns are supposed to be shot on the ground first for two reasons: to slow down the high velocity that the guns are capable of shooting at and also to avoid potentially fatal injuries resulting from being shot at close range to the head or at the chest.

That was clearly not the case yesterday, however, as police inflicted over 30 cases of severe rubber bullet injuries, 5 of which were severe head wounds and/or lacerations.

(snip)

Daniel, 21, and a street medic who is from San Francisco, said that police were using their long wooden batons to club people in a very violent fashion, "Instead of swinging below the knees so as to demobilize the protesters, police were deliberately hitting the heads of protesters all day long, I personally treated four cases like these yesterday. Daniel himself was actually targeted as well, despite the fact that he said he, "was wearing clearly marked medical insignia all over my clothing which was clearly that of a street medic." He said he was shot 20 times by rubber bullets that had chemical irritant, while showing off his many bumps and bruises.

(snip)

The scene was very hectic and chaotic, as protesters tried to cram themselves into the Center out of fear for their own safety in the midst of a charging and attacking line of fully geared riot cops. Some got in the Center before Troy managed to close the doors, some unlucky others did not.

While the unfortunate protesters who did not get into the Center got batoned and beaten by riot cops, one officer went straight for the door of the center. Before Troy could completely close the doors, the policeman attacked the center by spraying his pepper spray canister into the Center, completely contaminating the whole space.

(more at link)
http://ftaaimc.org/en/2003/11/1633.shtml