Ashcroft is having Greenpeace charged as a "criminal conspiracy"

[Wonk]

Nov. 14 Ñ ÊWhen Greenpeace activists illegally scrambled aboard the cargo ship APL Jade, it was the start of a pretty typical day. Convinced the ship was hauling contraband mahogany from Brazil, the environmentalists aimed to draw attention to it by unfurling a banner with this message: ÒPresident Bush, Stop Illegal Logging.Ó Their arrests by the Coast Guard were also part of a dayÕs work. But the later use of an obscure 19th century law to charge the entire organization with criminal conspiracy has Greenpeace defenders claiming that they are the target of U.S. Attorney General John AshcroftÕs attempts to stifle political criticism of the government.

(snip)

But 15 months after the APL Jade incident, the U.S. Justice Department in FloridaÕs Southern District dramatically upped the ante. Drawing on an 1872 law, it filed criminal charges against Greenpeace USA for boarding a ship before its arrival in port, and with conspiracy to do so Ñ in a case scheduled to be heard in December.

Critics and some legal experts say the pursuit of an entire organization for this type of civil disobedience by its members is a break with 200 years of American tradition, and appears to be an attempt by the Bush administration to silence a vocal critic. In the words of former Vice President Al Gore, the legal move looks to be Òaimed at inhibiting GreenpeaceÕs First Amendment activities.Ó

(snip)

Some observers say it is possible that Greenpeace could lose its tax-exempt status in the United States Ñ a death knell for a non-profit organization. The Miami attorney generalÕs office declined to comment on that possibility.

More broadly, say rights activists, a conviction could have a chilling effect on other organizations that practice nonviolent protest.

MORE...

[ermoore]

1. All that aside . . .

You don't have a first amendment right to illegally trespass on others' property. I mean, sure it's a dastardly (sp?) calculated political shot at Greenpeace (and it's kinda dumb), but still this is a little overdramatic.

[Wonk]

5. So charge the people involved with tresspassing. This law he's using was

written to prevent whores and bars from luring sailors off ships, leaving them unattended and unprotected, which isn't what Greenpeace was doing at all.

And, uh, why isn't Ashcroft charging the Captain and/or boat owners for illegal trade in bigleaf mahogany, an endangered species?

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-SPECIES/1998/May/Day-14/e12803.htm
(notice the year)

Can you say "selective prosecution"? I knew you could.

[Isome]

6. Thank you Mr. Robinson...

That kind of critical thinking will draw me into your neighborhood every time!

(I had to add... possibly obscure reference to Eddie Murphy's comic parody of Mr. Rogers...)

[tom_paine]

14. Selective Prosecution is a common thing in Totalitarian Societies

As Imperial Amerika is becoming.

Unless We the People STOP IT! NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER LOSE HOPE!

[JohnGideon]

11. ermoore....You Just Don't Understand

The protestors were tried and convicted in court. They were sentenced to time served (two days). Greenpeace as a whole did not board that ship. Yes, the local organizers knew it was going to be done.

But should Greenpeace itself be tried on a law that hasn't been used since 1872? The law was called the "Boardinghouse Law" where boardinghouses would hire prostitutes and others to board ships as they came into harbor to lure the sailors into the boardinghouses to spend there money. How does that relate to peaceful protest?

You can bet that this trial will go before a judge sympathetic to Ashcroft and now that Ashcroft has attempted to demand that all judges will use the highest sentences that they can; Greenpeace will have the book thrown at them.

[La_Serpiente]

2. I would never think

that the Attorney General would single out an organization.

[SpiralHawk]

8. Get used to it.

All the mechanisms are in place. They will just pick off the dissenters one by one, and group by group, until there is some fearful national emergency, and they can bring the "Iron Hammer" down on democracy in the US of A.

But this, too, shall pass. Quickly.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

3. You take away non violent protest

And all that is left is violence. Thomas Jefferson knew this - even encouraged it. If the government does not fear the people, it becomes oppresive.

Be careful Mr. Ashcroft. You don't fuck with our Freedom.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. Come to think of it...

It does feel 1872'ey lately. Well maybe not.*






*Historical footnote: In 1872 there was a "Liberal Republican" party. :wow:

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Bush claims he welcomes protests, but this is proof positive

he's a LIAR!

[Mairead]

10. Don't look now, but it's been proven ever since the

first 'free speech zones' were set up.

[spanone]

9. Ashcroft is a pimple on the ass of democracy

[buddhamama]

12. i've written to my Reps, Asscroft and

the Florida Authorities about this.
i want answers. surely the Feds can find a more productive way in which to spend our tax dollars and their time.
not surprisingly, i haven't heard back from any of them.

edited for spelling

[Wonk]

13. kick