Nice people are just too scary...
From here in the very center of the OC - Santa Ana, the youngest big city in the U.S., also the most Hispanic, also one of the poorest and with the worst educational record in the OC, the worst business climate (due to the elite running city hall) and a long-standing rep for thugish cops.
Some of the kids are starting to wake up. A few months back, they decided to join the nationwide "Protest Against Police Brutality" and march on the Santa Ana Police Station. They were not polite. In fact, they used a bullhorn and repeatedly insulted the police. For their trouble, a bunch of them got arrested and booked, and some of them were injured enough to have to go to the ER. The video reportedly shows that all the violence came from the cops, when they got to the station, about 50 strong, I believe. That didn't stop the cops from charging them with assaulting an officer, however.
Some of the same troublemakers, plus a few more this time - about 200 was reported - decided to protest the leader of the Minutemen speaking in Garden Grove. The media reported that 5 Hispanics were arrested and charged with assaulting the police, although in reality at least one of the arrestees was a Japanese American kid who has a local band, who I happen to know personally. This is a cool kid, very together, and NOT the kind of person who goes arround assaulting people. He was piled on by a bunch of cops and has a nasty cut on his face for his trouble, along with a felony charge of assaulting an officer. Again, allegedly the videos show quite a different picture than that portrayed by arresting officers.
Also, one of the Minutemen supporters ran down several protestors with his vehicle. He was released without charges.
Wonder how many will be there for the next event? 1,000? 5,000? Maybe they'll shoot them the next time and then charge them with a weapons violation....
In the face of all this violence, I suppose it's only natural that all the hotbeds of subversion should be targetted for possible terror related activity.
Just got the following from "So. CA Collective Network": (Is anyone surprised?)
FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Spies on 'Food Not Bombs'
(Food Not Bombs, May 24, 2005) Last week, the ACLU reported they received documents that reveal the FBI "is targeting peaceful political activists for harassment and building files on constitutionally-protected political activities and associations that have nothing to do with terrorism or other criminal activity." Apparently, they are particularly interested in Food Not Bombs, a non-violent activist group that opposes the government's prioritization of war and military programs over social programs.
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As Food Not Bombs Prepares to Celebrate Its 25th Anniversary,
the ACLU Releases Documents
Confirming the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force
Has Targeted Food Not Bombs for Surveillance and Harassment
"Since when did feeding the homeless become a terrorist activity? When the FBI and local law enforcement target groups like Food Not Bombs under the guise of fighting terrorism, many Americans who oppose government policies will be discouraged from speaking out and exercising their rights." -- ACLU Legal Director Ann Beeson
(Food Not Bombs, May 24, 2005) Last week, the ACLU reported they received documents that reveal the FBI "is targeting peaceful political activists for harassment and building files on constitutionally-protected political activities and associations that have nothing to do with terrorism or other criminal activity." Apparently, they are particularly interested in Food Not Bombs, a non-violent activist group that opposes the government's prioritization of war and military programs over social programs.
This year, Food Not Bombs is celebrating its 25th anniversary of sharing vegetarian food and organizing for peace. This global movement was started by seven anti-nuclear activists after the May 24, 1980 occupation attempt to stop the construction of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station 20 miles north of Boston. There is growing evidence that U.S. Intelligence agencies, using the cover of fighting terrorism, have been spying on non-violent legal political movements like Food Not Bombs because of their ability to inspire opposition to war and poverty.
During the past 25 years, Food Not Bombs has grown to hundreds of autonomous chapters all sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people and protesting war and poverty. The movement is active in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia. In the past few years, Food Not Bombs groups have been working to end to the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
They also support actions against the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of people and the destruction of the earth. Tel Aviv Food Not Bombs is supporting efforts to open the wall between Israel and Palestine. Food Not Bombs groups in Slovakia helped start animal rescue shelters in 24 communities. The Copenhagen chapter won the Danish Peace Award. Food Not Bombs sets up kitchens at many anti-globalization protests and its UnFree Trade Tour of 60 cities in North America (1997) inspired the "Battle of Seattle" in November 1999.
Food Not Bombs is an all-volunteer movement dedicated to non-violent direct action. Food Not Bombs has no formal leaders and strives to include everyone in its decision making process. Each group recovers food that would otherwise be thrown out and makes fresh hot vegetarian meals that are served in city parks or on street corners to anyone without restriction. The groups also serve free vegetarian meals at protests and other events. Thousands of people have experienced the sense of empowerment that comes from participating in this self-directed project (feeding people) that really makes a difference.
Surveillance and harassment of Food Not Bombs in an effort to silence the movement's message has occurred for most of its 25 years. In San Francisco, the volunteers with the local chapter haves been arrested over 1,000 times (with only a handful ever receiving their day in court). One volunteer even faced life in prison on trumped-up charges. As a result, Amnesty International declared it would adopt any Food Not Bombs volunteers that are imprisoned as "Prisoners of Conscience" and will work for their unconditional release. (Please review the websites below.)
The Food Not Bombs website states that the movement "works in coalition with groups like Earth First!, The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Anarchist Black Cross, the IWW, Homes Not Jails, Anti Racist Action, In Defense of Animals, the Free Radio Movement and other organizations on the cutting edge of positive social change and resistance to the new global austerity program." One FBI memo claims they are investigating Food Not Bombs because of its connection to the Anarchist Black Cross, a prisoner's rights group. Someone should inform the FBI the right to association in the United States is still protected by the Constitution.
In Tucson, Arizona, the Food Not Bombs collective publishes a website www.foodnotbombs.net. Another hosts FNB News where you can learn more about the Food Not Bombs community. Food Not Bombs Publishing in Takoma Park, Maryland publishes books like On Conflict and Consensus, which has been an important guide for group democracy. They urge everyone to take direct action towards creating a world free from domination, coercion and violence. They believe food is a right, not a privilege. Please visit these links to learn more.
The 25th Anniversary of Food Not Bombs: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/z_25th_anniversary_1.html
Colorado ACLU statement: http://www.aclu-co.org/news/pressrelease/release_JTTF051805.htm
One of the FBI memos about Food Not Bombs: http://www.aclu-co.org/docket/200406/JTTF_file_sarah_bardwell_12-07-04.pdf
1988 Wiretap Memo: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/wiretap1.html
Justice Department letter: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/justice_department_letter.html
Amnesty International letter: http://www.foodnotbombs.net/amnesty_letter.html
Food Not Bombs Publishing: http://www.consensus.net
Food Not Bombs Statement of Non-Violence: http://www.phillyfnb.tk/