Contents:
- Rickey Jones Case Goes to Court
- Patriot Act: "All Power to Gen. Ashcroft"
- Creepy Crowd Control Technology
IMPORTANT CASE GOES TO COURT:
Rickey Jones is a photographer who makes his living taking pictures at clubs and events in downtown Minneapolis. After seeing people being brutalized by police while leaving clubs, Rickey began turning capturing the attacks on film. This has made him a target. Police have repeatedly stopped him, taken his cameras and film, arrested him on bogus charges and beaten him. Four cops, in particular, have made it their personal mission to harass him. He has made a number of complaints to Civilian Review Authority to no avail. Still, this has not stopped Rickey from capturing brutal police on both still photos and video, which he continues to do to this day.
Rickey goes to court this Thursday in his latest case, in which police brutalized him and stole his camera and film. We'll be with Rickey to show our support--look for our blue clipboards in the courtroom. JOIN US to stand with this righteous photographer!
Thursday, February 13
9:00 a.m.
Hennepin County Government Center
Stop by the information booth to get courtroom information.
NO MEETING THIS SATURDAY:
In order to allow board members to attend the anti-war rally, we are cancelling this Saturday's CUAPB meeting. Join us at the rally:
Saturday, February 15
1:00 p.m.
Corner of Hennepin and Lagoon
STOP THE WAR AT HOME AND ABROAD!
Reprinted from The Oread Daily:
ALL POWER TO GEN. ASHCROFT OR SAY GOOD NIGHT, GRACIE
Well, it seems that Bush and General Ashcroft aren't satisfied with what they've already done to undermine civil liberties. Nope, not at all. So they've lined up for us a comprehensive sequel to the USA Patriot Act which will give the government broad, sweeping new powers to increase domestic intelligence-gathering, surveillance and law enforcement prerogatives, and simultaneously decrease judicial review and public access to information. Although the Justice Department had denied for months any knowledge of any plans to supplement the Patriot Act, the Center for Public Integrity obtained a draft, dated January 9, 2003, of this previously undisclosed legislation and made it public over the weekend. Dr. David Cole, Georgetown University Law professor says the proposed law, "would radically expand law enforcement and intelligence gathering authorities, reduce or eliminate judicial oversight over surveillance, authorize secret arrests, create a DNA database based on unchecked executive `suspicion,' create new death penalties, and even seek to take American citizenship away from persons who belong to or support disfavored political groups." Gregory T. Nojeim, Associate Director of the ACLU Washington National Office says, "The initial USA Patriot Act undercut many of the traditional checks and balances on government power -- the new Ashcroft proposal threatens to fundamentally alter the Constitutional protections that allow us to be both safe and free. By seeking to overturn court-approved limits against police spying on political and religious activities, allowing for increased government surveillance and the ability to wiretap without going to court"
The bill will also dramatically affect Internet use. It would impose criminal penalties for using encryption in the US. The ' unlawful use of encryption' section would lead to prison terms for anyone who "knowingly and willfully used encryption technology to conceal any incriminating communication," relating to a federal crime that they're committing, or attempting to commit (with Gen. Ashcroft deciding what "attempting to commit" means). Similar language has appeared in other government proposals dating back to the mid-1990's. But as encryption becomes more integrated into everyday Internet use, the idea of establishing a special punishment for using crypto borders on the ludicrous, says Lee Tien, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "As more and more Internet communications use encryption, it's going to be the default... It's like saying if you use a payphone you should go to jail."
Prof. Cole found it disturbing that there have been no consultations with Congress on the draft legislation. "It raises a lot of serious concerns and is troubling as a generic matter that they have gotten this far along and tell people that there is nothing in the works. What that suggests is that they're waiting for a propitious time to introduce it, which might well be when a war is begun. At that time there would be less opportunity for discussion and they'll have a much stronger hand in saying that they need these right away."
You can view the proposed Act in its entirety at http://www.dailyrotten.com/source-docs/patriot2draft.html
Sources: Center for Public Integrity, Internet Magazine, Security Focus, ACLU
February 10, 2003
The Oread Daily
Subscribe: [email protected]
Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OreadDaily/
WHAT NEXT--AN ELECTRIC CHAIR ON WHEELS??
We know there are some sick puppies in the world but this use of technology just plain creeps us out. Look for this to become the latest crowd control method at those pesky First Amendment protected demonstrations.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0305/smith.php
Weapon of the Week
by George Smith
The Electrocuting Water Cannon
January 29 - February 4, 2003
The innovative savvy of American electrical engineers always astounds. If something terrible can be built in the name of security, they never shirk. Who else would be brilliant enough to come up with a water gun that carries molar-rattling electrical shocks?
Jaycor's electrocuting water cannon falls under the black and moldy umbrella of nonlethal weapons technology, once again in the national security spotlight courtesy of a recent National Academy of Science report recommending more of it. Jaycor reports on such applications are the first two footnotes in the document of blighted science.
The aqueous electrocutor sprays a "high-pressure saline solution with additives" mixed in to maximize range in putting down that troublesome rabble. "[Debilitating] but not lethal shocks" move through the water jet, according to Jaycor's online brochure. The company hints the voltage can be turned up "to deliver potent electrical shocks to equipment as well as individuals."
More conventional shockers sometimes leave hooks embedded in victims. With the electrical supersoaker, there's no need for surgery to take them out. Plus you can hit more people at once.
Jaycor certainly has expertise in this area. It has manufactured something called the Sticky Shocker, a technological annoyance that looks like the giant cocklebur from hell. It's designed to lodge on people with "tenacious glue" and barbs in order to dispense stunning volts.
Although the latest hazard to humanity hasn't been tested on live subjects, Jaycor material claims it is voltage-regulated according to some Underwriters Laboratories standard of acceptable partial electrocution. One can only wonder at the way such a remarkable standard was arrived at—perhaps by dropping hair dryers or radios into bathtubs occupied by volunteers?
It is patently obvious that a vehicle-mounted shocking water hose is an atrocious mechanism that would instantly doom the career of anyone who ordered its use on American streets. As with most nonlethal wonder weapons, there would simply be no way to make it look merciful on the evening news.
Sales to overseas tyrant-allies might be an option, though. Penn State University's Applied Research Laboratory runs an odious Web site devoted to shilling for nonlethal weapons, a function it claims is part of a trusty service to the military and public-at-large. The school suggests various technical means for putting down crowds, and provides a convenient vendor link to the Jaycor electrocutor along with other delivery systems for pain and discomfort.
"Penn State Applied Research Laboratory can assist you in developing a policy plan for using crowd control," advertises the school brightly. Strategies for electrical excruciations, fresh on demand from the academy.
Communities United Against Police Brutality
2104 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Hotline 612-874-STOP (7867)