OK

police raid the homes of protestors

nikiw — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:21:56 -0400

http://chasblogs.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-my-own-state-cops-challenge-free.html --link to another article on the raids

http://engl243.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/police-raid-the-homes-of-protestors/ --link to article below

In Minneapolis, more than 100 people were arrested this Friday and Saturday (August 29 and 30) by police officers who raided the homes of people suspected of planning protests of the Republican National Convention. You can read about it in the Minnesota StarTribune [here],TwinCitiesIndyMedia [here] and the Associated Press [here]

One can only imagine the amount of surveillance and planning by both the police and high-level government officials that led up to this profoundly unconstitutional act. And I call it an unconstitutional act because of the first ammendment right to assembly that we all have – a right we even have in public space, not to mention the privacy of our own homes — a right the framers of the constitution felt was so necessary for the functioning of democracy that they made it the FIRST amendment.

The police raid is not the only instance of the city and state government’s interference in the protest the RNC. For months and months, protest organizers have been negotiating with the city government for a planned route for the march. First, the government stalled and didn’t come to a decision in a reasonably timely manner as it is required to do by law. Then, the government forced the protest organizers to march far away from the site of the convention. The American Civil Liberties Union has been fighting the government’s decision for months on the grounds that its plan effectively stifles the constitutional right to be heard. The ACLU has also questioned why Minneapolis and St. Paul can’t be more like Washington D.C., which has very large, peacefully run protest marches all the time, without any significant incident. But the ACLU has not had success.

My guess — and I have to read up on this more, obviously, since I’m just guessing here – is that some of the protestors were planning some activity in the space the city designated off limits to protesting. Hence, in the eyes of the city government, the particular protestors that they arrested would be considered criminal because of the city’s decision to create a protest-free zone.

As I understand it, the city has taken an unprecedented role in managing the space around the RNC site, and in the course of doing so, has temporarily suspended several laws, made public space un-public, and even taken an active role in directing private businesses in how to behave. In doing so, they have created what the philosopher Giorgio Agamben has recently called a “state of exception.” In such a state, the government believes that it can break its own laws in order to ultimately protect those laws.

In order to legitimate its unlawful activity, the state must invent a threat to the social order. In other words, they must demonize the protestors as people who are themselves so far outside the law that the state is justified in suspending its own laws in order to preemptively strike against them. (This is the same logic that enabled the strike against Iraq, the creation of prisons in Guatanamo, and torture.)

Here, of course, we have the state’s belief that the protestors are all amoral anarchists intent on wreaking chaos, violence, and destruction. Of course, this is a silly stereotype, and anyone who has ever read anarchist literature or met anarchists knows that chaos and violence is not really their goal. Rather, free love and play are. And I think this YouTube video made by an anarchist organization hilariously mocks that stereotyp

The question that I want to raise in this rather hastily written blog post is what to do? How best rhetorically to respond?

In other words, does one respond by simply asserting the constitutional right to assemble? Does one invoke Orwell’s novel 1984 to inspire a paranoid fear of an increasingly undemocratic, right wing government? How rhetorically successful will it be to accuse the government of behaving in the manner of a fascist police state? I don’t think this goes far enough, because if you read the comments below the StarTribune story, you will see that many people are sincerely worried that dangerous anarchists are going to damage property and loot businesses. Thus, in their minds, the police behaved justly. Although the “home” is enshrined in our constitution as an almoust religiously sacred space, we all know that the police can invade that space with a warrant if they have probably cause to believe a crime is being committed there.

True, we can question this logic in this particular case by asserting (1) that political activity is protected by the constitution and is clearly NOT criminal, and (2) that the vast majority of the organizers under police surveillance are obviously non-violent, and finally (3) that by grouping all protestors under one umbrella and treating them like criminals, the police have essentially criminalized dissent. However, doing so may not convince those who believe anarchists to be criminals. (Moreover, this belief is a confusion that is fostered by many misguided anarchists who romantically emphasize transgression for its own sake and forget to emphasize the positive love that both transcends the law and is imminent to all social behavior.) In my view, it is wrong to raid the home of any protestor, no matter who he or she is.

Therefore, in addition to the rhetoric of rights, one also needs to convincingly represent political protest in positive ways to correct the rhetoric of demonization that we know the government and police will use. For instance, the humanity of the protestors must be articulated as well as the joyfulness and sacredness of political protest. I suspect that a sense of humor about this can go a long way, though I know very well how hard it is to have a sense of humor about such a morally disgusting witch hunt. In other words, in the face of horror, we need creativity and imagination — no easy task, for sure.

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1 Comment »
Steve,

You’re thoughts about humor remind me of a conversation I once had with a friend who was active in Solidarity. Of course any and all protest was illegal in the state, yet protests frequently took place. A common strategy employed by the Solidarity protesters was to enact farcical theater lampooning the police state itself. At one point during a shipyard strike, for example, the protesters staged an elaborate battle amongst themselves, complete with cardboard tanks and missiles. The point of these displays was to confront the police with their own absurdity, but in a non-confrontational, confrontational manner (if that makes sense). I think what made his acts memorable was that they used very relevant, timely humor, treating the entire police state as a performance. My two thoughts for now. I’m as outraged by this Orwellian act as you.

Comment by Shane | August 31, 2008

OK District 1 Congressional Race - www.ManleyforCongress.com

LeftDemocrat — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:54:47 -0400

Mark has a master list of Dems who vote in primaries, for his
district, from Democratic HQ: this will target our efforts and make
sure we're not wasting our time, as we pound the pavement on behalf of
our progressive candidate for U.S. Congress, in our canvassing efforts
this week.

This is a grassroots campaign and we need you to step up. Call the
candidate 437-0129 or 406-9514 to volunteer your time and enthusiasm.

A radio interview online for Mark is also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/epradio

There's a call in segment of the 30-minute programme (2:30 to 3:30
PM). The call in number will be 718-508-9410 on Wednesday afternoon.

Feel free to call in on the Wed aft and ask Mark some questions live on radio!

P.S Please forward this message to anyone you know who may be interested in supporting Manley for Congress.

-------- Original Message --------

Subject: Pre-Primary Call for Volunteers

Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:42:57 -0700 (PDT)

From: Mark Manley <mwmanle1>

The election primary vote is coming up in only a few days. I had a
nice chat with Randy Kriebel from the Tulsa World this morning and I
think we will see a nice article from that corner in a few days.

We have been seeing a bit more activity from the opposition so to
counter I have ordered 100 more yard signs and come up ( thank you
Judy!) with a nice new bright-yellow flier on card stock. We very much
need help to distribute these! We have around 150 yard signs out but
there are few to be seen in the commute around Tulsa. We need to put
more up along the roadsides. The fliers could go under car windshields
in almost any parking lot. We also have walking lists of Democrats who
always vote in the primaries if anyone wants to pair up and knock on
doors with fliers. I will have the extra signs Tuesday ( tomorrow)
early afternoon. Fliers are ready now. Please respond to this email or
call at 437-0129 or 406-9514 if you can spend a bit of time in the next
week getting our campaign message out!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Mark Manley

http://www.manleyforcongress.com

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

State-wide protest against Cheney visit to Tulsa, May 2nd - his effigy to be TARRED & FEATHERED (street theatre)

LeftDemocrat — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:12:26 -0400

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST!
Protesting the presence in Tulsa of an unrepentant war criminal

Friday, May 2nd 2008

Time for the man who kills for money to arrive is drawing near.

We are going to "IMPEACH" Cheney right in front of his hotel this time around, according to the spirit of the law, if not the letter. We need people to volunteer for the parts in the play (street theatre). We won't play impeachment by the book but we will get the point across. We need volunteers for Judge, Cheney Sidekick, Keystone Cop #1, Keystone Cop #2, Statue of Liberty and several Jurors, possibly more. Lawyers #1 and #2 are reciting their lines. There will be a 14' Cheney puppet.

Protest organizers:

Tulsa: Mark Manley 918-437-0129 mwmanle1@sbcglobal.net

exact time & place TBA

Hosted by: The Tulsa Impeachment Committee (ImpeachOK1.org, the Congressional District Impeachment Committee OK District 1). For further information, including a list of impeachable offenses committed by our nefarious vice president, go to the discussion forum: www.impeachok1.org/SMF/index.php

Sign-up for the mock trial at the notice board online. Please sign into the www.stopfascism.com and go here to let the Tulsa Police know you're coming: http://www.stopfascism.com/events/event/show?id=2053082:Event:1448

The contingent of pro-impeachment anti-war activists from OKC or any other city is welcome as well!

Regards,
The IMPEACHOK1 ... The Tulsa Impeachment Committee Team.

http://impeachok1.org/SMF/index.php

OK, Tulsa: Honk for Impeachment

OneActivist — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:32:32 -0400

Start: 06/06/2007 - 12:00am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

On June 6 2007 we will hold our fourth Honk for Impeachment event. May 30rd across from Congressman John Sullivan's office went better than we ever dreamt. Two hours before the event MoveOn sent us flyers to deliver to Sullivan's office and shortly after arriving a local radio station dropped by to interview us. As in the first two events we had lots of honkers and friendly waves. In this event, at 2625 S Memorial in front of Channel 23 Fox TV we expect to have plenty of fun as well. Join us at 4pm for a bit of fun.

Details: OneActivist@impeachok1.org

New Web Site for Oklahoma Congressional District 1 Impeachment Committee:

http://impeachok1.org

State-wide protest of Cheney visit to Tulsa, 27 April 2007

LeftDemocrat — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:51:21 -0400

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST!
Cheney / Inhofe Protest
Friday, April 27th 2007

Downtown Doubletree Hotel
616 W. 7th Tulsa, OK 74127
(gather on north side of 7th)

http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/hotels/maps_directions.jhtml;jsessionid=1ZHVDKB5P0IA4CSGBIXM22QKIYFCVUUC?ctyhocn=TULSDDT#localmap

10AM - 2PM

We'll greet the idiotic folks paying 2000 for a photo with dick.
Cheney is coming to campaign for OK Senator Jim Inhofe (his term ends 2008, hopefully putting an end to a nationwide embarassment that his senatorial term has been since he was elected).

10:30A - Doors open to Cheney/Inhofe reception/photo op
12N - Luncheon and Cheney speech @ $250/person-idgit

Make a sign and join us.

This is your chance... to protest the DARK SIDE of the Bush-Cheney administration.

See an IMPEACHABLE OFFICER in person! Before he gets booted out of office!

Protest organizers:

Tulsa: Mark Manley 918-437-0129 mwmanle1@sbcglobal.net
OKC: Darla Shelden 405/840-0244 darlajane@sbcglobal.net

Hosted by: Tulsa Democrats for America & Congressional District Impeachment Committee (OK-1). Sign-up at the DFA notice board online. At this link http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=19802

We've got at least a dozen coming from OKC as well.

State Legislatures for Impeachment

LeftDemocrat — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 17:26:09 -0500

HOW TO DO AN END RUN AROUND REP. SULLIVAN (OK-1) AND OTHER BUSHEVIKS

A state legislature can compel the U.S. House to begin impeachment proceedings with the help of just one Representative:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/resolutions

Some examples in other state legislatures for OK politicians to emulate:

Rep. Dave Zuckerman (Prog.-VT) dropped the third of three nearly unreported bombshells on the Bush administration. Zuckerman, along with 12 fellow lawmakers, introduced a formal resolution for the Vermont state legislature to call on the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President George W. Bush.

With this resolution, Vermont joined the California and Illinois state legislatures, already embroiled in impeachment debates of their own.

The legal basis for these unprecedented state-level actions was discovered when, according to Steven Leser, Illinois Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough "stumbled on a little known and never utlitized rule of the U.S. House of Representatives." The rule was written in a book formerly known as Jefferson's Manual, which, according to C-SPAN, "is a book of rules of procedure and parliamentary philosophy … written by Thomas Jefferson in 1801 … [used by the House] as a supplement to its standing rules." Section LIII, sec. 603 states, "There are various methods of setting an impeachment in motion … [one of them is] by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State …"

Each of the three resolutions mentions Iraq lies, torture and illegal spying, with slight variations in tone and specifics. Assemblyman Paul Koretz's California resolution (which includes Dick Cheney) and the

Illinois resolution both include the leak of Valerie Plame's identity, while Vermont's focuses almost exclusively on Bush's most salient transgression, his illegal spying on Americans. The spying charge leads the other two resolutions' list of charges as well.

On Jan. 24 [2005], well before the Illinois legislator Karen Yarbrough stumbled over this state legislature loophole, blogger arbortender of DailyKos had unearthed the rule that another writer dubbed "Jefferson's Revenge". Fellow blogger Kagro X took the baton, and the blogs have been pushing the story and building the momentum ever since, from Vermont's various town- and countywide resolutions to the Illinois bombshell, through California's and now Vermont's state-level proposals. According to Steve Leser, Democratic state legislators in Wisconsin, New Mexico, Nevada and North Carolina are also considering either impeachment or censure proposals.

In any case, the three states already debating impeachment represent nearly 50 million Americans, or roughly 16 percent of the total U.S. population.

http://impeachpac.org/node/929

What Can We Do In Oklahoma To Impeach Bush and Cheney?

okcitykid — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 15:31:17 -0500

http://johnconyers.com/node/69#comment-735

TeamConyersBlog Soapbox4truth.org has suggested that we write Pelosi, and perhaps Lehey for impeachment, knowing that our reps won't listen to us.

It is being debated, should we continue to give John Conyers a hard time about taking impeachment off the table on his blog. Is he bluffing and using it for ammor, or is he bluffing to get the seat he needs to accomplish this, and should we leave him alone and wait.

Me and several others believe that giving him a hard time might be a good idea.

So go to http://johnconyers.com/ and have your say.

Roger The Okcitykid

http://okcitykid.bravejournal.com

OK Dist 4 Congressional Race

mfrancis1 — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:33:31 -0400

District 4 farmers and ranchers are angry about NAIS, the Nat'l Animal Identification System.

Google it out and find out why. Tom Cole laughed at a constituant who asked him to vote to deny funding for this stupid bunch of paperwork. Naturally, the big industrial-ag corporations get a pass. They wrote the rules. Hal Spake, Dem for CD 4, opposes NAIS. He will speak at their Public Meeting in Chickasha, OK Oct. 16, at 7 pm.