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News :: Protest Activity |
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Indianapolis: Solidarity Books Raided Last Night, August 14 |
Current rating: 0 |
by solidarity books collective (via ellen)
Email: solidaritybooks (nospam) riseup.net (unverified!) |
15 Aug 2003
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Solidarity Books in Indianapolis was raided by the police Aug. 14th as the National Governor's Associaiton (NGA) protest nears. |
Over the past weeks, Solidarity Books has experienced a steadily-increasing amount of police repression. There has been a continuous stream of undercover police agents in and out of the space, a marked rise in parked marked and unmarked police cars and tech vans on the Boulevard Ave., and allegations that the infoshop was responsible for vandalism at a downtown Starbucks and at St. Mary's Church (which is the parish providing the NGA protests with a convergence space).
All this came to a head last night,Thursday, August 14th, at approximately 9:00 pm. After forming an initial perimeter in the 2 blocks around the collective space, the police proceeded to pull over 2 cars as they tried to leave, claiming minor traffic infractions. The police then moved in on the space itself. Tickets were issued to many of the cars parked outside, as fire marshalls demanded entry to make a safety inspection. These marshalls lacked any documentation of a complaint or report, let alone a warrant. Nevertheless, they not only entered the house, but they were accompanied by police officers who were supposedly protecting the marshalls. These police officers then searched every room in the house, including the personal belongings of the collective members who live on the second floor.
These police officers were shortly followed by officers with the ATF, bomb squad, and the Seattle Police Department (who stated that they were acting as consultants to the Indianapolis Police Department over the weekend). There were no weapons or other contraband in the space.
We had set up a phone list prior to the raid, and had between 30 to 50 supporters on the scence within a half hour. We staged an impromptu rally, and also amply documented the raid, with notetaking, photo cameras, and video cameras. Apparently due to this show of strength (since there were reports of multiple ATF officer staging points with dozens more officers), there were no arrests made.
As the convergence against the National Governors' Association draws closer (tomorrow is the first day of protests), we fear a repeat or an escalation. We would appreciate any shows of solidarity possible. Please call the following people to voice your opposition to the police repression we are experiencing:
IPD Chief of Police- 317 327 3282
Mayor's Office- 317 327 3601
Sheriff (Frank Anderson)- 317 231 8201
Get in touch with us at solidaritybooks (at) riseup.net
For more information on the NGA protests, email stopnga (at) ziplip.com or visit the convergence center at 311 N. New Jersey.
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Comments
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Re: Indianapolis: Solidarity Books Raided Last Night, August 14 |
by Brent
BTFSTL (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: -1
17 Aug 2003
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Sounds like much of the same tactics the police used in St. Louis right at the time of the World Agricultural Forum meetings in May.
I'm generally a supporter of the police, but it's not blind support. This, without question, is wrong.
It's time for people to ask themselves - is this REALLY the United States or are we becoming the Soviet Union? Just curious... |
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Re: Indianapolis: Solidarity Books Raided Last Night, August 14 |
by Hola Kitty
iwillresist (nospam) hellokitty.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 3
18 Aug 2003
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I just spent the weekend with the Indy peeps. All I have to say is that they've got their stuff together. WIthin moments of the Police raiding them again on Friday evening, the community came together to support the great work that they do.
People should still call the IPD, Sherrif, and mayor to tell them that this kind of crap shouldn't happen TO ANYONE (and of course, to leave Solidarity Books alone!). There are millions of people that the police harass on a daily basis.
Indy activists put up with weeks of harassment, detention, and spying and still pulled off an amazing weekend of protests. Thanks for everything!
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Re: Indianapolis: Solidarity Books Raided Last Night, August 14 |
by chasingflies
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Aug 2003
Modified: 05:08:33 PM |
What is the price of organizing in a public venue without authentication of any kind? And what are the benefits? The transparency of activists and their plans invite others who are questioning our current situation, but in planning specific events, I have wondered whether a little encryption might be in order. . . or if it would just bring down the authorities harder because they have no idea what is going on.
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More On The Raid And Repression |
by user alexisdumb on livejournal.com via ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
27 Aug 2003
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Solidarity Books Raided- Indianapolis Activists Targeted
*please spread far and wide*
As local activist groups planned for the National Governor's Association meetings in Indianapolis, members of the Solidarity Books Collective became aware of increased surveillance of their activities.
At 9 PM,the night before the governor's were to arrive, the collective house was raided by local law enforcement. Minutes after pulling over two cars of core members of the collective as they left the collective, and holding them a block down, about 30 "authorities" descended onto the collective house.
Under the false premise of having received a tip about fire code violations, Indianapolis Fire Department, Health Department and Indianapolis Police Department officers entered the home. They claimed they did not need a warrant, and latter denied that police entered the building. A video tape has been released proving otherwise.
Outside, the bomb squad, ATF, and at least two officers from the Seattle Washington police department, harassed the individuals who had come to the collective home that night for a show. They ticketed and threatened to tow all the cars on the street, citing that they were parked more than 12 inches from the curb. The first car towed was that of a correctional officer who came to the show, who has now been put on suspension from his work as a result of associating with us.
Police announced that they had been looking for "weapons and chemicals" in the residence and info-shop, and admitted they found nothing. They did cite having seen inflammatory language on flyers in the building, including the incendiary phrase "smash." Police searched the abandoned home next door and went through one individuals personal effects. Police maintain that they did not need a warrant for such actions.
Police harassment continued throughout the weekend. The city announced that it spent two million dollars on security for the conference, and denied all permits applied for demonstrations because the city can have only one event per weekend. And this one was taken by the governors. It is note worthy that the city quickly granted a neo-nazi group a permit for a week from now.
White vans with 10-15 officers drove past the info-shop and collective repeatedly during the night and following day, even during a press conference outside the home - which was caught on camera. Friday night, the van stopped in front of the house and harassed and filmed all the individuals there, who came outside the home and sat on the front lawn.
Police presence continued to be heavy around the catholic church that hosted the convergence (which had about 40 people total), the collective, and food not bombs. Activists were trailed while on foot or in their cars, and continue to be today. At least seven individuals (all associated except for one with the collective) were detained, filmed and searched without their consent over the weekend. One was given a traffic ticket for running a red light on his bicycle, another was harassed and search for having a walky talky, another for questioning why he had to cross the street,yet another detained and cuffed as she stood outside the convergence center.
Solidarity Books repeatedly has stated its commitment to non-violent political change and creative peaceful protest. Solidarity Books is outraged at the police's illegal and unwarranted actions. Many of our friends, families and associates admitted that they were afraid to come to downtown indianapolis to practice their first amendment rights, because of the this war waged on the activist community, or at least on the activist youth. We find it imperative that word of this police activity be spread far and wide, and that other communities having experienced the same repressions send out their voices as well...
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=341289&group=webcast |
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