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News :: Agriculture : Civil & Human Rights : Environment : Globalization : Labor : Latin America : Political-Economy : Protest Activity |
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Indianapolis: Demonstrators arrested at I-69 protest |
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by repost from global IMC
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05 Jun 2005
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Several reports here on a protest against the construction of I-69 through southern Indiana, which occurred at the State House in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 4, that resulted in a number of arrests. |
Road Liberation Front 05 Jun 2005 08:13 GMT
Indianapolis, Indiana people took to the streets displaying thier outrage towards the possible destruction of family farms, the environment, rural communities, and the silencing of overwhelming opposition to the construction of a needless Interstate 69, the NAFTA superhighway.
In downtown Indianapolis people took to the streets to show their outrage against the destruction of family farms, the environment, rural communities, and the silencing of overwhelming opposition to the construction of a needless NAFTA superhighway.
On Saturday afternoon, concerned individuals protesting the proposed extension of Interstate 69 staged a peaceful demonstration. “The demonstration’s intent was to voice concerns of those who are being ignored by our politicians and INDOT – our local farmers, business owners, taxpayers – who will be directly affected by this destructive highway,” stated Jay Stack, a long time opponent to the extension of I-69. “We are set to lose thousands of acres of farms, almost $2 billion of our tax dollars, and quality of life within our communities.”
The march began at New York and Meridian, following Meridian on the path to the Monument Circle, and ending at the State House. After the demonstration an order came down from the police to begin detaining individuals, which resulted in the arrest of 29 persons. The police’s use of excessive force—including pepper spray and tasers—sent two individuals to the hospital. Desi Shen, a bystander expressed her discontent with the actions of the Indiana Police Department, “It was shocking to witness the police exhibiting such an excessive use of force towards nonviolent protestors and bystanders. A young woman yielding a camera, who was documenting the event, was tackled by several officers while pepper spray was released in the direction of those around her.”
The demonstration marked the commencement of the Roadless Summer campaign—a national effort to bring attention to the detrimental impact of the I-69 road construction project, specifically addressing the effects on local communities, outsourcing of jobs, and the destruction of our wetlands, forests, and family farms. “We gathered here today as individuals of free will with a variety of concerns regarding the negative impacts surrounding the I-69 construction,” cited Polly Stevenson a peaceful protester. “We continue to find common ground on the consequences that I-69 will have on our communities and environment--both locally and internationally—when viable alternatives exist.”
contact:
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http://newswire.indymedia.org/en/newswire/2005/06/822962.shtml
>>>>>>>>
Anti I-69 Demo Gone Awry When Cops Start Mass Arrest
Roadless Summer Crew 05 Jun 2005 07:57 GMT
Today, June 4th, twenty four of our comrades protesting the expansion of Interstate 69, an extension of the NAFTA Superhighway, were arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were demonstrating throughout the city of Indianapolis and were arrested en mass outside of the statehouse for supposedly vandalizing the building. One demonstrator was attacked with a Taser gun and another was reportedly choked by an officer. There have also been numerous reports of the use of pepper spray. As always, there is a concern for the still incarcerated demonstrators’ well-being based on eyewitness accounts of police brutality.
Today, June 4th, twenty four of our comrades protesting the expansion of Interstate 69, an extension of the NAFTA Superhighway, were arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were demonstrating throughout the city of Indianapolis and were arrested en mass outside of the statehouse for supposedly vandalizing the building. One demonstrator was attacked with a Taser gun and another was reportedly choked by an officer. There have also been numerous reports of the use of pepper spray. As always, there is a concern for the still incarcerated demonstrators’ well-being based on eyewitness accounts of police brutality.
The demonstration by over forty people in opposition to I-69 began with a street march through downtown Indianapolis which ended at the statehouse. When the demonstrators cleared the statehouse steps, there was some anti I-69 graffiti left on and inside the statehouse. This action follows a series of meetings held with the public and so-called city officials, and those in office will not listen to the majority of people in Indiana who are saying ‘NO’ to this highway. There is a strong understanding among the public that this highway is not going to benefit them, but will instead end up costing the working class residents of Indiana $3 billion that they simply do not have. If completed, I-69 would further facilitate the outsourcing of jobs to Mexico in the form of maquiladoras along the Mexico-US border, as well as a more rapid shift of food production from Mexican farmers to U.S. agribusiness depriving Mexican peasants of their only source of income.
This demonstration is only one of many from the Roadless Summer Campaign, which is a statewide and cross state coalition of activists, farm workers, environmentalists, union members, students and others who want to stop this highway. Interstate 69 seeks to connect Canada to Mexico and will connect further south to the proposed Plan Pueblo Panama, which is modeled after NAFTA. In the process, this highway will not only cut through hundreds of family-owned farmland and hundreds of acres of forests, but could potentially wipe out the endangered Indiana Bat. The Roadless Summer Resource site below will provide more information about the situation.
A number of the corporate media sources are reporting that the demonstrators knew nothing about I-69 and many labeled them ‘protestors for hire’ because some of the arrestees are from out of state. This coordinated smear campaign by the corporate media can’t be further from the truth. The reason they have so much outside support is because of the organizing efforts done by individuals gaining cross state support against the building of this highway. I not only come to you to raise awareness on the issue, but also because those arrested may also need financial support in terms of bail money and court fees in the very near future. Since this happened only yesterday, charges have not been filed as of yet. But they are possibly facing vandalism charges, and one demonstrator will likely be charged with the assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.
Resources and corporate coverage
Roadless Summer Resource
www.roadless-summer.org
Indy Star new story
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050604/NEWS/50604007
MSNBC local news story with video.
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3431979&nav=9Tahaf91
ABC local news story with video.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/4570146/detail.html
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3432391&nav=0Ra6afLd
[article.homepage.prefix]: http://www.roadless-summer.org
add a comment on this article
Supporter of incarcerated friends
FREE the Roadless Summer 29 05.Jun.2005 08:44
In Solidarity,
we will stand by the "Roadless Summer 29" vigiliantly, until our comrades are liberated from the grips of the megamachine! We shall not waiver to our commitment to the RS Crew! Banners dropped and spraypainted statehouse limestone aesthetics and hollowed bowels of the Crossroads of America's Capitol, Indiana.
Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Bernardin Lochmueller and Associates (BLA) will answer to the injustices of this project, and today's arrests.
Roadless Summer will continue down this unpaved path of resistance, until the plans for constructing I-69 are ruined, and those responsible for the design of this proposed travesty, are brought to justice.
We are certain that out of our struggle an Equilibrium between nature and those protected from this super NAFTA highway.
!DEATH TO THE MEGAMACHINE!
-viva la libertade of the Roadless Summer 29
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