[imc-st.louis] A Letter from Tina Richards in the Hospital

[Ben]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	A Letter from the Hospital
Date: 	Fri, 7 Sep 2007 23:18:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: 	Tina Richards <tina at grassrootsamerica4us.org>
Reply-To: 	tina at grassrootsamerica4us.org
To: 	westbywest at riseup.net



peace logo

Grassroots America, A Non Profit
*September 6, 2007*




Tina Arrest


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EAfPgX7gs0 
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=pg9jlecab.0.p64ilecab.fs87y4bab.4966&ts=S0275&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5EAfPgX7gs0>

All Power to the People

As many Iraq vets called shortly after my release and asked, "why you?" 
I responded, "If not me then who, If not now, when?"


On September 6, 2007 I arrived at a press conference where Adam Kokesh 
and I wanted to demonstrate the legal application of the September 15 
coalition. An attorney scouted the area prior and this utility box was 
chosen to be in legal compliance with the law. As this coalition doesn't 
have millions of dollars to advertise like Ari Flesher's latest 
campaign, putting up lawful posters is a way to inform the grassroots 
cost-effectively.

As the video shows (and there are many other getting uploaded as I 
write), the hostile and violent manner in which the police reacted to 
our lawful act of free speech shows how afraid they are.

I have been asked if knowing all that would happen, the intimidation, 
the injuries and pending legal costs, would I do it again. "Yes," I have 
answered. "Any day is a good day for the first amendment."

Grassroots America survives on small donations from around the country 
and as I focus on organizing the grassroots, I often don't find time for 
fundraising. Now faced with medical bills and legal fees, it may become 
more than I am able to continue. If you have been thinking of donating 
to Grassroots America, please donate now 
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=pg9jlecab.0.klhhfacab.fs87y4bab.4966&ts=S0275&p=http%3A%2F%2Fgrassrootsamerica4us.org%2FDonations.html>. 
We are a 501 (c) 3 with all donations tax deductible. Without 
yourdonation, 
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=pg9jlecab.0.klhhfacab.fs87y4bab.4966&ts=S0275&p=http%3A%2F%2Fgrassrootsamerica4us.org%2FDonations.html> 
this maybe the last month we operate.

Thank You,

Tina Richards

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Mounted police charged in to break up an outdoor 
press conference and demonstration against the Iraq war in Washington on 
Thursday, arresting three people, organizers and an AFP reporter said.

"The police suppressed the press conference. In the middle of the 
speeches, they grabbed the podium" erected in a park in front of the 
White House for the small gathering, Brian Becker, national organizer of 
the ANSWER anti-war coalition, told AFP.

"Then, mounted police charged the media present to disperse them," 
Becker said.

The charge caused a peaceful crowd of some 20 journalists and four or 
five protestors to scatter in terror, an AFP correspondent at the event 
in Lafayette Square said. No one appeared to have been hurt.

Three people -- Tina Richards, the mother of a marine who did two tours 
of duty in Iraq; Adam Kokesh, a leader of the Iraq Veterans Against the 
War group; and lawyer Ian Thompson, who is an organizer for ANSWER in 
Los Angeles -- were arrested, Becker said.

The ANSWER coalition is trying to rally support for an anti-war 
demonstration in Washington that is due to take place on September 15.

Last month, the movement was threatened with a fine of at least 10,000 
dollars unless it removed posters in the city announcing the September 
15 march.

Washington city authorities have said the posters had to come down 
because they were stuck on with adhesive that did not meet city regulations.

"At our demonstration today we were showing the media that the paste we 
use conforms to the rules," Becker said.

"One of our activists was making a speech when the police barged in and 
grabbed the podium. At that point, Tina Richards started to put up a 
poster, so they arrested her and two others."

"This strategy of suppression has not worked. We expect many tens of 
thousands of people" in Washington for the September 15 anti-war 
demonstration, he said.

The march has been timed to coincide with the release of a report by the 
US military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and will be part 
of a week of protests led by veterans of the Iraq war.

A petition calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, 
allegedly carrying one million signatures and endorsed by former US 
attorney general Ramsey Clark, will also be submitted to officials 
during the week's activities, ANSWER has told AFP.




"There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, 
makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part, you can't even 
passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears 
and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've 
got to make it stop! And you've got to indicate to the people who run 
it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will 
be prevented from working at all!" - Mario Savio
Tina Richards
Grassroots America, A Non Profit

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Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net
http://savetheinternet.org