[Corporations] ACTION ALERT: Fax Miami Mayor-FTAA protesters brutalized

[melissa roberts]

Subject: [trade] FTAA protesters brutalized in Miami
>
>Urgent Call to Action: FTAA Protesters Brutalized in Miami
>
>To send a free fax to Mayor Diaz see:
>http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19
>
>This week thousands of protestors came to Miami to oppose the FTAA.  The
>Free Trade Agreement of the Americas is an international trade agreement
>that aims to extend corporate control throughout the Western Hemisphere.
>
>Prior to the mass action there was a calculated campaign on the part of
>the police to intimidate and harass protestors.  One officer
>characterized this campaign by saying "You can beat the rap, but not the
>ride".
>
>As we feared, our protests were met by a massive show of state
>repression, backed by $8.5 million in US Government funding.  Miami Police
>Commissioner John Timoney oversaw a massive, paramilitary assault on our
>constitutional and human rights
>
>Protestors were attacked by police wielding batons, tear gas, pepper
>spray, rubber, wooden, and plastic bullets and other chemical agents. Over
>100 protestors were treated for injuries; 12 were hospitalized. Police
>dispersed large groups of peaceful protestors with tear gas, pepper spray
>and open fire.  Small groups leaving the protests were harassed, arrested
>and beaten. This campaign of fear and intimidation culminated in the
>closure and militarization of downtown Miami. There were confirmed reports
>of military tanks patrolling the streets after dark on Thursday night.
>
>Our legal team estimates more than 250 arrests.  People have become
>political prisoners and are being held in jail.  More than 50 of them were
>arrested while holding a peaceful vigil outside the jail in
>solidarity with those inside.  They were surrounded by riot police and
>ordered to disperse.  As they did, police opened fire and blocked the
>streets preventing many from leaving.
>
>We are now receiving reports from people being released or calling from
>jail that there is excessive brutality, sexual assault and torture going
>on inside.  People of color, Queer and transgender prisoners are
>particularly being targeted.  There are two confirmed reports of
>released prisoners being hospitalized for injuries sustained while in
>custody, including one Latino man arrested along with 62 others outside
>Miami-Dade County Jail Friday, who was just recently upgraded from the
>Intensive Care Unit for injuries from blows to the head.
>
>We call on people from around the globe to take action immediately to
>support our sisters and brothers who are being unfairly arrested and
>brutalized.    We are calling for three immediate actions:
>
>1) Call, fax, email elected officials with the demands listed below.
>Contact information below.
>
>2)  Money is urgently needed to get people out of jail.   They are making
>everyone post between $100 - $5000 in bail.  We are working with bail
>bondsmen, but this is not enough.  Send money to cover legal and
>jail-support expenses including: bail, getting people rides back home and
>other legal costs.  Please send money to:  United for Peace and Justice.
>Online donations are possible at
>www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate  You can also mail a check or money
>order to:  United for Peace and Justice/FTAA Fund P.O. Box 607, Times
>Square Station, New York, NY  10108. Please specify Legal Fund in the memo
>field:
>
>3) Global Day of Action on Monday at any time and any appropriate
>location.  This could be US Embassies, Departments of Justice or FBI 
>offices.
>
>THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS:
>-- Drop all charges.
>-- Release all political prisoners.
>-- Meet basic human needs: no more brutality, provide appropriate food,
>    access to medicine and medical attention, warm clothing.
>-- Provide access to attorneys and visitation rights.
>-- Provide equitable treatment to all prisoners.
>-- Do not share information collected with the INS.
>-- Fire Chief of police John Timoney
>
>Many thanks for your support. It is urgently needed.
>
>To send a free fax:
>  http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19
>
>PLEASE CALL AND WRITE:
>
>MANUEL A. DIAZ, Mayor, City of Miami
>  305.250.5300
>  305.375.5071
>  mayor at miamidade.gov OR mannydiaz at ci.miami.fl.us
>
>ALEX PENELAS,  Mayor, Miami-Dade County
>  305.829.9336 home
>  305.375.5071 office
>  Chief of Staff:   Francois Illas    Fillas at ci.miami.fl.us
>
>KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, State Attorney
>305.547.0100
>
>  JOHN TIMONEY, Chief of Police
>  305-673-7925
>  305-579-6565
>
>Steffan A. Spencer
>National Field Organizer
>Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch
>215 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
>Washington, DC 20003
>(P) 202-454-5129  (F) 202-547-7392
>sspencer at citizen.org
>www.citizen.org
>
>---------------------------------------------
>Jason Tockman, Director
>International Trade Program
>American Lands Alliance
>PO Box 555
>Athens, OH 45701
>(740) 594-5441

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