The Furious Spinner

I don't usually just pass on letters from organizations, but what has happened in Miami is so beyond the pale—and so well-hidden from mainstream America. With this in mind, I've appended a letter from United for Peace. First, here's Starhawk's latest missive, plus her call for us to help those protesters who are now being brutalized in Miami jails. Here's Leif Utne's weblog entry about his experiences in Miami. Tom Hayden has a piece on Alternet.com, too, although it didn't sound like either Hayden or Leif were down in the fray—although I read both quickly and need to go back and read more carefully. (Not that I would have been down there getting pepper sprayed or the shit beaten out of me either. No criticism intended, just letting you know what their literal viewpoint was.)

Leif Utne reported that "Medea Benjamin, of San Francisco-based group Global Exchange, compared the militarization of the police force in Miami to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Pointing out that $8.5 million of the recent $87 billion bill for Iraq went to policing the FTAA conference, she said, 'They've made the connection between Iraq and free-trade. So should we.'"

Here's some photos of what our tax dollars are paying for; scroll down past the photos and learn that part of the money Congress just approved for Iraq was earmarked for "security" at the FTAA conference. The brutal force used by these police is absolutely horrifying. It is the right of all Americans to protest, to exercise their first amendment rights. How is it that the administration and so many cities (and majors and police forces) have forgotten that?

I've set this letter up with links in case you want to donate or send a fax to the Miami mayor directly from here.

Please forward far & wide:

ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE | 212-868-5545

Bail and legal-support money urgently needed for Miami arrestees!!!
Donate now! Send a free protest fax to Miami's Mayor. Latest news from Miami.

Last week, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Miami to protest the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and in so doing, helped derail this disastrous agreement. The watered-down compromise FTAA deal that was brokered in Miami represents a real defeat for corporate globalization and a substantial victory for civil society.

BUT THIS VICTORY CAME AT AN INCREDIBLY HIGH COST FOR THOSE WHO COURAGEOUSLY TOOK TO THE STREETS OF MIAMI. In a vicious and utterly unjustified display of force, peaceful protestors were attacked by police wielding batons, tear gas, pepper spray, rubber, wooden, and plastic bullets. More than 250 people were arrested, some for nothing more than walking in the area of the protests. Many are still in jail, facing trumped up charges and outrageously high bail. They need your support NOW.

United for Peace and Justice has set up a special fund to cover legal and jail-support expenses for the Miami protests, including bail, transportation home for arrestees who missed their buses or flights, and other legal costs.

Let's not allow a single protester to languish in Miami's brutal jails for lack of bail money: Please donate what you can RIGHT NOW. You can make a secure online donation or send a check or money order ASAP to United for Peace and Justice/FTAA Legal Fund, P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108.

The police repression in Miami reflects a new and chilling stage in the post-9/11 crackdown on our Constitutional right to dissent. Much of the funding for the police and security operations against the FTAA protests—$8.5 million—came, tellingly enough, from a buried line-item in the $87 billion Iraq appropriations bill. Throughout the week, Miami was a city under virtual military occupation, with armored personnel carriers and hundreds of riot cops prowling the city and military helicopters buzzing overhead.

The campaign of intimidation began weeks before the actual protests began. The State Supreme Court temporarily suspended the right to a speedy trial, and the Miami City Commission passed a sweeping anti-protester ordinance. Activists were arrested for leafleting in downtown Miami, and store owners were asked to take down anti-FTAA posters.

One police officer was overhead characterizing the police strategy for the protests as, "You can beat the rap, but you can't beat the ride." In other words, bogus arrests would be used to sweep protesters off the streets. "We'll try to do as many arrests as we can," boasted Police Chief John Timoney to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel last Thursday, on the biggest day of protests. "If we don't lock 'em up tonight, we'll lock 'em up tomorrow."

And indeed, protesters were attacked and arrested in large numbers for doing nothing more than publicly expressing their opposition to the FTAA. Over 100 protestors were treated for injuries; 12 were hospitalized. Police dispersed large groups of peaceful protestors with tear gas, pepper spray and endless volleys of rubber bullets. Small groups leaving the protests were harassed, arrested and beaten. People clearly identified as medics and legal observers were tackled and jailed. Once in jail, people were hosed down with cold water, denied food and essential medications, and subjected to both verbal and physical abuse.

Even as these abuses in Miami were still underway, The New York Times reported that the FBI initiated a major surveillance effort against the anti-war movement in advance of the recent October 25 protests against the occupation of Iraq co-sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and International ANSWER. Clearly, we are facing a coordinated assault on our basic rights to speech and assembly, and if we do not speak up vigorously now, the brutality in Miami may be an ominous harbinger of repression to come.

In addition to supporting the Miami arrestees by donating to the FTAA Legal Support Fund, you can raise your voice against the brutal treatment of FTAA protesters by sending a free fax to Miami's mayor.

For the latest news on what's happening in Miami and what you can do to help.
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All photographs and written material copyright © 2003-2008 by Kim Antieau unless otherwise indicated. May not be used without permission.