[Ppnews] Iowa Grand Jury targeting activists

Wed Nov 11 10:34:53 EST 2009

From: Lindsey Shively <lindshives at gmail.com>
To:
Sent: Tue, November 10, 2009 10:03:33 PM
Subject: please forward: grand jury targeting activists

hey dears- my friends scott and carrie have been subpoenaed to appear 
before a grand jury. this is bad fucking news and means potential 
incarceration for both of them until the investigation is complete. 
carrie is part of the coldsnap legal collective and is active in 
prisoner support. scott is a dakota activist involved in 
decolonization work. both are really lovely people who ive had the 
pleasure of working with in the radical community in minneapolis, and 
both need support to resist the grand jury fishing expedition. for 
now, ive been asked to spread the word. can you help me by passing 
this along to your networks?
love and solidarity,
-linds

***********Davenport Grand Jury Update***********

A second person, Scott DeMuth of Minneapolis, has been subpoenaed to the
federal grand jury in Davenport, Iowa. Scott, along with previously
subpoenaed anarchist Carrie Feldman, plans to resist the grand jury. His
statement, as well as support info, is below.

November 9, 2009
    After leaving my house at 5:50 PM, I was pulled over by several
unmarked black sedans. I was approached by Steven Molesky, Special
Agent of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI, and served a subpoena
for a grand jury in Davenport. The grand jury is scheduled for
November 17, 2009, at 9:00 AM at the Davenport Courthouse. Given the
recent subpoena of Twin Cities activist Carrie Feldman for the same
date and time, I believe these subpoenas are related. While the
subject of the investigation has not been disclosed, it seems likely
that the grand jury is investigating a 2004 Animal Liberation Front
action at the University of Iowa.
    Grand juries have been used as an integral tactic in the Green Scare,
which is the ongoing repression of both legal and illegal activities
of the environmentalist and animal rights/animal liberation movements.
During the proceeding, no judge or defense counsel may be present.
People subpoenaed to testify may be threatened with up to 18 months
imprisonment if they fail to comply. As such, grand juries have often
been used as fishing expeditions against activists, accused of
breaking no laws, in an attempt to mine for information about others.
    A scan of the subpoena will be up on 
<http://tc.indymedia.org>tc.indymedia.org.
    If you have any information about this grand jury or have been
subpoenaed as well, please contact Earth Warriors are OK! at
612-29-EWOKS (612-293-9657) or e-mail 
<mailto:ewok at riseup.net>ewok at riseup.net. For further
information about the grand jury in Davenport, visit:
<http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com>davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com
    Down With Grand Juries! Up the Midwest! Fight the Green Scare!
    Yours, Scott
    EWOK!
    Anpao Duta Okodakciye

***********Solidarity and Events***********

Solidarity rallies are planned in Davenport and Minneapolis on November
17th. We are encouraging people to hold solidarity rallies in their own
cities if they can't make the trip.

Davenport Rally: 8:15am outside the federal courthouse, 131 E. 4th St,
Davenport, Iowa
Minneapolis Rally: 9am outside the federal courthouse, 300 S 4th St.

If you don't live in Minneapolis, where will yours be? PDFs of fliers to
use are at 
<http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com>http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com, 
and we're asking
people to let us know about other planned solidarity events.

* Also, if you are in Minneapolis, please come to this event on Thursday,
November 12th!

Potluck and Discussion about Grand Jury Resistance
November 12, 6:00 P.M. at the Seward Cafe, 2129 E Franklin Ave,
Minneapolis, MN

Come support Carrie and Scott and show that our community will stand
together to fight state repression!

At 8:00 there will be a hip-hop show with Testament and Guante.

Some info about Testament:

Testament is an Anarchist hip-hop artist based in Kanada, and has become
well-known in radical communities for spitting revolutionary rhymes at
major demonstrations, festivals, anarchist bookfairs, conferences, radical
convergences, as well as in the underground hip-hop scene. Here to change
hip-hop and steal its soul back from the glorified violence, materialism,
sexism, and racism that the music industry creates promotes and markets
for their own capitalist purposes, Testament never pulls punches or shies
away from spreading confrontational dissent through powerful,
thought-provoking rhymes.

Get the flyer at 
<http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com>http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com

***********General Support Info***********

There are a number of additional ways you can help and support Carrie and
Scott in resisting the grand jury.

* Fundraise!

While fundraising isn't a huge priority right now, Carrie and Scott are
still considering options for their representation, and could require
funds to hire a lawyer with grand jury resistance experience. Also, it
would be awesome to have money ready to go for commissary if they are
taken in to jail.

You can donate via Paypal at 
<http://supportcarrie.wordpress.com>supportcarrie.wordpress.com.

* Spread the word!

Prosecutors love it when grand juries function in their shadowy secretive
lairs and no one knows about it except their quivering targets. Fat
chance! Much like vampires shriveling up in the light of day, grand juries
have been canceled in the past when the harsh light of public outcry has
been cast upon them.  Any time you hear about grand juries happening, tell
people about it! And even if one isn't happening, tell people about what
they are and what they do. Most people have no idea about how they work,
and they ways in which they are used to violate our rights and freedoms.

On that note, if anyone is interested in making posters/fliers/pamphlets
about it that would be awesome.

* Resist grand juries!

As Carrie said, grand juries only work when we are frightened, complicit,
and divided. So don't be! When the subpoena shows up at your door, put a
sabot in the cogs of their repressive system and stand up for what you
believe. Don't let them frighten you, you have an amazing community of
support and resistance at your back.

* Organize!

One of the most meaningful ways to support Carrie and Scott is to continue
organizing and fighting exploitation and oppression.

Thanks to everyone for your support! We will post updates at
<http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com>http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com 
as they come.

And as always--stay safe, stay strong and fuck grand juries!

-----------------------------------------------------
A movement is only as strong as its prisoner support.
<http://www.midwestgreenscare.org>http://www.midwestgreenscare.org
<mailto:fightthegreenscare at riseup.net>fightthegreenscare at riseup.net

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