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Harassment of DNC Protesters Escalates

by Boston Activists
Despite the Boston Police Department's stated
commitment to protect people's First Amendment rights
during the DNC, the BPD has... started a
campaign of preemptive action that could chill protest participants' lawful speech activities during the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Friday, July 9, 2004

Despite the Boston Police Department's stated
commitment to protect people's First Amendment rights
during the DNC, the BPD has, in conjunction with other
law enforcement officers in New York City, started a
campaign of preemptive action that could chill protest
participants' lawful speech activities during the
Democratic National Convention (DNC).

The NYPD/FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force started an
intimidation campaign against New York activists to
prevent them from speaking out against the DNC. On
Thursday, July 8, two officers visited the home of a
New York City activist (referred to as "Tim"
hereafter). They said that they acquired his name from
the Boston Police Department, which has compiled a
list of "troublemakers" who are coming to Boston. The
officers said they plan to visit the homes of all
so-called "troublemakers."

At 7 p.m. the officers arrived at Tim's parents'
house, where Tim resides during the summer. Tim was
not home, but his parents talked to the officers. The
officers had already done extensive surveillance on
Tim, which included examining his medical and academic
records, in addition to Tim's previous history with
the police. The officers said they are expecting a
large band of organized anarchists to come to Boston
and destroy it, and proceeded to tell Tim's father
that it was inadvisable for Tim to:

- engage in political activity in Boston
- work with a named, "known anarchist organizer" in
Boston,
- work with the Bl(A)ck Tea Society (The BTS is a
non-violent group that has been organizing for the DNC
for the past year. Planned events include those of
protest and celebration, including a free outdoor
festival with music, games and entertainment. For more
information about the Bl(A)ck Tea Society, go to
http://www.blackteasociety.org.),
- come to Boston to observe the DNC or get arrested
during the DNC.

One of the officers left his business card:

Richard W. Ockovic
NYPD/FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY
646-696-2113
646-773-8116 (cell)

This type of intimidation and targeting of activists
is illegal, unacceptable, and unfounded. Local
organizers have seen a surge in efforts by police to
create fear in the public and in organizers,
demonizing political activists, creating an us-them
dynamic and preemptively harassing activists so as to
have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights. Both
the Boston ABC and the National Lawyers Guild are
appalled by the Boston Police Department's lack of
commitment to its claims of protecting free speech.

People who are visited by law enforcement officers are
advised to take down the officers' names and badge
numbers and otherwise not talk to them or let them in
your homes - tell them they can contact your attorney
(you do not have to give them the name of your
attorney). Contact the National Lawyers Guild in
Boston if you are visited by officers or if you have
questions regarding your rights (NLG Boston office:
617-227-7335 or nlgmass [at] igc.org). Please also contact
the Boston Anarchist Black Cross, which is doing
support work for protesters during the DNC.

About the Boston Anarchist Black Cross (ABC): The
Boston Anarchist Black Cross is a prison
abolition/prisoner support group affiliated with the
Anarchist Black Cross Network
(http://www.anarchistblackcross.org). We support those on the
inside as well as working on issues of community
defense. Boston ABC is helping support protesters
arrested during the DNC. For more information, go to
http://www.baamboston.org/abc/ or contact
ABCboston-DNC04 [at] baamboston.org.


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Mon, Jul 12, 2004 11:10AM
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