"Criminal Investigation" into "anti-delegate" posts on NYC IMC

by NYC-IMC
(No verified email address) 30 Aug 2004

As was reported in today's New York Times, the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation and is demanding records concerning anti-RNC deleagte posts to this website. Specifically, the DOJ is seeking information on lists of 2,200 RNC delegate names posted to our Open Newswire.

NYC Indymedia believes that this investigation is wholly without merit, and is part of a larger campaign of intimidation against our supporters and peaceful protest activities surrounding the RNC.

Additionally, NYC Indymedia does not keep the records that the DOJ is seeking. According to Global Indymedia, "as a result of [previous] attempts to violate our clear rights, we felt it prudent to develop a policy of not voluntarily gathering data for the government on people who visit our websites, or who post material to sites. '. . . we do not log IP addresses as a way of protecting the privacy of our visitors. . .'

Those of us at New York Indymedia feel, first and foremost, that this site is in the business of media-making and journalism. We invite first time visitiors to look around, and we hope they like what they see.

Calyx's contacts at Indymedia are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. We advise all members of the press to contact our lawyers for further comment on this matter.
As was reported in today's New York Times, the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation and is demanding records concerning anti-RNC deleagte posts to this website. Specifically, the DOJ is seeking information on lists of 2,200 RNC delegate names posted to our Open Newswire.

NYC Indymedia believes that this investigation is wholly without merit, and is part of a larger campaign of intimidation against our supporters and peaceful protest activities surrounding the RNC.

Additionally, NYC Indymedia does not keep the records that the DOJ is seeking. According to Global Indymedia, "as a result of [previous] attempts to violate our clear rights, we felt it prudent to develop a policy of not voluntarily gathering data for the government on people who visit our websites, or who post material to sites. '. . . we do not log IP addresses as a way of protecting the privacy of our visitors. . .'

Those of us at New York Indymedia feel, first and foremost, that this site is in the business of media-making and journalism. We invite first time visitiors to look around, and we hope they like what they see.

Calyx's contacts at Indymedia are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. We advise all members of the press to contact our lawyers for further comment on this matter.

This work is in the public domain.

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Re: Secret Service Attempts Subpoena For Indymedia Logs as Part of Harassment Campaign
by seeyou
(No verified email address) Current rating: 0
30 Aug 2004
everyone`s a prostitute, truth. Here`s something for yer record: Glory to the independant media centers. Freedom of expression is a damn right hell of a fight and freedom. Of course, Black lists suck a bit. Terrorism sucks. But once you would start herding records, the lame bureau ducks and bitches at the ppppp got crazy, hunting these damn communists out of our broad wave of true truthfulness. The most pathetic of em all, is you own little life.

Clarification
by Peace and Freedom
(No verified email address) Current rating: -1
30 Aug 2004
Modified: 09:36:20 AM
Indymedia did not publish anything, one of its correspondents did. It is an open newswire that does not ask instrusive and even repressive questions of its contributors.

What you hate is that it is a bastion of freedom and not under your control, you liberty hating police state hyprocrite.

As to the RNC delegates, it is common knowledge who they are and from where they come. In the interest of concision the poster merely compiled their names. That is not a crime.

Welcome to the 21st century in Amerika
by d.o.
(No verified email address) Current rating: 0
30 Aug 2004
Modified: 10:14:15 AM
We're wondering out here how much more proof U.S. citizens need to understand that they are losing their nation to a very real fascist resurgence. Hopefully by now, we all know the old Mussolini saw about "fascism should be called corporatism" (or words to that effect). We are looking it in the face here in New York as the neo-con inheritors of fascism gather to plan the next step in their subversion of the Constitution, the theft of the next election, and their ongoing fascist coup. They don't call themselves right-wingers for nothin', folks.

Soooo, are the comfortable citizens of the USA prepared to host another Reich? What...the Fourth Reich? Apparently not here in the streets of New York, but how about those rubes out in the heartland? Many of them seem to have been so throughly indoctrinated by the corporate media, the public relations thought police, medications, and a book-burner educational system that they're likely to be led into the depths of hell with a big stupid smile on their faces. How do we help THEM?

One way is to KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! Get in the face of those corporado media cameras. Display your outrage at the total politicization of the Secret Service, the SS no less! AND attend the MARCH ON THE MEDIA! Wednesday, Sept.1, 7-10pm on 52nd Street at 6th Ave. across from CBS (see: http://marchonthemedia.org). Indymedia rocks, but we can't completely isolate ourselves from our fellow citizens. We should try to reach them anyway we can. If it means sneaking up on the NY morning shows' windows on the street with short appropriate messages, so be it. If it means fucking banners towed by planes over county fairs, so be it! Whatever works.

One thing's for sure: if we don't turn this runaway ship of state from its present course, the SS won't just subpoena Indy, they'll shut us down.
The tip of the iceberg up ahead is just the blatant fascism that you can see. There's so much more beneath the surface. Let's turn this thing around.