Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Call Modesto DA to Have Charges Dropped Now!
SUPPORT THOSE TICKTED DURING RECLAIM THE PARKS ACTION
Stop Police Targeting of DAAA Collective Organizers
On July 23rd, the Modesto based Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians, (DAAA) Collective, held an all day occupation of Tower Park in Modesto. The event was to call attention to rising homelessness, the affects of urban sprawl, the threat of environmental racism to various working class communities, and the ongoing harassment and brutality aimed at working people by the Modesto Police Department. The event was joyful, with massive amounts of free clothing and kids items being distributed to the poor, and three large meals being served to anyone that was hungry. However, those that attended the event knew that the issues they felt strongly about would not be simply fixed by writing letters to the editor and talking to “their representatives”. At around 4pm, a group of about 40 took to the streets of Modesto to reclaim the streets of the city, and to also bring attention the various problems that face working people in this area.
The march was militant, yet peaceful, it blocked traffic, but was not antagonistic towards drivers or people on the street. But soon police swarmed around the march, with police cars, undercover cars, and motorbikes. After the march went down a empty street with no people, police rode motorbikes onto the sidewalk, and blocked off the street with cars. Police then stopped and picked out of the crowd three organizers with the DAAA Collective, Doug Gilbert, Dan V., and Terry Clancey. All three organizers have had numerous experiences with the Modesto police, and many of the officers on duty have threatened these very organizers with arrest before. The collective members have come into contact with these officers during organizing efforts, legal distribution of free literature in the downtown area, and also while monitoring police harassment and interactions with the youth in the downtown Modesto area. When asked why these people were being detained and ticketed, the officer in charge stated it was because he, “knew them”. Thus, three organizers were picked out of a group of about 40 people, and given tickets for blocking traffic.
This is not the first time that the Modesto Police have singled out various people within the group that they deem to be “leaders”, and then given tickets. The Modesto Police are unable to understand that a group like the DAAA Collective works as an autonomous collective, organizing itself through consensus and direct democracy, not a top-down system of hierarchal order. In the picking out of three well known organizers from a large group, the Modesto Police have made it clear that they will target those they think are prominent in the organization, even if it means that doing so is unequal application of the law. We are asking that all concerned people call into the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office, and ask him to please drop the charges against the Modesto 3! Prosecute the real criminals in this city, the owners of Covanta and Tallow Plant, the corporations that are gentrifying this area and causing urban sprawl, and the police who kill and harass poor and working people!
CALL THE STANISLAUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE NOW AND ASK THAT ALL CHARGES BE DROPPED!
Call: (209) 525-5550
Stop Police Targeting of DAAA Collective Organizers
On July 23rd, the Modesto based Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians, (DAAA) Collective, held an all day occupation of Tower Park in Modesto. The event was to call attention to rising homelessness, the affects of urban sprawl, the threat of environmental racism to various working class communities, and the ongoing harassment and brutality aimed at working people by the Modesto Police Department. The event was joyful, with massive amounts of free clothing and kids items being distributed to the poor, and three large meals being served to anyone that was hungry. However, those that attended the event knew that the issues they felt strongly about would not be simply fixed by writing letters to the editor and talking to “their representatives”. At around 4pm, a group of about 40 took to the streets of Modesto to reclaim the streets of the city, and to also bring attention the various problems that face working people in this area.
The march was militant, yet peaceful, it blocked traffic, but was not antagonistic towards drivers or people on the street. But soon police swarmed around the march, with police cars, undercover cars, and motorbikes. After the march went down a empty street with no people, police rode motorbikes onto the sidewalk, and blocked off the street with cars. Police then stopped and picked out of the crowd three organizers with the DAAA Collective, Doug Gilbert, Dan V., and Terry Clancey. All three organizers have had numerous experiences with the Modesto police, and many of the officers on duty have threatened these very organizers with arrest before. The collective members have come into contact with these officers during organizing efforts, legal distribution of free literature in the downtown area, and also while monitoring police harassment and interactions with the youth in the downtown Modesto area. When asked why these people were being detained and ticketed, the officer in charge stated it was because he, “knew them”. Thus, three organizers were picked out of a group of about 40 people, and given tickets for blocking traffic.
This is not the first time that the Modesto Police have singled out various people within the group that they deem to be “leaders”, and then given tickets. The Modesto Police are unable to understand that a group like the DAAA Collective works as an autonomous collective, organizing itself through consensus and direct democracy, not a top-down system of hierarchal order. In the picking out of three well known organizers from a large group, the Modesto Police have made it clear that they will target those they think are prominent in the organization, even if it means that doing so is unequal application of the law. We are asking that all concerned people call into the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office, and ask him to please drop the charges against the Modesto 3! Prosecute the real criminals in this city, the owners of Covanta and Tallow Plant, the corporations that are gentrifying this area and causing urban sprawl, and the police who kill and harass poor and working people!
CALL THE STANISLAUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE NOW AND ASK THAT ALL CHARGES BE DROPPED!
Call: (209) 525-5550
For more information:
http://www.modanarcho.tk
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
You say they were organizers, and then you say they aren't responsible. You can't have it both ways. All groups have people that instigate activity; it's human nature. To deny responsibility while at the same time claiming organizer as a title is preposterous.
It is unfortunate we have people who choose to do drugs, become estranged from the families, and then end up on the street. It is obvious that many of these people are also mentally ill. If your group (which it is, regardless of your vocabulary) really wants to help the homeless, it should do something useful, not take a walk down a street. Do you somehow think people aren't seeing the people standing on the corners? The public is aware of the homeless....don't be so sanctimonious in thinking you have all the knowledge.
Why don't you work on a mental health facility that would treat actually treat the mentally ill. Unfortunately, the ACLU doesn't appear to believe mental illness is a true diagnosis. They think mentally ill people, (you know, those who can't make rational decisions) shouldn't be detained in a mental health facility to help them regain their health. Their lawsuits have been a hindrance in allowing families to truly help their loved ones who have become homeless. If they are your partners, why don't you have them do something useful.
It's a complicated issue which deserves your energy. Why don't you take it up instead of playing with some unrealistic, and probably virtual memory of what the 60's were like. Fight the real fight, not a pretend one.
It is unfortunate we have people who choose to do drugs, become estranged from the families, and then end up on the street. It is obvious that many of these people are also mentally ill. If your group (which it is, regardless of your vocabulary) really wants to help the homeless, it should do something useful, not take a walk down a street. Do you somehow think people aren't seeing the people standing on the corners? The public is aware of the homeless....don't be so sanctimonious in thinking you have all the knowledge.
Why don't you work on a mental health facility that would treat actually treat the mentally ill. Unfortunately, the ACLU doesn't appear to believe mental illness is a true diagnosis. They think mentally ill people, (you know, those who can't make rational decisions) shouldn't be detained in a mental health facility to help them regain their health. Their lawsuits have been a hindrance in allowing families to truly help their loved ones who have become homeless. If they are your partners, why don't you have them do something useful.
It's a complicated issue which deserves your energy. Why don't you take it up instead of playing with some unrealistic, and probably virtual memory of what the 60's were like. Fight the real fight, not a pretend one.
"You say they were organizers, and then you say they aren't responsible. You can't have it both ways." -
The text is pretty clear as to what the term organizer refers to, it refers to the three people who were ticketed as organizers in the sense that they organize within Modesto. Did they help organize the Modesto RTPs? Yes, but so did a whole lot of other people. Noone is disputing the fact that we were in the streets, but so where alot of other people. The Modesto police obviously have an agenda when selecting three people about of 40 for citation, when the whole group was engaging in the same activity.
"All groups have people that instigate activity; it's human nature. To deny responsibility while at the same time claiming organizer as a title is preposterous." -
Read above response.
"It is unfortunate we have people who choose to do drugs, become estranged from the families, and then end up on the street. It is obvious that many of these people are also mentally ill. If your group (which it is, regardless of your vocabulary) really wants to help the homeless, it should do something useful, not take a walk down a street. Do you somehow think people aren't seeing the people standing on the corners? The public is aware of the homeless....don't be so sanctimonious in thinking you have all the knowledge." -
Noone if the DAAA Collective pretends to have all the answers, what were saying is something completly different in fact, what we are proposing is that the nature and process in which communities arrive at answers should be changed in a way in which involves direct democracy and community control.
Also, if we actually read the report, it's pretty clear that the majority of the event was spent actually doing things the directly help homeless people, (if at least in a very small way). Feeding people, distributing clothes, etc. We also do this on a sustained and continious basis.
"Why don't you work on a mental health facility that would treat actually treat the mentally ill." -
That's a good idea, unfortunetally many of us in the collective balance a high degree of organizing along with work, school, and families. I'd love to have a position in at a job like you describe, but at the moment, I'm busy working at a construction site and going to community college.
"Unfortunately, the ACLU doesn't appear to believe mental illness is a true diagnosis. They think mentally ill people, (you know, those who can't make rational decisions) shouldn't be detained in a mental health facility to help them regain their health. Their lawsuits have been a hindrance in allowing families to truly help their loved ones who have become homeless. If they are your partners, why don't you have them do something useful." -
Sounds like you should be contacting the ACLU, and not spending your time writting comments on this thread.
"It's a complicated issue which deserves your energy. Why don't you take it up instead of playing with some unrealistic, and probably virtual memory of what the 60's were like. Fight the real fight, not a pretend one. -
Whoa, I wasn't aware that someone could take so many streams of thoughts that make no point and have no real critique and mold them into one, but you sure did!
What's a complicated issue? Homelessness, mental health? Apperentally according to you all that I need to do is stop the ACLU and work as a mental health doctor - I'm set!
"Probably virtual memory", you mean like Tron? What are you trying to say? Yes we realize that these issues are complicated, if you would actually take the time to read the statement that we wrote regarding Reclaim the Parks: http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/06/1750006.php , I think it's pretty obvious that alot of thought an energy went into the event, and why we did it. The 60's don't have anything to do with it, but alot of people that can't think of anything that actually proposes a critique and alternative, (like yourself), of course engage in 60's references.
Here's a tip - re-read what you wrote, re-think what you are trying to say, and try again.
The text is pretty clear as to what the term organizer refers to, it refers to the three people who were ticketed as organizers in the sense that they organize within Modesto. Did they help organize the Modesto RTPs? Yes, but so did a whole lot of other people. Noone is disputing the fact that we were in the streets, but so where alot of other people. The Modesto police obviously have an agenda when selecting three people about of 40 for citation, when the whole group was engaging in the same activity.
"All groups have people that instigate activity; it's human nature. To deny responsibility while at the same time claiming organizer as a title is preposterous." -
Read above response.
"It is unfortunate we have people who choose to do drugs, become estranged from the families, and then end up on the street. It is obvious that many of these people are also mentally ill. If your group (which it is, regardless of your vocabulary) really wants to help the homeless, it should do something useful, not take a walk down a street. Do you somehow think people aren't seeing the people standing on the corners? The public is aware of the homeless....don't be so sanctimonious in thinking you have all the knowledge." -
Noone if the DAAA Collective pretends to have all the answers, what were saying is something completly different in fact, what we are proposing is that the nature and process in which communities arrive at answers should be changed in a way in which involves direct democracy and community control.
Also, if we actually read the report, it's pretty clear that the majority of the event was spent actually doing things the directly help homeless people, (if at least in a very small way). Feeding people, distributing clothes, etc. We also do this on a sustained and continious basis.
"Why don't you work on a mental health facility that would treat actually treat the mentally ill." -
That's a good idea, unfortunetally many of us in the collective balance a high degree of organizing along with work, school, and families. I'd love to have a position in at a job like you describe, but at the moment, I'm busy working at a construction site and going to community college.
"Unfortunately, the ACLU doesn't appear to believe mental illness is a true diagnosis. They think mentally ill people, (you know, those who can't make rational decisions) shouldn't be detained in a mental health facility to help them regain their health. Their lawsuits have been a hindrance in allowing families to truly help their loved ones who have become homeless. If they are your partners, why don't you have them do something useful." -
Sounds like you should be contacting the ACLU, and not spending your time writting comments on this thread.
"It's a complicated issue which deserves your energy. Why don't you take it up instead of playing with some unrealistic, and probably virtual memory of what the 60's were like. Fight the real fight, not a pretend one. -
Whoa, I wasn't aware that someone could take so many streams of thoughts that make no point and have no real critique and mold them into one, but you sure did!
What's a complicated issue? Homelessness, mental health? Apperentally according to you all that I need to do is stop the ACLU and work as a mental health doctor - I'm set!
"Probably virtual memory", you mean like Tron? What are you trying to say? Yes we realize that these issues are complicated, if you would actually take the time to read the statement that we wrote regarding Reclaim the Parks: http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/06/1750006.php , I think it's pretty obvious that alot of thought an energy went into the event, and why we did it. The 60's don't have anything to do with it, but alot of people that can't think of anything that actually proposes a critique and alternative, (like yourself), of course engage in 60's references.
Here's a tip - re-read what you wrote, re-think what you are trying to say, and try again.
For more information:
http://www.modanarcho.tk
Cudo
That was a great response! couldn't have said it better
That was a great response! couldn't have said it better
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$230.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network