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Friday,
Sept. 27
Starhawk,
42 members of the Pagan Cluster, and hundreds of
other protestors were arrested, reportedly on false
charges, during mass police sweeps this morning
in Washington DC. The Pagan Cluster and others had
not intended to get arrested, and were peacefully
demonstrating. Many other arrestees were simply
passersby. There was news coverage of at least one
government worker who was knocked over by police
and arrested on her way to work.
Nearly all of those arrested this morning are still
being held on buses. Starhawk reports (via cell
phone, before it was taken away) that at least in
their immediate vicinity, they are being treated
relatively well. Their spirits are good, they are
in good company, no one has been hurt in the Cluster.
However, there are uncomfirmed reports that other
arrested protestors have been beaten.
DC's Chief of Police apparently intends to hold
everyone through the weekend so that they can't
take part in the legal demonstrations. The charges
seem to be a pretext which will not stand up in
court, nor are meant to. Instead it is an attempt
to silence dissent and deny citizens their constitutional
right to protest against the IMF/World Bank and
the policies of the Bush administration.
How you can help:
1. Instant call-in & email campaign:
Our friends are asking to have phonelines and "in-boxes"
swamped.
The Message: Politely but firmly
~ Insist upon immediate release of all political
prisoners so that they might continue their peaceful
dissent, as is their right.
~ Insist on blankets, food, water, restroom access
for them while in custody.
~ Do not use their names -- call them political
prisoners.
Who to contact:
Your elected reps.
Numbers and addresses are in the front section of
your phone book, or try
Congress: (202) 224-3121
Use Elected Net to get your representative/senator's
email address
http://www.hoboes.com/html/Politics/electednet/
DC Mayor's Office: (Anthony Williams) 202-727-2980.
Email: go to www.dc.gov and click on the red "Contact
and Services" button at the bottom of the page.
Then, click on "Talk to the Mayor" and
send a message.
DC Chief of Police - 202-727-4218. Call them --
they are no longer accepting phone
messages, but ask them for detailed info on how
to send a mail or email message, and let them know
what your message is about.
Email: go to www.mpdc.dc.gov. Then go to "Ask
the Chief" on the left-hand menu.
White House: 202-456-1111
World Bank: 202-473-1000
International Monetary Fund (IMF): 202-623-7000
(For these last two, they will tell you they have
no jurisdiction over what's happening to
protestors. But it's a good chance to let them know
their policies are not okay with you, and that the
protestors were arrested because they disagreed
with these policies.)
And also:
DC City Council:
dccouncilmembers@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
Linda W Cropp, Chairperson (202) 724-8032
lcropp@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
Harold Brazil, Member (202) 724-8174
hbrazil@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
Carol Schwartz, Member (202) 724-8105
schwartzc@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
David A Catania, Member (202) 724-7772
dcatania@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
Phil Mendelson, Member(202) 724-8064
pmendelson@dccouncil.washington.dc.us
2. If you are anywhere near the DC area,
please come join the weekend protests.
If you know people nearby, urge them to come too.
The police tactics are meant to clear the streets
and thin the ranks of these legal demonstrations.
It would be wonderful if their efforts were in vain,
and officials shown that dissent cannot repressed.
3. Send energy and prayers.
Here is the suggested spell for the action:
"May they be in the right place at the right
time in the right way, with the protection, the
energy, the health, the power, the wisdom and the
resources to do the work. May the Elements be with
them."
The "Prophecy" the Pagan Cluster is working
with:
All of you who would be free,
Heed the voice of prophecy!
In the fortress, thieves conspire,
On the throne there sits a liar
Rich and bloated, they grow fat
On the burdened peoples' sweat
The false king wants even more
To drink the blood that's spilled in war
Drunk with power, he forgot
What is real and what is not.
No gold, no jewels, can compare
With earth and water, fire and air.
When beings of earth and air awake
Foundations of the fortress quake
Seeds take root in rubble, grow
Living springs of water flow
Winds of change scour the skies
Dispersing the dank haze of lies
Now the flames of truth ignite
The will to change, the vision bright
A new world will come to birth,
Hear the voice of mother earth!
"Feed the hungry, teach the youth,
Heal the sick, and speak the truth.
Take the power, hear the call,
Weave a web to link us all
Faced with truth, no lie can stand,
Weave the vision, strand by strand.
-----------------------------------
Report compliled by Mer, from on-the-scene information
from Mark and tactical info from Aurora.
Feel free to repost. Updates will be posted on Starhawk's
website as they become available: www.starhawk.org.
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