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LOCAL News :: Crime & Police
August 24: What Did Happen At The Progressive Action Center?
August 24 there were reports that the Progressive Action Center in Baltimore was raided by the police. These reports turned out to be inaccurate. But what did happen at the PAC, the home of Baltimore Indymedia, several activist groups, and Red Wagon Child Care Center? This report is based on interviews with anti-racist activists all of whom requested anonymity. [Earlier that day 28 anti-racist activists were arrested at the Baltimore Travel Plaza. Indymedia is investigating this story.]
After the counter-protests against the neo-nazi National Alliance rally in Washington DC, anti-racist affinity groups met at the Bloodshed, a warehouse space in east Baltimore rented for music shows. According to an anti-racist activist, people decided to continue counter-protesting neo-nazis by publicizing that the neo-nazis were to attend a concert somewhere in the White Marsh area with a meeting point at the National Guard Armory in Putty Hill.
At about 5:30pm, police officers began to gather outside the Bloodshed. The activists inside, concerned that a raid was being organized, decided to vacate the space. Arrangements were made to move their media work to the Progressive Action Center in east Waverly. After they left the Bloodshed, Baltimore City Police broke into the building and searched without presenting a warrant. Flyers and other literature were confiscated.
However, the police were not done. It appears that the police followed the anti-racist activists on their way to the Progressive Action Center. One car with four activists as passengers was pulled over by police officers as the driver turned from Loch Raven Boulevard onto Gorsuch Avenue. The activist who was driving was greeted by an officer who held a gun to her/his face. The driver asked "Why did you pull us over?" The police officers gave no reason. Rather, they responded by yelling at the occupants, "Shut-up! We don't have to tell you!" But then asked "Are you with the National Alliance? Or the anarchists?" The occupants responded "No. We are anti-racists!"
According to an anti-racist activist, as he/she approached on foot to the PAC he/she observed numerous police vehicles converging at the building, a squad car, two unmarked cars, and a van for transporting arrestees. When all the anti-racist activists got into the building the door was locked. Some began media work, while others dealt with the police.
According to an anti-racist activist, a police officer came to the door with a batch of arresting cuffs attached to his belt. The officer told the activists to open the main door to the building. Activists responded "Show us a warrant." A stand-off ensued for about fifteen minutes. Eventually, activists agreed to send a delegation to the base of the steps at the main door to talk to the police. According to an activist, the police claimed that they were there to protect the anti-racist activists against neo-nazi "retaliation," that they were concerned about a potential "fire-bombing."
As this exchange was going on, staff and volunteers of the Red Wagon Child Care Center were preparing for a social event at the lower level of the building. Some activists suggest that the presence of this predominantly African-American event was a deterrent to a raid and search of the Progressive Action Center, since anti-racist activists were the immediate targets. Additionally, the media work of the anti-racist activists paid off as Channel 2 News appeared at the scene and interviewed activists. With the appearance of the television media, the police left. The anti-racist activists continued with their work to publicize the neo-nazi concert. According to an anti-racist activist, the affinity groups later decided to find yet another location to discuss legal issues around the arrests of 28 anti-racist activists at the Baltimore Travel Plaza in the early morning. The television media had broadcast their location. The neo-nazis now knew where they were.
For a while on top of the Progressive Action Center in east Waverly, a banner hung "Anti-Racists Under Seige!" Readers may wonder why anti-racist activists appear to have been targeted by the Baltimore City Police?
At about 5:30pm, police officers began to gather outside the Bloodshed. The activists inside, concerned that a raid was being organized, decided to vacate the space. Arrangements were made to move their media work to the Progressive Action Center in east Waverly. After they left the Bloodshed, Baltimore City Police broke into the building and searched without presenting a warrant. Flyers and other literature were confiscated.
However, the police were not done. It appears that the police followed the anti-racist activists on their way to the Progressive Action Center. One car with four activists as passengers was pulled over by police officers as the driver turned from Loch Raven Boulevard onto Gorsuch Avenue. The activist who was driving was greeted by an officer who held a gun to her/his face. The driver asked "Why did you pull us over?" The police officers gave no reason. Rather, they responded by yelling at the occupants, "Shut-up! We don't have to tell you!" But then asked "Are you with the National Alliance? Or the anarchists?" The occupants responded "No. We are anti-racists!"
According to an anti-racist activist, as he/she approached on foot to the PAC he/she observed numerous police vehicles converging at the building, a squad car, two unmarked cars, and a van for transporting arrestees. When all the anti-racist activists got into the building the door was locked. Some began media work, while others dealt with the police.
According to an anti-racist activist, a police officer came to the door with a batch of arresting cuffs attached to his belt. The officer told the activists to open the main door to the building. Activists responded "Show us a warrant." A stand-off ensued for about fifteen minutes. Eventually, activists agreed to send a delegation to the base of the steps at the main door to talk to the police. According to an activist, the police claimed that they were there to protect the anti-racist activists against neo-nazi "retaliation," that they were concerned about a potential "fire-bombing."
As this exchange was going on, staff and volunteers of the Red Wagon Child Care Center were preparing for a social event at the lower level of the building. Some activists suggest that the presence of this predominantly African-American event was a deterrent to a raid and search of the Progressive Action Center, since anti-racist activists were the immediate targets. Additionally, the media work of the anti-racist activists paid off as Channel 2 News appeared at the scene and interviewed activists. With the appearance of the television media, the police left. The anti-racist activists continued with their work to publicize the neo-nazi concert. According to an anti-racist activist, the affinity groups later decided to find yet another location to discuss legal issues around the arrests of 28 anti-racist activists at the Baltimore Travel Plaza in the early morning. The television media had broadcast their location. The neo-nazis now knew where they were.
For a while on top of the Progressive Action Center in east Waverly, a banner hung "Anti-Racists Under Seige!" Readers may wonder why anti-racist activists appear to have been targeted by the Baltimore City Police?
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