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SUPPORT THE DNC RESOLUTION TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS



A resolution to Uphold the Constitutional Rights of Protesters at the Democratic National Convention goes before the Boston City Council in just a few days. THE RESOLUTION WILL NEED YOUR HELP TO PASS. Here is what you can do.

1) E-mail or call the Boston City Councilors immediately and urge them to support this resolution. Contacts below.

2) Sign the on-line petition at
www.saveourcivilliberties.org/petition

CLICK HERE for Full Text of the Resolution


Excerpts from a Message From City Council Member FELIX ARROYO

Dear friends and fellow activists,

We are asking you to support the upcoming city council resolution to uphold constitutional rights in Boston. As you know, recent large protest events in the US, like the upcoming Democratic National Convention, have been met with new police tactics which, under the direction of federal agencies have severely limited people’s rights to free speech and their protections from unlawful search and seizure. We are often told that this protects us from terrorists, yet in practice most of these policies seem aimed at stopping large groups of people from speaking their minds, in other words, suppressing dissent.

With the support of the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild, local activists along with my office have crafted a resolution aimed at ensuring that improper police procedures recently seen during large demonstrations in other cities do not happen during the upcoming DNC.

Your action is needed to get this resolution passed. A list of the Councillor’s contact information is at the bottom of this e-mail.

Recently in Miami, Florida during the Free Trade Area of the Americas protests, (in which many Boston-area residents participated) police used an unprecedented level of violence on non-violent crowds of people. Students, unionists, journalists, retirees, and many others were roughly treated. Many were hospitalized, some with critical injuries. Not one of the 283 people arrested have been found guilty. The police department now faces several lawsuits. It was a lose-lose situation for everybody.

After the questionable law enforcement practices that confronted protesters during the national party conventions in 2000 - and more recently in Miami and the G8 summit in Georgia - activists and civil liberties groups are seeking prior commitments from local law enforcement. While the overarching focus of the resolution re-asserts protesters’ First and Fourth Amendment rights, it specifically addresses a number of police tactics that have presented serious problems for demonstrators, and for our Constitution. New York City has already passed a similar resolution for the Republican Convention.

This is a national event, so your voice is important even if you don’t live in Boston. We want to make civil liberties and police repression an ongoing issue in Boston. This resolution can set a precedent for other cities to follow. It’s time to address these issues of police repression and start reclaiming our civil liberties.

Best,
City Councilor Felix Arroyo

CLICK HERE for Full Text of the Resolution



City Council Members, At-Large

(Note that to avoid "spam," the Baltimore Indymedia website replaces the "at-sign" with the word "at." You'll need to edit this when e-mailing).

Michael F. Flaherty, At-Large Member, President
Telephone: (617) 635.4205
E-mail: Michael.F.Flaherty-AT-ci.boston.ma.us

Maura Hennigan, At-Large Member
Telephone: (617) 635.4217
E-mail: MauraH-AT-ci.boston.ma.us

Stephen J. Murphy, At-Large
Telephone: (617) 635-4376
E-mail: Stephen.Murphy-AT-cityofboston.gov

City Council Members, By District

Paul J. Scapicchio, District 1
Telephone: (617) 635-3200
E-mail: Paul.Scapicchio-AT-cityofboston.gov

James M. Kelly, District 2
Telephone: (617) 635-3203
E-mail: James.Kelly-AT-cityofboston.gov

Maureen E. Feeney, District 3
Telephone: (617) 635-3455
E-mail: Councilor.Feeney-AT-cityofboston.gov

Charles C. Yancey, District 4
Telephone: (617) 635-3131
E-mail: Charles.Yancey-AT-cityofboston.gov

Rob Consalvo, District 5
Telephone: (617) 635-4210
E-mail: Rob.Consalvo-AT-cityofboston.gov

John M. Tobin, Jr., District 6
Telephone: (617) 635-4220
E-mail: John.Tobin-AT-cityofboston.gov

Chuck Turner, District 7
Telephone: (617) 635-3510
E-mail: Chuck.Turner-AT-cityofboston.gov

Michael P. Ross, District 8
Telephone: (617) 635-4225
E-mail: Michael.Ross-AT-cityofboston.gov

Jerry P. McDermott, District 9
Telephone: (617) 635-3113
E-mail: Jerry.McDermott-AT-cityofboston.gov