There is a bomb scare in the parking lot of Patriotic Hall. An old westphalia-style hippie van is suspected of containing a bomb. Last we heard, the van contained three people eating tofu sandwiches. The county sheriffs are searching the van, and have secured the parking lot. A side effect of this is that the satellite truck for the IMC broadcast "Crashing the Party" cannot be accessed, and a planned live broadcast will have to be postponed or taped. It is possible that the Patriotic Hall building will be evacuated. There is a lot of confusion here.

There also appears to be a lot of confusion on the part of the forces of order. Last word, the bomb squad had not been called. The shadow convention people seem unimpressed.

I'm watching Free Speech TV on my satellite dish near Albany NY. Instead of the IMC's "Crashing The Party" show I see a text screen stating that the LAPD are keeping the show off the air. Call the LAPD toll free at 877-275-5273.

I'm watching Free Speech TV on my satellite dish near Albany NY. Instead of the IMC's "Crashing The Party" show I see a text screen stating that the LAPD are keeping the show off the air. Call the LAPD toll free at 877-275-5273.

That tofu is some deadly shit, ain't it!

How interesting that someone has found yet another way to try and stop the truth from getting out over the airways!

They just don't seem to be able to get it through their thick skulls that you will not stop this movement!

Here's to the IMC and Free Speech TV! And to all the wonderful people giving of their time to bring the truth to the world.

Balaam's Ass

i called the LAPD, and after being disconnected twice and put on hold for about 10minutes, i finally spoke to an operator who told me that i would have to call different numbers to get information about the interrupted broadcast of the IMCs coverage of the DNC: (media relations) 213/485-3586, (mayor's office) 213/847-2489, and (the chief of police) 213/617-8408. i called media relations and the person who answered the phone seemed shocked to hear that i was referred to this number. she told me that there was a bomb scare at the IMC location and that's all that she knows. nice info.

Also from NY: we called the LAPD & the media relations department told us about the bomb scare, 213-485-3586 is their direct number.

Then we called the NY Times News Desk to tell them about FSTV being kept off the air by the LAPD and reminded them of those languishing in prison in Philly. This violation of free speech should be front page news!

Siezing the Satellite truck is illegal under U.S.C 2000 par. (aa) - which specifically forbids the confiscation of work product or equipment of journalists, even in the investigation or prosecution of a crime. Period. Someone send some laywers for christs sake !! Someone there, CALL US and we will put you on the air INSTANTLY. Our prayers are with you. PLEASE, if you can, keep us updated on this CRITICAL police action.

Someone living in LA, anyone, but especially if your a journalist. Go down RIGHT NOW to the Patriotic Hall and bring a cell phone and call us, we will put you on the air IMMEDIATELY.

ALSO - Go there anyway, go there and interfere in any way you can with the LAPD's illegal shut down of the IMC.

EVERYONE IN LA go there NOW and support your FREE PRESS.

CALL THIS GUY NOW!!!
I just got done tracking down the appropriate contact @ the LAPD re: the Patriotic Hall Bomb Scare. Everyone should call Sgt. Miazagi (the Watch Commander) @ the LAPD Central Station. The number is 213.485.3294, just ask for Sgt. Miazagi. He stated that the Bomb Squad is currently en route, but did not have any ETA. Anyone have the contact numbers for LA commercial media outlets? KTLA, UPN, ABC, etc??

If any of you are contemplating blowing up any vehicles, do not make the mistake of burning your lips on the tail pipe.

Here is a web page for cool riot gear on the web. If you didn't pack one of these for yourself yet, then you might need one as the week progresses.

http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/body/body.html

LAPD = 2
Protestor Assholes = 0
Mumia = Mummy

The game is in progress... The clock is ticking...

Transform Mumia into Mummy!

Are these times EST or PST ?? Sorry to bring up something so trivial, but I am literally Live and On The Air, call local and national media, get them there. Also, any attorneys or journalists should go there NOW. Also, everyone else, GO THERE and support your FREE Press !!

Someone at the IMC, if you read this, give us an MP3 downloadable update, like the last five minuter, only on this truck stuff PLEASE if you can, we will rebroadcast all, and we are broadcasting your plight LIVE right now. We are with you, the Country is with you (as evidenced by these posts).

*Prisoners languishing in jail for peaceful demonstrations
*Illegal searches & seizures
*Police harrassment of ordinary citizens
*dissident media outlets terminated

Looks as if the Soviet Union won the cold war afterall.

Welcome to the USSA!

Comarad! :) I didn't think I had friends in LA. So good to see you. :)

Fortunately most of the visitors to this site are very good at playing Spot the Cop.

Got one here.

Democratic Convention coverage by Independent Media... result? The FBI said the media van had "a bomb" in it, and took it off to Washington to be... examined. Cameras smashed, broadcasts prevented. The year? 1996.


Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 23:29:56 -0500 (CDT) From: Dharma (dharma@suba01)
Subject: the brouhaha in Chicago
Subject: Re: Post to LTD as: A matter of conscience

Dave, the following isn't directly pertinent to LuckyTown, but I would appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few things about Counter Media and about what happened out in the streets of Chicago this week, if you don't mind posting to all you sent your intitial message to. The CounterMedia office was not raided Thursday but if you read on, you'll see why we fully expected it to be.

Counter Media is a group of media makers and individuals who got together about four months ago to gather and disseminate information about protests and actions taking place here in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. We planned five projects for the last two weeks of August: First we had a fundraising Unconventional Film & Video Festival, a two week shin dig showing flicks by and about activists such as "The Murder of Fred Hampton", "Gringo in Manana Land", "AIDSCREAM", and (Ms.)treating Prisoners. In all, we showed 26 films with discussions afterwards mostly led by the film makers' themselves. We also opened an office available to all national alternative media to use during the democratic convention to find the locations and directions of the many protests, etc. But mainly we were interested in facilitating the coverage of as many protests and acts of civil disobedience as we could find. Towards those ends, we worked with the national radio show "Making Contact" plus did both radio and TV broadcast of our own show "Off the Record." The last of which was uplinked through Deep Dish television to over 150 TV stations around the country. Not satisfied with that, we also developed a web site were we could give immediate updates on events as they occurred complete with pictures of scanned- in photos and stills from video.

Are you confused? Does this sound like a MEDIA project to you?

Apparently the Chicago police and whatever other law enforcement agencies that descended upon Chicago this week were unable to distinguish a camera from a bomb. Though we were doing nothing illegal and running a completely open office no law enforcement agency, to my knowledge, contacted us directly and asked us what we were doing. According to yesterday's Chicago Tribune, police claim activists were "posing" as journalists - and that "confused" them.

A few months ago it would have been illegal and embarrassing for the Chicago police to have several officers force their way inside of a media van full of videographers without a warrant while just ten feet from the front of a march of several hundred people, like they did this week to our clearly marked Counter Media van at the front of the Cash the Check march this week. But now a warrant is not needed because the police don't need a warrant when they "suspect" a bomb. Perhaps they thought the bomb was in the 35mm film cameras from which officers ripped the film out, exposing to light the images of them entering the van. They fell upon similar "suspicions" the very next day when they pulled over another Counter Media vehicle for "failure to use a turn signal." The videographer and driver were told that the vehicle which contained several individuals' video equipment and personal belongings was going to the FBI to make sure it didn't have "a bomb". By "bomb" did they mean the video tapes showing the illegal(?!) entry into our van the day before? Or the video of the arrest of yet another of our videographers at an abortion clinic during an Operation Rescue/Clinic Defense action? By "bomb" could they be talking about the video tape of several young black man from Henry Horner Homes, the housing project directly adjacent to the United Center where the DNC was taking place, rapping to us about the harassment by law enforcement prior to the convention: "They told us, there's *always* evidence. Even when there isn't evidence, there's *always* evidence." But what damage we did is done, our footage was edited and uplinked to public access and public TV stations all over the country.

Meantime we're still trying to deal with the damage the police did. The young black men that appeared on our TV show were arrested a few hours after they were interviewed in a sweep that all other media groups will tell you didn't happen -because they weren't there. We still haven't got the minivan or any of it's contents back. Charges are still pending against six of our camera people and as of today, we are still getting reports of individuals identified as involved with Counter Media being harassed and threatened by law enforcement. Many tapes were destroyed and cameras were purposefully broken as they were confiscated.

If all of this sounds deeply disturbing, perhaps you should take a breath before you read on. On the last day of the DNC, members of an anti-nuclear group who had been driving around a truck that has a mock-up cask showing how nuclear waste is transported were also arrested. Organizers of the Festival of Life, a week long free speech event taking place in two of Chicago's lakeside parks, were arrested in arrests that took place away from the crowds. The state's attorney is planning to prosecute them for trumped up federal offenses that carry up to two years in jail.

Just as the President's prime-time brouhaha began Thursday evening, one of the most disturbing events of all took place. Having assured themselves that no cameras were around, several police officers burst forth warrantless into one of the buildings leased for use to the Active Resistance conference. Active Resistance has been host to over 700 activists from throughout North America and Europe who came to Chicago to attend workshops and discussion groups on issues ranging from community organizing to alternative economics. Several participants report that when they demanded a warrant they were told, "We don't need a warrant, we believe you're conspiring against the US. Government." Police then proceeded to another property leased to AR, which was successfully evacuated prior to the officers arrival. Two people were hospitalized for pepper-spray injuries. Without a warrant and without arrests at either location, the police were able to successfully turn people from all over the world, terrified and without their belongings, out into the night streets and still maintain deniability that the raid took place at all. Yesterday's Chicago Tribune reports the police as claiming that the raid was a stunt caballed between Active Resistance organizers and Counter Media volunteers.

Considering that the 23 arrests we know of are spread among such a variety of groups (not including the Horner arrests), easily involving over 1500+ individuals, it remains to be seen how law enforcement intends to maintain deniability of the many violations that have taken place over the past few weeks.

This is the most accurate report I can give at this time. There is still information trickling in from the various individuals and groups involved. But since I worked in the CounterMedia office, where stringers were being dispatched, protestors were calling, faxing, and stopping by, and national alternative journalists were hanging out, I may be as likely a candidate as anyone to have a somewhat complete overview.

Dharma Dailey
CounterMedia Office Coordinator

CounterMedia (312) 243-8342. Fax: (312) 243-8406.
http://www.cs.uchicago.edu/cpsr/countermedia/ xmediax@ripco.com



For Immediate Release
Thursday, August 29, 1996

Police Escalate Harassment of Independent Reporters, Activists

Freelancers, organizers charge pattern of intimidation and arrests intensifies

Independent media reporters from CounterMedia convened a press conference at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 29, at CounterMedia's offices in Teamsters' City, 1638 W. Van Buren, to discuss the arrest and police harassment of independent reporters and activists during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

On Wednesday evening, Chicago police stormed a media van occupied by stringers with CounterMedia, and moments later pulled them over again and illegally searched the van, threatening to ticket and arrest the driver and passengers for "not wearing seat belts." At the time, the freelancers were attempting to disembark and shoot tape of the Cash the Check demonstration at Damen and Washington.

Two cameramen, both members of the CounterMedia collective, have been arrested in the last 48 hours in two separate incidents while covering demonstrations around the DNC. One reporter, Edmund Nix, was arrested Tuesday morning while shooting tape at a west side women's health clinic during an Operation Rescue demonstration. Another, Jeff Perlstein, was arrested near the United Center Tuesday evening when he attempted to interview Henry Horner residents about residents' experience with the police.

Police have also repeatedly harassed members of Active Resistance, a progressive group which is holding counter-convention activities in Chicago during the convention. AR members say police have "visited" their activity site at least nine times in the last three days, have posted off-duty police officers near their space who have verbally harassed AR members and made obscene gestures at them, and have pulled over and attempted to intimidate AR conference attendees.

"I suppose we should expect this kind of behavior," says one CounterMedia volunteer. "After all, it's hard to expect these guys not to revert to true form, even though their superiors have mandated them to their `best behavior' during the convention. But this kind of police activity has a chilling affect on first amendment rights, and it needs to stop. We're very concerned about this pattern of harassment and intimidation, especially given the reputation of the department for brutality."

Perlstein, of Seattle, was arrested around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday evening, for disorderly conduct. Police claimed he had "crossed the line" without credentials just outside of the gate at the United Center's Lot E, the city's designated protest pit on Madison Street. Perlstein says the police ordered him off the sidewalk fronting the Lot E gate in an attempt to break up his taped interview of two children who live in the Henry Horner housing complex. Perlstein was on Madison St. awaiting the arrival of marchers from the Not on the Guest List! Coalition protest. When Perlstein stated to the officers that he had a legal, first amendment right to be on the sidewalk and tape local residents, he was put in handcuffs and taken to Precinct 13, at 937 N. Wood. He was released on $75 bond at 1:10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Earlier Tuesday morning, police arrested Edmund Nix of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, another CounterMedia video freelancer, at a clinic defense action at the A.C.T. Medical Center at 5714 W. Division. The clinic, which offers an array of health services including gynecological counseling and abortion procedures, was being blockaded by members of Operation Rescue. At about 10 o'clock, shortly after police arrested one pro-choice demonstrator, CounterMedia videographer Eddy Nix attempted to interview OR members after one pro-life demonstrator indicated to police that he should be removed. Police told Nix to leave, and when he produced his press pass, Nix was arrested and police confiscated his video camera. Nix was charged with disorderly conduct and released under his own recognizance forty-five minutes later.

Video tape of the incidents will be available at the press conference, and photos of the police actions are being posted up to the CounterMedia web site.

A few relevant links, the first two of which were quoted here (sorry about the bandwidth, but as we've learned we really CAN'T take anything for granted)

http://member.newsguy.com/~mayday/censor/chicago/cops.html
http://www.cs.uchicago.edu/cpsr/countermedia/articles/polharass.html
http://www.cs.uchicago.edu/cpsr/countermedia/articles/dncarrsum.html
http://member.newsguy.com/~mayday/censor/chicago/laura.html

There will doubtless be some who now will say that these people "should have known" their satellite van would be confiscated under bogus charges. Yes, and no. Perhaps they should have known --- but only by getting their stuff together and being in a clear, strong position to present independent media coverage could they demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the deterrent to such coverage is simply that there is no free press in the United States - except, for now, the Internet, and only because that's so easy to spy on they want to encourage its growth - and that in fact they're little different about these things than the government of Serbia.

After you have ratcheted up the "revolution" to the "second level" as outline by JdPerz. I recommend you also go to the second level in riot gear accessories. Don't leave home without one of these. Be the first one on your street to be sent home in one. Make a fashion statement. Express yourself! Go to this web site for a complete selection of apparel.

http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/body/body.html

I tried to write a screenplay about the '68 convention. In my research I learned that the communication from Chicago was interrupted by a phone union strike that Just Happened to coincide with the convention. Word of police conduct had to be smuggled out as if from a war.

It looks as if they've learned nothing.