Tei, Gumby and Deva have been followed all weekend. When they pulled up at a stoplight and looked out their windows, they saw the San Diego Police. When they came out of Von's with bags of supplies, they were interrogated. When they grabbed a lift in a friend's truck, they were pulled over. Their crime? They volunteered as medics for the week of events around Beyond Biodevastation, a teach-in and protest against BIO, the biotech industry event being held this week in San Diego.

Ken and Mike, a couple of musicians from San Diego, were surrounded by three cop cars as they walked down the sidewalk with their drums. They were told they were being detained on reasonable suspicion: their instruments looked like weapons. They agreed to give their ID, but took the ID of the officers in return. Forced to wait on the sidewalk for almost 20 minutes, they decided to play. Under the watchful eye of four of San Diego's finest, they drummed their hearts out. When the cops could no longer take it, they were released.

Anthony, a volunteer with Food Not Bombs was carrying water and fruit to protesters at an action outside of Burger King. He was stopped, the police accusing him of providing ammunition for demonstrators to throw. When he explained he was simply trying to feed the protesters and make sure they were drinking plenty of water in the hot sun they let him go. But he was told if anyone threw anything, he would be arrested.

These activists are part of a relentless campaign of harassment against protestors in San Diego during this week's events. With the teach-in placid, the march pacific and no one wreaking any havoc, the San Diego Police Department have resorted to petty persecution. Protestors have been pulled over and cited for everything from bald tires to not changing the address on a license. On Sunday alone 25 citations were given, mostly for jaywalking. Sign carriers have had their sticks measured, resulting in at least one arrest for "possession of lumber." Virtually every demonstrator has a story.

Siu Hin, an activist from Los Angeles was detained in the parking garage of a local mall, where his car was parked. He was approached by a plainclothes officer who had cited him and 20 other protestors the day before for jaywalking. His interrogation included allegations that he was loitering in the parking lot in order to commit rape, steal a car or solicit a homosexual advance. In reality, he was in the parking lot to keep his car from being towed, another tactic being used by the police.

The most menacing case of harassment involves Rampage and his friends, activists from Los Angeles. One of the protestors arrested in Long Beach on May Day, Rampage has six charges pending against him, including inciting a riot and disturbing the peace. He and his friends were followed continuously after they arrived in San Diego. At one point they were cornered by an unmarked and unidentified car who had been tailing them for hours. When they confronted the drivers of the car they were told, "Get the fuck out of San Diego." They were watched until they left.

In addition to these incidents, officers rifled through the supplies in the medics' tent on several occasions; a plane hired to pull a banner reading, "Biotech out of our bodies" was prevented from flying over the convention center by police helicopters, even though clearance had been given by Lindberg Field; and a natural science student was pulled from the registration line by police and prevented from registering for a public discussion on safety and regulations at the BIO conference.

Unfortunately, as the week progresses, so do the incidents of harassment. With two days left to go, there will certainly be more. Clearly, the first amendment carries an addendum in San Diego: exercise it at your own risk.

the cops were harasing me the second I got there. First about 4-5 officers aproached me in the parking lot and made me get rid of the skinny poll I had my inverted american flag on. Then I spent about 10 minutes walking around looking for one of the "proper sticks of wood which they aprove of" on the ground. I managed to find one stick on the ground no one was using but it was too short so I held it in case I found another so i could put them both together. Then about 8-10 officers aproach me and they took the stick away and asked if I had any weapons. I laughed and said no I had the stick in my hand because I was told I was allowed to use it for my flag. Then they tried to search my backpack saying they wanted to make sure I didn't have any weapons. When I asked them why they said, "your backpack looks a little extra bulky" .. I told them that was bullshit and to leave me alone. These cops seem to really get a kick out of fucking with people. It's just sad, having to make sure you don't walk alone, and your in large groups and to stay tightly packed. On our way back from the convention center, walking back to balboa park, we were being followed by several undercover officers taking pictures, as well as a dark blue van with several officers inside. Then about 25 cops stop us and detain on us the sidewalk, caliming that we were "jaywalking". I argued that I didn't even jaywalk, but the cop replied, "well thats what court is for", but I was still getting a ticket. Then the officer threatend me saying that I was going to get arrested if the ID I gave him was fake (it was my drivers license). It said 'Sherman Oaks' on it and he didn't believe that I drove down to San Diego or something. Then I was trying to help another demonstrator telling her she only had to give her first and last name when the cops started asking her for her height, social security..etc then the cop tells me if I continue I he was going to arrest me for "interfearing with police procedure".

Don't you just love San Diego's finest?

Your point??? That the police don't want you in San Diego? Try the PEOPLE of San Diego, who probably DEMANDED that their police department take this APPROPRIATE action against agitators coming into their city and hoping the city and it's law enforcement had it's collective pants down like Seattle. Remember Seattle? They were "ripped a new one" by "peaceful" demonstrators who caused millions of dollars worth of damage, much of it against innocent small business owners! Much of this was because the city didn't realize the danger, the police weren't ready, AND (most importantly) the organizers of protests PROMISED beforehand that ALL would be peaceful. If the Seattle debacle didn't occur, one could possibly agree with some of your points. However, I'm glad to see San Diego doing the right thing. Hey, if those kids can't take the "heat", they should cry somewhere else to someone who cares, obviously they won't find too many who do in San Diego!!! Sorry your plans apparently backfired, better luck next time!

Your point??? That the police don't want you in San Diego? Try the PEOPLE of San Diego, who probably DEMANDED that their police department take this APPROPRIATE action against agitators coming into their city and hoping the city and it's law enforcement had it's collective pants down like Seattle. Remember Seattle? They were "ripped a new one" by "peaceful" demonstrators who caused millions of dollars worth of damage, much of it against innocent small business owners! Much of this was because the city didn't realize the danger, the police weren't ready, AND (most importantly) the organizers of protests PROMISED beforehand that ALL would be peaceful. If the Seattle debacle didn't occur, one could possibly agree with some of your points. However, I'm glad to see San Diego doing the right thing. Hey, if those kids can't take the "heat", they should cry somewhere else to someone who cares, obviously they won't find too many who do in San Diego!!! Sorry your plans apparently backfired, better luck next time!

RTF, get a life, and a dictionary or spellchecker. Your lack of secondary education is rearing its ugly head! The cops in San Diego probably realized there was a humming bird ass attached to that alligator mouth of yours and felt sorry for you. That's the only reason I figure they didn't slap you up the side of your melon head like someone should have done years ago!!!

boys (blue)

you obviously were not at this rally, or if you were you were dressed in jack boots with your hands on your metal (falic) billy club. saying someone is ignorant for not having a spell checker is the pot and the kettle. the fascists were harassing people. flying the choppers overhead, perched atop buildings with sniper rifles. ya know what, deceminating your corporate views on a media source for the people just lets us know how scared you are of us coming forth and stopping the crimes you are perpin" on us. keep up the good work, douche bag!

much love

chris

Der Kris, tanks fer takeng that fonecics corse, u also ned a spelchek though..... 2 bad u droped out of sekond gred, u cud hav ben a contender..... anywaye, thnk u for ponting out 2 me that any1 who hes an oposing viwpoint is automatikaly a corperet whatever or a blu boy holding a falect whatever. i be a smal besines man so sory I am not a corporet whatever..... u showed me that u ar relly the 1 who is afrad..... agin, thanks for taking that phonics course... by the way, you "black bloc"looked spefey in your ninja outfits....2 bad u had to peel them off when the San Diego temputur reached 80.... and those cigybuts they all smoked... where not they t2 geneticaly ingineered???? Git a lif 2 brodder....