from: http://www.rense.com www.rense.com



'Pre-Emptive' Arrests of Citizens

Planning Public Protest



From Pamela Valenti



5-19-3

Mitchel Cohen & Brian Tokar, writing from the

BioDevastation Conference against Genetic Engineering in St. Louis, home of Monsanto:



At least 20-30 people have been arrested and we

need your help. Police invaded two known movement

homes this morning, apparently in "pre-emptive raids"

to prevent their attendance at Sunday's

demonstration against the World Agricultural Forum.



Others were taken into custody while riding their

bicycles to the BioDevastation gathering at Forest

Park Community College, and the police have left

the bicycles lying along the road. Sarah Bantz -

organizer for MORAGE and a speaker at the

BioDevastation conference - was arrested for

having a container of Vitamin C capsules, which

police are claiming to be an illegal drug.



Police have also entered the Randall Building,

office of the Gateway Greens/Green Party USA,

St. Louis IndyMedia, the Confluence newspaper,

and other organizations, searching for violations

and who knows what else.



For the last two weeks, the St. Louis police have

been spreading rumors of Seattle-like violence in

order to ratchet up the levels of tension,

rationalizing their procurement of riot gear and

new crowd control weapons.



We are asking EVERYONE to call the Chief of Police

Joe Mokwa, at (314) 444-5624 and demand their

immediate release and stop their harassment of the

movement against genetic engineering and corporate

agribusiness.



We understand that the police may hang up as people

try to call the above number. Other numbers for

police are (314) 444-5555 and (314) 231-1212.



Thank you, and please spread the word.