For those who have not heard - the following is a rough, approximate, and incomplete outline of what happened when the Secret Service recently came calling on Jim DeMaegt.
Jim DeMaegt was visited by the Secret Service at his apartment building on January 3 of this year at about 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. The Secret Service agents attempted to push their way into Jim's apartment. Jim repeatedly asked if the Secret agents had a warrant but they did not answer his question. Jim was able to prevent them from entering the apartment but they continued to ask Jim questions even though he did not answer any of their questions. Jim was asked questions about such things as "Why did you write 'that' e-mail"? "Are you opposed to the government?" "Are you a member of any groups that oppose the government?" "What political groups are you a member of?" and "Don't you like President Bush?" Jim did not answer any of their questions. The Secret Service agents then gave Jim (pushed into his hands actually) a piece of paper which was folded in half. When Jim attempted to actually read the paper that the Secret Service agents had given him they then grabbed the paper from his hands (ripping it in pieces in the process) and gave him a strong push. Jim's wife called the Inglewood Police. After the Inglewood Police arrived both the Inglewood Police and the Secret Service surrounded Jim and insisted that he was required to answer the Secret Service Agents' questions. Jim asked for the names and badge numbers of both the Secret Service agents and the Inglewood Police officers. Both the Secret Service agents and the Inglewood Police officers refused to give Jim their names. When Jim attempted to write down the name of one of the Inglewood Police officers from the name tag the officer was wearing Jim was grabbed and arrested for "interfering with an officer". (California Penal Code 148 (a) (1)). Jim was released on Ten Thousand Dollars Bail sometime close to midnight on January 3, 2007.
Jim DeMaegt will be arraigned on March 5, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at the Inglewood Municipal Court (check with Court Clerk for Court Room number) - One Regent Street, Inglewood, CA 90301. (Two blocks North of Manchester Avenue and one block West of La Brea Avenue in the City of Inglewood - approximately eight blocks East of the San Diego Fwy. - Manchester off ramp)
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Comments (and suggestions for organizing) by Jim DeMaegt
I. Thoughts on the Larger Picture
II. Possible Methods of Organizing
III. Specific and Immediate Actions
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I. Thoughts on the Larger Picture
I (Jim DeMaegt) want to greatly thank all those who have offered support, sympathy or
assistance for the opposition to the visit to me by the Secret Service and
my arrest.
My analysis of the situation is, however, that the real issues that are important are not my individual and particular situation but the general issues of suppression of free speech and political opposition by governmental agencies and police departments such as the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI and their assistance by local police departments.
In the past few years virtually thousands of people have had visits by
Secret Service, Homeland Security or FBI agents (and local police officers also) as the result of their free speech activities and their political opposition to various governmental policies. How many times have we all heard " I was visited by the FBI (or
Secret Service etc? They asked me questions about -------- (political actions or political speech)"? Rather than a genuine investigation of any purported illegal activity, the Secret Service, Homeland Security or FBI agents’ visits are instead and attempt to intimidate and threaten those visited in order to stop their opposition to any governmental policies. Such intimidation and threats by the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI are, of course, completely and totally illegal. In addition there appears to be a pattern of assistance and joint activity with the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI by various state and local police departments in the intimidation and threats against political activities and free speech.
Despite the continuous above described pattern of illegal actions by various police agencies there does not seem to be much of an organized effort to expose such illegal intimidation and not much of an organized effort to attempt to stop such intimidation and threats by the police agencies. I suggest that all interested individuals and groups should begin to very seriously communicate and discuss the formation of groups and methods of fighting the pattern of intimidation and threats against free speech and political activities by the various police agencies and especially by the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI and as assisted by state and local police departments.
To begin I would like to read and gather as many reports as possible of
various visits by the Secret Service, Homeland Security or FBI and/or by
state or local police departments to people who think that those visits were
the result of their political and free speech activities. Hopefully we can then form some committees or working groups or whatever to give media attention to those illegal police suppression actions and we can organize some political opposition to those illegal police actions. In addition we might be able to uncover some facts that might enable us to file
lawsuits against some of the illegal police actions. However I do not think that legal action is the only or the most important opposition to the illegal police actions. (And, of course no one should provide facts counting on any legal action and no legal action is promised and no legal representation is promised. No one should provide any facts or
information that they do not want made completely public at their own risk.)
In summation I think that it is absolutely necessary that a major effort be begun to expose and to oppose the massive pattern of oppression and intimidation and threats against free speech and political activities that is being carried out by various police departments and agencies and in particular by Federal police agencies such as the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI with the cooperation and assistance of state and local police departments. I think that we can make huge progress in exposing and
stopping such police oppression and suppression of free speech and political
activities.
My own case is just one example (among thousands of examples) of the pattern set forth above of the police oppression and suppression of free speech and political activities. My case can be used as one case in which to expose the pattern of illegal police activity. I intend to fight the charges against me and to use that fight to expose what the Secret Service (and other police agencies) are doing to attempt to suppress and oppress free speech and political activities. It is only as such a tool to expose and fight the illegal police suppression and oppression of free speech and political activities that my case has any significance - but I do think that my case can be a significant tool in that fight.
All those who want to get involved in the larger fight against free speech and suppression and oppression of political activities by police agencies - and especially by Federal police agencies like the Secret Service, Homeland Security and FBI please contact me.
Let's get organized!
Let's fight back!
Let's STOP the illegal police suppression and oppression of free speech
and political activities!
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II. Possible Methods of Organizing
A.
1. Gather Information and Data from as many people and sources as possible about numerous incidents where the Secret Service, FBI, Homeland Security and local police have conducted “investigations" which were actually an attempt to threaten and silence those who exercised their free speech and political opposition. (Being careful to always remind and warn everyone who might submit information or data not to submit any information that they do not want made very public and that they submit such information at their own risk and that no promise of any legal representation is being made and that they should consult with their own attorneys.) Presumably this task can be accomplished by putting out the request far and wide - on the internet and in political groups and in media outreach etc. And presumably all those who do not have the time or commitment to do more can participate in this phase of the struggle.
2. Organize and analyze and document the information and data gathered in A.1. above. Prove the case that various law enforcement agencies like the Secret Service, FBI, Homeland Security and local police departments have conscious and intentional policies and a pattern and practice of attempting to oppress and suppress free speech and political activities by threatening and taking action against those who exercise their free speech rights and who engage in political activities that the law enforcement agencies do not approve of but which are clearly not illegal in any way.
B. Conduct a Publicity Campaign against the intentional oppression and suppression of free speech and political activities by law enforcement agencies like the Secret Service, FBI and Homeland Security and local police departments. Write news articles exposing the political suppression of political activities by law enforcement and do radio and T.V. interviews, speak at demonstrations, write leaflets and articles etc. Get the word out!
C. Organize around the issue of oppression and suppression of free speech and political activities by law enforcement agencies. Get endorsements of the campaign by as many groups and individuals as possible. Get involvement by as many groups and individuals as possible.
D. File lawsuits espousing the intentional oppression and suppression of free speech and political activities by law enforcement agencies like the Secret Service, FBI and Homeland Security and local police departments and seek monetary reimbursement of those harmed by such illegal law enforcement polities and actions. (And those harmed would just might include not only those visited by the law enforcement agencies but virtually every political action group whose members might have been inhibited by the actions of the illegal law enforcement actions and/or whose reputations have been damaged by the law enforcement actions and/or who political purpose and activates might have been harmed by the illegal law enforcement actions. Injunctions and/or criminal prosecutions might also be sought against those perpetrating the illegal law enforcement actions.
E. Organize defense teams (both legal defense and political defense support) so that many more of those who are victims of the illegal law enforcement oppression and suppression of free speech and political activities have proper legal representation and political support.
F. Other actions
III. Specific and Immediate Actions
Begin doing the actions set forth above - both to help in Jim DeMaegt's specific case and more importantly in the broader struggle against the actions of law enforcement agencies to suppress free political speech and oppress and suppress political action. Take action both individually and independently and better yet in groups and committees. Form groups and committees to do the following as described more fully above.
1. Gather information and date about the acts of law enforcement agencies like the Secret Service, FBI, Homeland Security and local police departments to suppress free political speech and oppress and suppress political action. Put the word out on the internet and in meetings etc.
2. Do massive publicity (internet posts, newspaper articles, leaflets, press conferences etc., etc., etc.) to publicize the actions of law enforcement agencies to suppress free political speech and oppress and suppress political action both in Jim DeMaegt's specific case and in the numerous cases across the country.
3. Form Defense Committees (composed of mainly of political activists and certainly not only attorneys) to help publicize and provide assistance in the cases of actions of law enforcement agencies to suppress free political speech and oppress and suppress political action both in Jim DeMaegt's specific case and in the numerous cases across the country. When possible attend Court dates etc.
4. Gather support - endorsements, more members of the Defense Committees, more activists to engage in the actions set forth herein and other actions.
5. Encourage and organize (pressure?) lawyers to get involved to file lawsuits and agree to defend those accused. While not giving up the political strategy to lawyers just because they are dong the court work.
6. Communicate with others active in these issues. Strategize and form better and better and more and more effective plans and actions.
To get more involved please contact:
a. Nick Napolitano
organizeforjustice@yahoo.com 818-458-4315
b. Jim DeMaegt
jdemaegt@sbcglobal.net 310-673-4302