Journalists targeted by FBI in St. Paul

Mike Whalen and reporters sit, handcuffed, in his backyard. (Photos by Mary Turck)
By Mary Turck , TC Daily Planet
August 30, 2008

According to I-Witness reporter Eileen Clancy, an FBI agent came to Mike Whalen's house on Iglehart Avenue this morning, looking for an individual who was not present at the time. This afternoon, police broke into the house with guns drawn, detaining Whalen and the journalists for hours as dozens of reporters from all over the country stood outside, kept on the opposite side of the street by police orders. The six people inside the house—and one legal observer who came outside to try to talk to police—were handcuffed during the search of the house.



Legal observer Sarah Coffey answered reporters' questions in front of the Iglehart residence, as police looked on.

Journalists inside the home included Clancy and Elizabeth Press, a news producer for Democracy Now. Journalists outside included Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now and a camera crew.

Kim, who lives next door, voiced her strong objections to the police proceedings, praising Mike Whalen as "a good neighbor, a very nice neighbor for ten years. He has never caused a problem." She said anyone should be allowed to protest, though "I'm a Jehovah's Witness so I don't give a crap about Republicans or Democrats," but said that anyone should be allowed to protest.



Eventually, she invited the crowd of journalists into her back yard, where they interviewed Mike Whalen and Eileen Clancy over the back fence, as police watched in obvious, mute discomfort.

"They look through materials and copy materials, but you are not arrested," said Clancy. "If you sue later, the court thinks it wasn't a big deal, because you were not held very long.

"They cannot raid a news office without a subpoena – but they did. This is journalists' work product."

Police eventually produced a subpoena, similar to the ones that have been used in all of the half-dozen raids during the past 18 hours.

"These are pre-emptive raids," Clancy insisted. "Police are targeting people who are hear to protect free speech rights."



Eventually, Amy Goodman and a camera crew climbed over the fence. Police tried to get them to leave, with no success. Police on the scene would make no comment, saying that a public relations officer would talk to reporters They were unable, however, to say who the public relations officer was, or where that person might be found.

In the end, the police released all of the people detained at the Iglehart address.

At the same time that the I-Witness reporters were being detained on Iglehart, police followed, stopped and detained two other I-Witness reporters and a friend as they biked down Marshall Avenue in St. Paul. They searched the trio's belongings and detained them there until the raid at Iglehart ended.

The attempts to intimidate everyone, those harrassed and those who learn of law-enforce-ment tactics is happening,

also see less detailed but mass media-ed story at :
“http://www.startribune.com/local/27703754.html?page=2&c=y

all these brilliant Indymedia clever writers:
WE CAN do more !
write the Star Tribune or other newspapers of the area, and be intelligent, direct, clever, and expose your reactions to what has happened...

dont let the ones who like Raids, panty raids, activist raids, roach raids, whatever .... those who agree with the Sheriff dont let them be the only ones read on those Minneapolis websites without a response from us !

please, take your comments to the sources where those who live in the area, perhaps, can see there are other smart reactive responders, first or fourth responders, to share our views of their Police excesses.

Dont vent, or make angry generalized demands....just be the fascinating writers I see here on Indymedia , but take it to those streets... it might help just a bit more...

*exposure*... of opinions that have a reasonable side instead of their side = fear of activists or loud disrupters [no crime]. We love to write/talk to ourselves and form these locked-in enclaves for safety. So this is another good time to expand into letter- writing elsewhere too.... briefly, politely, not attacking or insulting, but saying we shall be heard or read in their cities as well. Flood their lines with honest reactions to the over-use of infiltration & force on those who have committed no serious crimes.

And can someone who knows tell us the legal criteria for "incite to violence" ?

what is actually required for such a label, accusation to be made or branded upon a person ?
Collecting weapons [most vets have at least a few in their homes ], having various cutting tools [most American houses and garages are cluttered with them], having a website that says some people dream of being powerful disrupters [ask your manly friends what they dream about beyond sex ]...

what has to proven to assume there is danger and that inciting is a negative dangerous act ?
Anyone care to share ?

exposure of our smart letters here can be taken outside of our safety zone. wanna ?”