Homeland Security goes after local Dallas activist group

[rainbow4321]

http://www.counterpunch.org/polk05062006.html

During the past fours years, activists in Dallas have pounded the pavement. We have protested continuously in front of Halliburton, the Dallas Morning News, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office, and recently, in the vicinity of the Federal Building where recruiters bring those being recruiter to sign papers. Of all the various permutations of confrontation that have been experienced, May 4, 2006, stands out as an especially noteworthy day.

Local law enforcement in the Dallas jurisdiction has done a remarkable job in creating and maintaining a neutral environment that allows us make our peace in very public ways. While it may be true that Senator Hutchison's office has used the local police to keep any suspected dissenters off the premises by having them barricade the entrance and issue criminal trespass warnings, things have been relatively unscary.

<snip>

All of this changed yesterday. Two of the sisters from Women in Black were doing what we have been doing every Thursday since January 2006: From noon until 12:45, we stand on the public sidewalk outside the Federal Building and offer GI Rights pamphlets to those being recruited. We have signage that reads: "Is Your Recruiter Lying?"

Yesterday, two of us were standing in the same place we always do when three Homeland Security cars hurriedly zoomed in. The first car came up so fast that the front wheel on the passenger side rode up on the curb He got out and approached rapidly, demanding to see our permit for protesting on Federal property. When we began explaining our understanding of the law, that is, where we had been told by local law enforcement we could stand legally, he let us know right away that we were in a whole new realm; these cats supersede any agency. Period.

[crispini]

1. Scary stuff.

And what's scarier is that this is probably the only place you'll hear anything at all about it.

[Kutjara]

2. Yep, the Neo-Gestapo are in charge now.

I new when they started all this 'Homeland Security' crap that the rest of the trappings of neofascism weren't far behind. It's a sinister name for a sinister operation. As time goes on, they will inevitably accrete more and more power to themselves, until their every word becomes law and their every deed becomes its own justification. They will become the State.

The days of free protest and peaceable assembly are coming to an end. Like the man said: 'If you want to see the future, picture a boot crushing a human face - forever.'

It's already begun.

[peacetalksforall]

3. WHOLE NEW REALM. WHOLE NEW REALM. This is it - this must be

explained now.

The HS is going about our takeover by them (our own people) without a change in the law.

How do you like it?

How do the police feel about it?

Will there be clashes between the police and the HS or have the police been told to stand down whenever the HS has a different interpretation on a situation?

Let's hear more about our takeover.

Now does anyone have more understanding of nazism?

[SpiralHawk]

4. Homerlanders Vs. Americans

neoCON Homelanders have Assumed the Position, drunk the kool-aid, and sworn fealty to Big BushCo. They have turned their backs on the United States of America, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They hate liberty and freedom. They act out of FEAR, and imagine that CONTROL is the answer to all problems. They are probably the most Anti-American movement ever to have emerged in our nation, and they wrap themselves in the flag and in propaganda.

Patriotic Americans recognize the Big BushCo fascist Homelanders as a real, powerful and present threat to every honest and noble American ideal.

[mom cat]

14. The Realm of the most Noble

Decider!

[MadHound]

5. Do you know a friendly lawyer? On good terms with the local ACLU rep?

I would suggest that you get in contact with the local ACLU, and get a friendly lawyer. You're going to need them it sounds like. These sorts of battles are going to have to be fought one by one in order to preserve our freemdom of speech and freedom to dissent.

[rainbow4321]

10. See post #9...

I found the article but I am not a member of the Dallas chapter...the info caught my eye since I live in the Dallas area and one of the places that they go to is Kay Bailey Hutchinson's office each week, which is down the street from my house.

[LiberalFighter]

6. These homeland security thugs need to be outed

When protesters are threatened by these gestapos their names need to be obtained and posted for all to see.

[AnnInLa]

7. So, what happened next?

Did yall fold up your tents and leave peacefully? Did they explain their actions, or just tell you to leave? Did they take your names? Why would this be a Homeland Security issue instead of a local police issue? What is your Plan B? Pardon all the questions!!!

[rainbow4321]

9. I'm not part of Dallas' chapter of Women in Black...

I just found the article on the net..buried deep, of course, not in the MSM sites. I found the initial link on www.antiwar.com and followed it over to the Counterpunch site. If you look at the article itself, the author's email address is at the end of it..you could probably reach her that way.

Didn't mean to mislead anyone! I just wanted to post the info. It caught my eye since I live in Dallas.

[AnnInLa]

11. sorry! thanks for the reply

[rainbow4321]

13. No problem...you're welcome

I'm just so glad people are responding to this thread..I found/posted it at like 3 am!!!

[jberryhill]

19. The article doesn't say...

...so it's anybody's guess what constitutes the "going after" here.

[patriothackd]

8. Can you describe what homeland security cars look like?

White, black, gray?
Sedan, SUV?
Unmarked, decal, big fucking 'DHS' on the door?

I confess I've not had the pleasure of seeing a homeland security car. At least not one I knew was Homeland Security.

[SPKrazy]

20. Probably Like Any Federal Police Has Come To Be

big black SUV's with tinted windows

[suffragette]

12. Sounds like they could they are determined to stand by their convictions

From the end of the article:
"Next week, we will return at the same time and the same day. We will be joined by other sister organizations in the Dallas area."

Glad to know they are raising their voices about this so others become aware of the intimidation and can join them in exercising the right to free speech and assembly. This is scary stuff.

Could Dallas area DU'ers join with the Women in Black and help support them in this?

[NeoConsSuck]

15. Women In Black

Women In Black were winners of the prestigious 2001 Millennium Peace Prize. They have also been nominated for a 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. They define themselves as an anti-nationalist, anti-militarist, feminist, and pacifist group. They endure hatred and frequent abuse from extremists on both sides for what they do. They put their lives on the line in the hope that their vigils will reduce war and violence of all kinds. Truly “Profiles in Courage”.

[Maestro]

16. Disgusting!

Homeland Security is a joke! I bet those women were scary terrorists! :eyes:

[nicknameless]

17. "These cats supersede any agency."

Do they supersede the Constitution too?

Gestapo tactics.

[me b zola]

18. K & R

[BrightKnight]

21. DHS does not make or enforce local laws.

They do not regulate free speech with intimidation.

They superseded their authority.