Post by smash ftaa on Jun 5, 2005 16:51:34 GMT -5
Today, June 4th, twenty four of our comrades protesting the expansion of Interstate 69, an extension of the NAFTA Superhighway, were arrested in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were demonstrating throughout the city of Indianapolis and were arrested en mass outside of the statehouse for supposedly vandalizing the building. One demonstrator was attacked with a Taser gun and another was reportedly choked by an officer. There have also been numerous reports of the use of pepper spray. As always, there is a concern for the still incarcerated demonstrators’ well-being based on eyewitness accounts of police brutality.
The demonstration by over forty people in opposition to I-69 began with a street march through downtown Indianapolis which ended at the statehouse. When the demonstrators cleared the statehouse steps, there was some anti I-69 graffiti left on and inside the statehouse. This action follows a series of meetings held with the public and so-called city officials, and those in office will not listen to the majority of people in Indiana who are saying ‘NO’ to this highway. There is a strong understanding among the public that this highway is not going to benefit them, but will instead end up costing the working class residents of Indiana $3 billion that they simply do not have. If completed, I-69 would further facilitate the outsourcing of jobs to Mexico in the form of maquiladoras along the Mexico-US border, as well as a more rapid shift of food production from Mexican farmers to U.S. agribusiness depriving Mexican peasants of their only source of income.
This demonstration is only one of many from the Roadless Summer Campaign, which is a statewide and cross state coalition of activists, farm workers, environmentalists, union members, students and others who want to stop this highway. Interstate 69 seeks to connect Canada to Mexico and will connect further south to the proposed Plan Pueblo Panama, which is modeled after NAFTA. In the process, this highway will not only cut through hundreds of family-owned farmland and hundreds of acres of forests, but could potentially wipe out the endangered Indiana Bat. The Roadless Summer Resource site below will provide more information about the situation.
A number of the corporate media sources are reporting that the demonstrators knew nothing about I-69 and many labeled them ‘protestors for hire’ because some of the arrestees are from out of state. This coordinated smear campaign by the corporate media can’t be further from the truth. The reason they have so much outside support is because of the organizing efforts done by individuals gaining cross state support against the building of this highway. I not only come to you to raise awareness on the issue, but also because those arrested may also need financial support in terms of bail money and court fees in the very near future (more info on where you can send the money will be posted later on). Since this happened only yesterday, charges have not been filed as of yet. But they are possibly facing vandalism charges, and one demonstrator will likely be charged with the assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.
Resources and corporate coverage
Roadless Summer Resource
www.roadless-summer.org
Indy Star new story
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050604/NEWS/50604007
MSNBC local news story with video.
www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3431979&nav=9Tahaf91
ABC local news story with video.
www.theindychannel.com/news/4570146/detail.html
www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3432391&nav=0Ra6afLd
The demonstration by over forty people in opposition to I-69 began with a street march through downtown Indianapolis which ended at the statehouse. When the demonstrators cleared the statehouse steps, there was some anti I-69 graffiti left on and inside the statehouse. This action follows a series of meetings held with the public and so-called city officials, and those in office will not listen to the majority of people in Indiana who are saying ‘NO’ to this highway. There is a strong understanding among the public that this highway is not going to benefit them, but will instead end up costing the working class residents of Indiana $3 billion that they simply do not have. If completed, I-69 would further facilitate the outsourcing of jobs to Mexico in the form of maquiladoras along the Mexico-US border, as well as a more rapid shift of food production from Mexican farmers to U.S. agribusiness depriving Mexican peasants of their only source of income.
This demonstration is only one of many from the Roadless Summer Campaign, which is a statewide and cross state coalition of activists, farm workers, environmentalists, union members, students and others who want to stop this highway. Interstate 69 seeks to connect Canada to Mexico and will connect further south to the proposed Plan Pueblo Panama, which is modeled after NAFTA. In the process, this highway will not only cut through hundreds of family-owned farmland and hundreds of acres of forests, but could potentially wipe out the endangered Indiana Bat. The Roadless Summer Resource site below will provide more information about the situation.
A number of the corporate media sources are reporting that the demonstrators knew nothing about I-69 and many labeled them ‘protestors for hire’ because some of the arrestees are from out of state. This coordinated smear campaign by the corporate media can’t be further from the truth. The reason they have so much outside support is because of the organizing efforts done by individuals gaining cross state support against the building of this highway. I not only come to you to raise awareness on the issue, but also because those arrested may also need financial support in terms of bail money and court fees in the very near future (more info on where you can send the money will be posted later on). Since this happened only yesterday, charges have not been filed as of yet. But they are possibly facing vandalism charges, and one demonstrator will likely be charged with the assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.
Resources and corporate coverage
Roadless Summer Resource
www.roadless-summer.org
Indy Star new story
www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050604/NEWS/50604007
MSNBC local news story with video.
www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=3431979&nav=9Tahaf91
ABC local news story with video.
www.theindychannel.com/news/4570146/detail.html
www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3432391&nav=0Ra6afLd