FS Police Intimidate Rainbow Gatherers
By Purpleboy53 - Posted on June 18th, 2009
Officers Searching All Vehicles
Forest Service Law Enforcement have set up what is described as “Shakedown Checkpoints” and are engaging in Intimidating Tactics in an effort to provoke an incident with Rainbow Gatherers. Reports coming out of Parque Venado, the area of the Santa Fe National Forest where Rainbows are assembling, portray an excessive and unreasonable police presence. Individuals said that all vehicles are being stopped and searched at the roadblock on FS Road 69 which is referred to as “Checkpoint Charlie” by the Rainbows because of the atmosphere of intimidation caused by dogs and somber Law Enforcement. Night Raids by Paintball Gun carrying FS Officers claiming to be searching for someone have occurred on two consecutive nights. During the day, Rainbows are reporting speeding convoys of FS Vehicles which pull into Rainbow encampments and threaten tickets for littering.
Town Meeting Addresses Local Concerns
The town meeting in Cuba, NM held on Wednesday is said to have gone well and helped to reassure misinformed townspeople who had become fearful of the impact of the Gathering on their community by Forest Service Propaganda. There was mention at the meeting that local residents as well as Gatherers should make sure that they obey all traffic and vehicle regulations since the FS Law Enforcement is know to target things like objects hanging from rear view mirrors and other minor violations.
Gatherers and locals where urged to know their Legal Rights and to carry a camera or camcorder at all times for their protection against unlawful police actions.
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2 of 3 Defendants are Off the Hook
During the infamous 'Kid Village Incident' at the Rainbow Gathering in
Wyoming, Skye Laurel Riggs and Rose Stanley were assaulted and charged
with 'Interfering' by Forest Service LEO's.
with trials finally set 5 weeks away, we were informed by defense
attorney Ron Kopriva that these prosecutions would be dropped:
Dismissals will be filed by the U.S. Attorney's office shortly.
The remaining case against Dale Kellogg -- pulled from a car in the
parking lot, tazed and beaten the day before -- is reportedly in
negotiations. The driver's license and 'Resisting' citations have been
dismissed, and the Government has proposed a "pre-trial diversion" on
the remaining 'Interfering' charge: a year probation, then
expungement. Kellogg has not yet seen the deal or instructed his
attorney on what to do, but it looks like the Feds want to duck his
trial too.
There is good cause for a sense of relief, but don't call these
'victories'. After enduring police violence and perjury, then
protracted burdens of criminal defense, denied speedy trial, these
victims have only avoided further injustice. The core issues of LEO
intimidation tactics against the Gatherings will not be aired or
adjudicated, and the Perp-Cops are not in jail.
Still these outcomes are instructive: In these extraordinary cases in
a remote venue, what the defense lawyers needed were good info on prior
'Rainbow' cases, ready reliable witnesses & evidence, and a bit of
support (and scrutiny) in the public interest. That's what we gave
them... last winter when we landed solid affidavits and authenticated
videos on their laps, the winds began to change.
The upshot: Predatory prosecutions prey on the weak; if they can't eat
you, they won't fight. So, strong defenses are better... put up good
facts, raise the big issues, get 'constitutional' about it.
the tenacity of these defendants standing up for their rights and
sticking it out -- this has been decisive. It was Roses who got 'Fed
up' with the lies and delays, and pushed her lawyer in July to set a
trial date... and she told him to convey a message to the U.S.
Attorney: "Bring it on."
Public outrage doesn't hurt either... if you think that the U.S.
Attorney should show a bit more good sense and fully dismiss the last
charge against Kellogg, call him and tell him so:
solidarity,
FluxRostrum
http://Fluxview.com