The "War on Terrorism" at Home

This reports Wes Brain's experience in the aftermath of the "Books Not Bombs" student protest March 5.

http://rogueimc.org/2003/03/179.shtml

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Friends and Activists:

LAST FRIDAY I WAS ARRESTED WHILE IN MY OFFICE DOING MY JOB FOR THE STATE OF OREGON.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on 3/7/03 while at work for the Safety Department
at Southern Oregon University I was sitting at my desk when an Ashland
Police Department Officer stuck her head in the door and asked if I could
talk to her for a few minutes. Since the Safety Dept. (occupational health
and safety services for university employees) shares the same building with
the SOU Security Dept. it was not strange at all seeing Ashland Police in
our building. In fact I know many of the officers and although there are a
few bad cops on the local force most of them do a good job, I have always
thought.

I walked out back to the small porch attached to our building and noticed
there were three officers in attendance. Since no one said anything I
started the conversation, "What's Up?" The reply was most surprising: "Mr.
Brain, put your hands behind your back. You are under arrest for disorderly
conduct." They failed to reveal it, but later I found out that the charges
for disorderly conduct are twofold with an additional impeeding a police
officer charge. Two days later as I write this I am still in utter shock
and disbelief...

Since anything I say can be used against me, and since I have not talked to
my lawyer yet, and since I am paranoid that the FBI monitors my electronic
messages, and since I believe our system of justice is fundamentaly
corrupt... I will only give you the short and sweet version right now...

On 3/5/03 in Ashland Oregon there was a very successful and well attended
peace march and rally called "Books Not Bombs", and ours was part of a
national day of action against the impending Iraq war by students all across
the U.S.. Our new Rogue Valley Independent Media Center had the best local
media coverage of this event:

http://indymedia.truffula.net/2003/03/143.shtml

So on the day in question I took 4.5 hours of vacation time to be a
journalist and video tape this event (activists never take real vacations,
they use such time for peace and justice). Here in Southern Oregon we
broadcast regular programming on Rogue Valley Community Television (RVTV),
that's our access televison station and the shows highlight progressive
issues about Labor, Human Rights, and the Environment (M & W, 6PM,
Ch.#31)...

That day I shot 1 hour and 41 minutes of raw footage which shows the
colorful march and rally with 500 or 600 (some say more) students
demonstrating that money for war needs spent instead on education (books not
bombs). This footage shows some of the things not reported by the local
mainstream media like the SWAT team that was called in from a neighboring
county to square off against our peacefully protesting students. This
footage looks like it is taken from another planet, I mean can you imagine
riot cops squaring off agains young kids? Blanked from coverage in the
local press, it happened. My footage also shows the tail-end of a scuffle
in the street which shows the Ashland Police throwing people to the ground.
I did not capture the beginning of this incident but do have an interview of
someone who says she saw it from the start and that the police instigated
the scuffle.

Well, two days later on March 7th they came and arrested me, I told you that
part... I have no idea why. But am fearful that the war on terrorism is
more a war against anybody who speaks out against the war mongering and
foolish, corporate bought and paid for leadership of this country. Period.

Stay tuned. Arrainment is 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 11 in Municipal Court here
in Ashland. More vacation time required, damnn it, so that I can prove
myself innocent and stand proud for protecting our First Ammendment rights
here in little ol' Ashland, Oregon. It is an important fight and I am ready
for the cause.