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NEWS & LETTERS, DECEMBER 2003Miami police attack FTAA protestersThousands protested in Miami the week of Nov. 17 to oppose the meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) which will undercut workers' rights, gut environmental protections, and undermine direct democracy. Protesters met an unprecedented level of police violence, including attacks on elderly people, union members, student activists and other peaceful protesters with rubber bullets, truncheons, pepper spray, teargas, tasers and water cannons. More than 100 demonstrators were treated for injuries; 12 were hospitalized. There are estimates of more than 250 arrests--at least 50 jailed while holding a peaceful vigil outside the jail in solidarity with those inside. They were surrounded by riot police and ordered to disperse. As they did, police opened fire and blocked the streets preventing many from leaving. One Latino man was hospitalized in the intensive care unit after being beaten on the head with a nightstick. Those released reported excessive brutality, sexual assault and torture in jail. People were denied access to attorneys, visitation rights, proper food, warm clothing and access to medical attention and medication. Robert Irminger, a delegate to the San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO), reported that a young Black man was arrested after being pepper-sprayed directly in the eyes and not allowed to wash out his eyes. The people arrested were all stripped of their clothes and blasted with pressure hoses every two hours. Ana Nogueira wrote "I was arrested because I had not embedded myself with the police department before doing my job of covering the protests for the nationally syndicated public radio and TV program Democracy Now! I was swept up with about 70 others as we tried to obey an order to disperse from an 'unlawful' jail solidarity rally. If not for all the emails and phone calls the police received demanding my immediate release, I would still be there. I am still facing charges." There is an urgent need to raise funds to free those still in jail. Appeals are going out around the country for donations and support. More extensive information on the entire week can be found at www.ftaaimc.org. --Autonomia Network, Democracy Now!, Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, and others |
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