Contact Info for Arrested IMF Protesters:
bhale@ic.sunysb.edu (New York, NY)
jdoty2@san.rr.com (San Diego, CA)
gabriel_freeman@yahoo.com (Seattle, WA)
yossarian@reed.edu (Portland, OR)
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A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C E
http://www.ainfos.ca/
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156 World Bank/IMF Protesters Released En Masse From DC Jail
DC Authorities Capitulate to Protesters' "Jail Solidarity"
What: Jubilant reunion of prisoners of conscience and protesters as
prisoners are released
When: From approx. 7:30 pm to 1 or 2 am
Where: Washington DC Jail, 19th and D Sts., SE
Why: The 156 people arrested during the April 16-17 demonstrations at the
spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
have been released from jail. By practicing "jail solidarity", they were
successful in obtaining release with only a nominal fine to pay and no
criminal record added to their names. Amid scenes of jubilation and
relief, prisoners were reunited with their fellow protesters outside the
DC Courthouse at 500 Indiana Avenue jail where those protesters had
maintained a 24 hour vigil in support of those inside. The capitulation
of the authorities was the result of a pre-planned process of "jail
solidarity", whereby prisoners withheld their names through exercising
their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, and overburdened the system
with their united noncooperation. For those prisoners, cooperating in any
manner, shape or form with what they considered to be a "corrupt and
oppressive police state" would run counter to their conscience. ("War
tax" resisters act according to a similar principle.)
"This is total capitulation," says Katya Komisaruk, attorney with the
Midnight Special Legal Collective. "As with the mass arrests made in
Seattle, here in DC we've demonstrated the genuine power wielded by
people united. Solidarity is virtually unstoppable. On to Philly and LA
for the Republican and Democratic National Conventions."
District of Columbia Chief Judge Eugene Hamilton had instructed the team
of prosecutors to resolve the stress on the DC jails by today. The
defense team, comprising the Midnight Special Legal Collective (formed
from the Direct Action Network legal team that successfully won the
dismissal of nearly all 600 Seattle WTO charges), the National Lawyers
Guild, the National Conference of Black Lawyers, and the Court Appointed
Panel negotiated with the District of Columbia Corporation Counsel and the
US Attorney's Office, seeking the demands arrived at through a unique
"consensus" process (decision by unanimity) by the prisoners.
The plea bargain agreement included a reduction in charges to jaywalking,
with an accompanying $5 fine, the total sum of which was raised by
concerned local citizens within minutes. The authorities have insisted
that all released give a name, but no identification will be checked for
verification. In addition, the terms apply retroactively to all arrested
protesters who have not yet paid a fine but who provided identification in
order to return to their family, work, or to flee the extensively reported
and soon-to-be thoroughly investigated physical and psychological
brutality of the US Marshals within the DC Courthouse. Also covered are
any prisoners "lost" within the District of Columbia jail system, a
legitimate concern say many familiar with the DC bureaucracy.
Erin Fischer, a graduate student at Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government, said shortly after her release, "Those of us who just spent
four days in jail have a much deeper understanding of the oppression
caused by IMF/World Bank policies. Attempts by the prison system, and the
US Marshals in particular, to abuse and dehumanize us only show how
seriously they take us. We've come out of this stronger, and with
complete confidence in our power as agents of non-violent change."
The original threats hurled at the detainees that they would be sent to
the general prison population and be assuredly beaten and/or raped proved
hollow. The male IMF/WB inmates established a rapport with their fellow
inmates, took testimonials from them regarding institutional abuse, and
pledged to work from the outside for the correction and prosecution of
heinous human rights violations. "Their every attempt to intimidate or to
divide and conquer only helps us. You would think they would learn," said
a released demonstrator who identified himself as Daniel Freiheit.
The IMF/WB activists will spend the evening celebrating their total
victory -- debriefing legal and medical teams, reuniting with friends and
family, some having their first meal since Monday.
For Immediate Release: 4/21/00 Contact: Denis Moynihan
617-216-4671,
David Levy 917-682-7111
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