community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
update on pittsburgh 150
by Brian Combs
Friday, Mar. 21, 2003 at 11:24 PM
artriotmedia@aol.com
update on arrestees, this should have been uploaded around 7 but was having troubles
As of 6:30 several of us were being let go. We were given a ROR, which is a consent and forfeiture. Which means we had to pay no bail but must return to court at later date to fight the charges. They held out on us till they felt the protests were almost over because they didn't want us to go back and get involved. While in jail, we were told that the public defense laywers were putting forth a motion to have as sent to araignment and skip processing till a later date. The fucking Pgh City Police did not process us. This is what held most of us up as they had to process us and then send us to araignments. The motino that was promised to us as well as the idea of being released around 4:30 were complete bullshit from the Public Defenders, they realesed those of us left that had a valid PA state ID, while several others with out of state licenses or no id's were left in there sell. I estimate this to be about 35. I have no idea as to wether or not there still in there at the moment as I've been wandering around downtown attempting to get in touch with people and get my possessions back from the police. Many of us held at the county court house who had bags with us had our possessions left at the northside zone 1 station, this included cell phones and keys for myself and others. Leaving me to not be able to get in my car thats been parked at station square for the last 24 hours and unable to call anynoe as my numbers are in my cell phone. I lucked out and ran into a friend at Dusquene and have commodored his comp and phone to get in contact with others. I have no idea what I may experience once I finnaly make it to zone one to regain my possessions. Guys, please try to avoid arrests if at all possible. The police are extremely violent and disrepectful. I will have more details on that tomorow or whenever I officialy make it home. Most of us in the cells were in good spirits, and while locked up we proceded to discuss strategies for the next protest to avoid another mass arrest like this one. Most of us will be returning to court to get the charges dropped as well as attempting a class action suit against the City Police for abusive language and behavior. Plus holding us in jail for an outlandish period of time while lying to us and ignoring us when we pressed the emergency button in our cell to try to demand our phone calls and our public defense lawyers to get an update on our situation. Mad props to those who were with me in H15, and our brothers that joined us from H14 that are on the outside now and will make it to the outside soon hopefully. Thank you to all who suported us on the outside as well, it was great to see the rally of support outside when we were realized. Mad love to all of you. Solidarity forever.
--brian
Political Prisoner from M20 arrested in the Nazi Germany style roundup downtown.
i fucked up
by brian
Friday, Mar. 21, 2003 at 11:29 PM
artriotmedia@aol.com
I messed up, it wasn't a consent and forfeiture, it was just a being released on our own goodwill. We do have trials, but we were only charged for failure to disperce and blocking roadways. My trial and several others will be on March 28th, at 1 pm. A support group outside would be much welcomed. I have falled the post gazette to present my story to them of the events that happened to myself and others during our arrest. This is supposed to appear in the Sunday issue. I was a lttle afraid to use my actual name but I did anyways, should only be one quote, hopefuly not more that will result in me getting the shit beat out of me by cops again. Hopefully they'll get our story right this time. The idea that we had no available option to disperse most likely will appear as apparently many have reaffirmed this to the reporter in others. I'm not sure where it'll appear but pick up a copy. Also, anyone that was with us in H15, please email me, I'd love to stay in touch. You guys made my 22 1/2 hours in jail one of the best times of my life =) (after the police stopped beating my ass and calling me a faggot).
Out at 2:15 AM
by Paul
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 at 2:41 AM
My son just called me. He was released around 2:00 am, and said that there were about 10 people left. He was held for about 30 hours and released on his own recognizance.
He said that the people outside waiting made a big difference and helped a lot. So....for everybody who stayed in support ...THANK YOU!
The last one
by Troy Shelley
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 at 8:37 AM
axelfear@yahoo.com 412 422 6620
Brian,
I am so appalled at the treatment we all were subjected to at the prison. Laura (the woman who's nose was broken) has some very inhumane stories to tell. We were treated like POW's, not wrongfully incarcerated peace protesters. We were called Anti- American and told to leave the country. We were spat upon, figuratively, with the most racist, vulgar, foul, and uncalled-for words I have ever heard humans make. We were belittle and mocked.
I will not stand for this treatment. The people involved, i.e. police, CO's, and guards, need to be SHOWN that this action will not go unavenged.
Your fellow Soldier,
Troy Shelley
www.geocities.com/axelfear/axel_fear
They won't get away with it
by Brian
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 at 10:59 AM
artriotmedia@aol.com
They won't get away with it. We've been discussing a class action suit. I'm fighting the hell out of my charge, which is complete bull shit charges. They charged me for obstructing traffic when I was on the sidewalk when the arrested me. I called the poist gazette, some of the comments made towards me by the officers hopefully will be published. I think there definitely going to publish about us being given no room to disperse before arresting us. Apparently they've been told it by others so far and I called and told them about it. It's supposed to be in the paper on sunday. Where were you with the water though man? I was waiting and you weren't around, we were in a cell together for a bit but I didn't realize who you were untill they puled you out to do your arrest info. The city police are definatly going to face serious repurcusions for this. I'm still pretty muych locked up as I still don't have my possessions back and therefore can't get into my own apartment or get my car back. I'd have rather stayed another 12 hours and be let out at a time when I could go get my possessions back then at 7 like I was. It was too dark for me to be trying to figure out how to get my shit back from the other station. I'm just now about to get it back today. Thanks to all who kept hope alive while in the cell.
--brian
So sorry...
by Troy Shelley
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 at 6:41 PM
axelfear@yahoo.com 412 422 6620
Brian,
I attempted to get back to the courthouse to meet you like I said I would, and met with 50 or so police who told me to "turn the fuk around, commie" and "get the fuck away from us, you Anti-American".
I ended up handing out water anyway, and I hope you did too. :)
And I also realize who you were when I left the cell you and I were in. lol. That was so funny.
The Last one,
Fellow Soldier,
Troy Shelley
www.geocities.com/axelfear/axel_fear
Very Brutal
by Matt Walker
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2003 at 10:13 PM
Walkster1@aol.com
The police were very violent. I don't know if anyone saw it, but KDKA showed me, I was in a black shirt, blond hair, being arrested, thrown down, and hancuffed. The man from TMC was commenting saying that there was no reason to arrest me. As a juvenile, my charges were obstructing traffic --- the funny thing is, the video SHOWS me on the SIDEWALK being thrown to the street by the cops.
I'm taking it to court.
yeah, I was against the wall on the sidealk
by Brian
Sunday, Mar. 23, 2003 at 7:42 PM
artriotmedia@aol.com
Yeah, I was against the wall on the sidewalk when I was arrested in compliance with there orders. So I'm going to fight it. Thanks to all who chanted with me, "We're not against the cops, we're against the war" up to the end of our alleyway experience.
--brian
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)