PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Protest Ashcroft in Pittsburgh
by david Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 6:47 PM
david@heartofdarkness.org

for pittsburgh indymedia

EMERGENCY PROTEST
Protest Attorney General John Ashcroft's visit to Pittsburgh to promote the Patriot Act

When: 4pm, Monday, September 22

Where: Mariott Chatham Center, 112 Washington Place (btw Centre and Colwell, near Mellon Arena)

Why: On Monday, September 22, Attorney General John Ashcroft, the evil mastermind behind the USA Patriot Act, the Victory Act, and a host of executive orders that infringe on civil liberties, is coming to town. He's addressing a private gathering with law enforcement officials to build support for the USA PATRIOT Act and impending Patriot II legislation at the Mariott at Chatham Center at approximately 4:20 PM on Monday. We will be outside to greet him to let him know that Pittsburgh will not go willingly into that dark night.

Today the government can get a secret warrant to search your home without telling you until later. Today the government can monitor your Internet use, read your emails, and examine your online purchases. Today you can be detained without access to a lawyer, without being charged with a crime. Today the FBI is authorized to monitor your political and religious activities. We can only guess what tomorrow will bring. The United States is at risk of turning into a full-fledged surveillance society. The fact is, Orwell's vision of "Big Brother" is now, for the first time, technologically possible.

Ashcroft's visit is part of a 16 city speaking tour to defend the Bush Administration's policies in the face of community resolutions, lawsuits, and legislative initiatives. At least two lawsuits are challenging portions of the USA PATRIOT Act in federal courts. Several bills aimed at protecting civil liberties have been introduced in Congress. And the list of state and local governments that have passed resolutions to defend the Bill of Rights continues to grow -- 166 cities and three states, with more jurisdictions being added each week. The Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Campaign (http://www.pbordc.org) recently submitted a resolution to the City Council.

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Boobies & Bongs!
by annihilate church & state Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 6:55 AM

These are a few of Mullah Ashcroft and the American Taliban's favorite things...

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Me too !!
by A. Spincoli Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 7:28 AM

Hey, dude, I love boobies and bongs too! Oh MY GOD ... I'VE BECOME JOHN ASHCROFT. You guys are creeping me out. stop it.

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sexism and the fight against fascists
by wheatpaster Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 10:10 AM

While its fun to write about boobies and bongs in respect to John Asscroft, I hope activism in Pittsburgh maintains a non-Hustler attitude in its demonstrations.

One reason the antiwar movement in the 60s fizzled was foolishly maintaining a patriarchal style of organizing and language to overthrow a patriarchal movement. This caused many dedicated womyn in the movement to feel like second-class citizens. (Read some Angela Davis for a more detailed account). Not to say EVERYONE organizing in the 60s was sexist, but the problem is well documented.

There are plenty of reasons outside of his bizzare adversion to the female body to pick on Asscroft. I'd hate for Pittsburgh activism to send a thoughtless patriarchal message during this fantastic opportunity to put a fascist on blast.

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too much bias
by pfunkdog Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 11:59 AM

I would do it if it was properly justified. Rather than using your brain, you use your emotions.

You know what i thought of Bush when he used the term "axis of evil"? I thought he was an idiot.

You know what I think of you when you call Ashcroft "evil", an idiot.

Yes, the Patriot Act needs to be combatted. While there are many provisions that can't be argued against, there are those provisions in there that need to be reformed.

So how about we use our heads and try to make an EFFECTIVE plan of attack against these provisions, rather than getting fired up and looking like idiots, which just fuels the conservative agenda even more?

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