Why in the world would they be intimidated by the government watching them? Isn't that the whole point of the rally to begin with?
Get the government to notice you!
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Posted on 07/07/2006 8:01:34 AM PDT by SmithL
WALNUT CREEK - Local peace groups are upset over California Homeland Security's intelligence-gathering before a March 18 anti-war rally in Walnut Creek.
Ivette Maruri, who recently started up a Contra Costa chapter of Code Pink, a women's peace organization, said she could not believe the government would spend taxpayer dollars to monitor her group.
"There's a lot of people who want to come to a protest, but they're scared that the government is watching you, so they don't come," Maruri said. "It's just really intimidating to people."
The state's March 7 report included a list of 10 "upcoming California protests." It stated that United for Peace and Justice, which has a Bay Area chapter; and Code Pink, which has a Contra Costa chapter, would meet at the Walnut Creek BART station. The report noted that a rally would be held at Civic Park, at the corner of Civic Drive and Broadway.
Under "topic/issues," it listed "El Sobrante Citizen's for Peace-Peace is Possible." Two other headings, titled "anticipated number of people" and "officer safety and concerns" listed no additional information.
In a letter to the governor and state and federal offices of Homeland Security, Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, asked for a complete accounting of how political activities are tracked.
"The notion that federal, state or local governments would covertly monitor citizens engaged in peaceful political expression is completely unacceptable and in violation of the fundamental spirit that established our democracy," wrote Miller, who spoke at the March 18 Walnut Creek gathering.
Although the Walnut Creek-based Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center was not specifically named in the report, its members are wondering why the state was keeping tabs on an event it helped spearhead.
"Citizens expressing their desire for the war in Iraq to end are clearly acting within First Amendment-guaranteed rights to free speech and assembly," said Mary Alice O'Connor, executive director of the center.
There. All fixed.
Two words in and there is ALREADY a lie.
The anti-AMERICAN war movement is NOT a peace movement. They are usually PRO-Palestinian war and some even openly support the use of suicide bombers ("they are using the only weapons they have, -cry- THEIR BODIES!!!").
And I can't believe the government wastes $$$ on PBS. Oh well.
Thank you for the correction. They're much more than a "peace" group. Shame on the Times for not reporting this correctly.
Ivette Maruri, who recently started up a Contra Costa chapter of Code Pink, a women's peace organization, said she could not believe the government would spend taxpayer dollars to monitor her group.
"There's a lot of people who want to come to a protest, but they're scared that the government is watching you, so they don't come," Maruri said. "It's just really intimidating to people."
She's another useful idiot who still denies that there were ever Communists infiltrating such organizations.
Even Timothy Leary was conscious of their influence in groups he had joined prior to his LSD days.
Infiltrating? They ARE the communists!
Some of those dollars come from me and I consider it money well spent. People don't feel too intimidated to come to your stupid rallys, they are not interested, you twit.
"Uh...you're probably being watched because Code Pink has given aid to the 'other side' in Fallujah."
Which, IIRC, is called "treason" in the Constitution. I believe that makes them people who bear watching, and I'm happy we're spending my taxpayer dollars on that! Beats heck out of paying for another abortion, or sending someone like Joe Wilson on a trip overseas, IMHO.
Heck yes keep an eye on the enemy within!
Every one I can think of the last 50 years has involved either a deranged loner, or a membership in or at least close affiliation with some group on either the left or right that overtly or covertly advocates violent "direct action".
So my question would be: is this a good use of resources?
Guess what? The government monitors every letter I send to my Senators or Congressmen. The government monitors your employment through several agencies including the IRS and Social Security. The government monitors you through your birth certificate, wedding license, driver's license, professional licenses, etc.
If the government doesn't know who you are you will have a very difficult time living and operating within a modern society. If you seek to know and influence your government, they will have to know about you.
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Why in the world would they be intimidated by the government watching them? Isn't that the whole point of the rally to begin with? Get the government to notice you! |
Yeah right. If it weren't for government "intimidation" everyone would join these clowns. Jeeze, that's not even true in the Bay Area!
Hey, they wanted attention, now they got it.
Code Pink sent over $600,000 to terrorist-connected groups in Fallujah, Iraq and can't guarantee that the money and supplies were not used to fight and kille U.S. Soldiers.
Code Pink has brought in Baathist propaganda shills from Iraq to do a speaking tour in America to spread their pro-Saddam, pro-insurgent lies.
Code Pink was founded by pro-Casto marxists who hate America.
Code Pink leaders attempted to travel to communist Cuba to spend Christmas with Castro. Thwarted by the State Department, they spent Christmas in Venezuela with communist dictator Chavez.
Code Pink has engaged in a pre-meditated campaign to demoralize U.S. troops while encouraging terrorist insurgents in Iraq.
Code Pink not only deserves to be monitored by the Federal Government, they deserve to be arrested and their assets seized as part of a pro-terrorist conspiracy. It is appalling what they've been able to get away with for so long and it is intolerable that appropriate federal agencies have not yet acted against them.
Uh...you're probably being watched because Code Pink has given aid to the 'other side' in Fallujah.
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Exactly!
What's to be scared of? Police monitor your driving. The IRS monitors your money. It's the gov'ment's job to monitor people for illegal and/or subversive activity. Maybe some of that activity has been generated. Ya think?
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