[Peace-discussion] Petition: Drop the Charges Against Catherine Wilkerson, MD

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:20:13 -0600

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There but for the "grace"? trying to think of the antithesis of grace, but,
for the 'grace' of ignorance and racism go we.
I signed on and have been encouraging others to sign on as well.
Peace,
joni

  _____  

From: peace-discussion-admin@lists.gp-us.org
[mailto:peace-discussion-admin@lists.gp-us.org] On Behalf Of Aimee Smith
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:13 AM
To: henry duke
Cc: lazyangels@sbcglobal.net; 'GPAX Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [Peace-discussion] Petition: Drop the Charges Against Catherine
Wilkerson, MD

On Nov 12, 2007, at 10:48 PM, henry duke wrote:

Why is this an important issue?

Because this case arises out of political repression. 
A peaceful protester was forcibly and brutally
arrested for actions that were fully within the
guidelines of UofM speech policy. The protester
was an Iranian woman who was dragged to the
ground by a 6'8" military trained campus police
officer who then employed torture pain compliance
techniques. The speaker was former Reagan 
administration member Ray Tanter calling for regime 
change in Iran. Two other protesters attempted to go 
to the aid of the first and one was later found on the floor
outside face down moaning in pain with the same
6'8" officer leaning over him.

A fourth peace activist who is a physician attempted to
go to the aid of that man and prevent him from undergoing
severe harm. (Deaths have occured under similar circumstances.) 
She identified herself as a doctor and did nothing more than give 
clear directions about how to protect the safety of that man.

Only after the incident hit the papers did the doctor and
an Iranian professor who also did nothing illegal get
charged. These were politically motivated charges. In
the case of the professor, it is to further intimidate all
professors of Middle Eastern background - a campaign
that is long underway. She was targeted by campus watch 
after that. In the case of the doctor, it is to intimidate
people from questioning police even when they have
authority as in such situations.

It is not the only important case around and we in Ann Arbor
who happened to witness the incident are of course more
focused on it than people further away will be, but it takes
2 minutes to sign the petition and forward on the email.
We hope you will consider it worthy of that attention since
this is part of the repression against people standing up
to war mongers.

The local and state Green Parties have endorsed the case
as has the Michigan chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild.

If you could forward the following text around, that would be
much appreciated. Also, the legal bills are into the tens of thousands
to fend off these baseless and malicious charges.

Sincerely,
Aimee Smith
Spokesperson for the Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson

***PLEASE FORWARD***

11/10/2007 Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson Update

In this update:
1. Sign the online petition
2. Contact Prosecutor Mackie
3. Rally for justice and peace
4. Trial dates and times
5. New endorsers
6. Other things you can do to help

1. Sign the online petition
The Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson now has an online petition to
University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and Washtenaw County
Prosecutor Brian Mackie for you to sign. Read the petition and sign-on at:
<http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/defendwilkerson>
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/defendwilkerson The trial starts soon
(see below), so please add your name and let others know about the petition
as soon as possible.

2. Contact Prosecutor Mackie
If you haven't already done so, it's not too late to make a call or send a
letter and an e-mail to Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie. You can
find the contact information and a sample letter at:
<http://defendwilkerson.org/sampltr.html>
http://defendwilkerson.org/sampltr.html You can also contact University of
Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman

President Mary Sue Coleman
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
 <mailto:presoff@umich.edu> presoff@umich.edu

3. Rally for justice and peace
As we have done for the last two weeks, for the next two Fridays supporters
of the Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson will join the folks who rally
in Ann Arbor every weekday rush hour to protest the war in Iraq. Defend
Wilkerson signs and a banner will be provided.

When: Friday, November 16 & 23, 5PM - 6PM 
Where: Corner of Fifth & Liberty, Ann Arbor (in front of the Federal
Building) 

4. Trial dates and times
Jury selection is 11/19/07 at 1:30 PM. Trial is currently scheduled for
11/26/07 at 1 PM and on 11/27, 11/28, & 11/30 at 8:30 AM . All events take
place in the courtroom of 15th District Court Judge Elizabeth Pollard-Hines.
The court is located at 101 E. Huron St. (corner of Main St.) in downtown
Ann Arbor. For directions go
<http://www.a2gov.org/services/OtherServices/15D/Pages/DirectionstotheCourt.
aspx> here. The court phone number is (734) 222-3380. We'll try to keep you
apprised of scheduling changes but if you're coming in from out-of-town then
you may want to call first.

5. New endorsers
Thanks to the efforts of Paul L., the Committee to Defend Catherine
Wilkerson has two new Florida-based endorsing organizations:
<http://bolivarianyouth.com/> Bolivarian Youth and the
<http://www.antiwarbroward.org/> Broward AntiWar Coalition. Welcome and
thanks to our friends and allies in Florida for joining with our earlier
endorsers: National Lawyers Guild, Detroit & Michigan Chapter; Council on
American Islamic Relations, Michigan Chapter; Detroit Coalition Against
Police Brutality; Huron Valley Greens; Green Party of Michigan; Michigan
Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice; and, the Gray Panthers of Huron
Valley.

6. Other things you can do to help
I was recently asked by an activist in Los Angeles what he could do to help.
Here's a revised version of the list I sent him:

a. Spread the word to friends and fellow justice and peace activists by
e-mail
b. Phone or send a letter to the prosecutor urging him to drop the charges
c. Let friends and allies in southeast Michigan know about the case and the
Committee and encourage them to get involved
d. Hold a fund raising event--Dr. Wilkerson could teleconference or maybe
send a video--or <http://defendwilkerson.org/donate2.html> make a donation
to the Committee.
e. Get organizational endorsements of our work.
f. Write an article or do an interview on the case.
g. If you have connections to any high-profile political figures who might
send a letter of support then please let us know.

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<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D203411817-13112007><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>There but for the "grace"? trying to think of =
the=20
antithesis of grace, but, for the 'grace' of ignorance and racism go=20
we.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D203411817-13112007><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>I signed on and have been encouraging others to =
sign on as=20
well.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D203411817-13112007><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>Peace,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><SPAN class=3D203411817-13112007><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#0000ff size=3D2>joni</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft>
<HR tabIndex=3D-1>
<FONT face=3DTahoma size=3D2><B>From:</B> =
peace-discussion-admin@lists.gp-us.org=20
[mailto:peace-discussion-admin@lists.gp-us.org] <B>On Behalf Of =
</B>Aimee=20
Smith<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:13 AM<BR><B>To:</B> =
henry=20
duke<BR><B>Cc:</B> lazyangels@sbcglobal.net; 'GPAX Discussion=20
List'<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Peace-discussion] Petition: Drop the =
Charges=20
Against Catherine Wilkerson, MD<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>On Nov 12, 2007, at 10:48 PM, henry duke wrote:</DIV><BR=20
class=3DApple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type=3D"cite">
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN: 0px">Why is this an important issue?</DIV>
  <DIV=20
style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: =
0px"><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Because this case arises out of political repression.
<DIV>A peaceful protester was forcibly and brutally</DIV>
<DIV>arrested for actions that were fully within the</DIV>
<DIV>guidelines of UofM speech policy. The protester</DIV>
<DIV>was an Iranian woman who was dragged to the</DIV>
<DIV>ground by a 6'8" military trained campus police</DIV>
<DIV>officer who then employed torture pain compliance</DIV>
<DIV>techniques. The speaker was former Reagan </DIV>
<DIV>administration member Ray Tanter calling for regime </DIV>
<DIV>change in Iran. Two other protesters attempted to go </DIV>
<DIV>to the aid of the first and one was later found on the floor</DIV>
<DIV>outside face down moaning in pain with the same</DIV>
<DIV>6'8" officer leaning over him.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>A fourth peace activist who is a physician attempted to</DIV>
<DIV>go to the aid of that man and prevent him from undergoing</DIV>
<DIV>severe harm. (Deaths have occured under similar circumstances.) =
</DIV>
<DIV>She identified herself as a doctor and did nothing more than give =
</DIV>
<DIV>clear directions about how to protect the safety of that man.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Only after the incident hit the papers did the doctor and</DIV>
<DIV>an Iranian professor who also did nothing illegal get</DIV>
<DIV>charged. These were politically motivated charges. In</DIV>
<DIV>the case of the professor, it is to further intimidate all</DIV>
<DIV>professors of Middle Eastern background - a campaign</DIV>
<DIV>that is long underway. She was targeted by campus watch </DIV>
<DIV>after that. In the case of the doctor, it is to intimidate</DIV>
<DIV>people from questioning police even when they have</DIV>
<DIV>authority as in such situations.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>It is not the only important case around and we in Ann Arbor</DIV>
<DIV>who happened to witness the incident are of course more</DIV>
<DIV>focused on it than people further away will be, but it takes</DIV>
<DIV>2 minutes to sign the petition and forward on the email.</DIV>
<DIV>We hope you will consider it worthy of that attention since</DIV>
<DIV>this is part of the repression against people standing up</DIV>
<DIV>to war mongers.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>The local and state Green Parties have endorsed the case</DIV>
<DIV>as has the Michigan chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>If you could forward the following text around, that would be</DIV>
<DIV>much appreciated. Also, the legal bills are into the tens of=20
thousands</DIV>
<DIV>to fend off these baseless and malicious charges.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely,</DIV>
<DIV>Aimee Smith</DIV>
<DIV>Spokesperson for the Committee to Defend Catherine =
Wilkerson</DIV><BR=20
class=3Dkhtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV><FONT class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">***PLEASE=20
FORWARD***</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">11/10/2007 =
Committee to=20
Defend Catherine Wilkerson Update</SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><B>In=20
this update:</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =
face=3DGeorgia=20
size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">1. Sign=20
the online petition</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =
face=3DGeorgia=20
size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">2.=20
Contact Prosecutor Mackie</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =
face=3DGeorgia=20
size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">3.=20
Rally for justice and peace</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">4.=20
Trial dates and times</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =
face=3DGeorgia=20
size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">5. New=20
endorsers</SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia =
size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px">6. Other things you can do to =
help</SPAN></FONT><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT =
class=3DApple-style-span=20
face=3DGeorgia size=3D3><SPAN class=3DApple-style-span =
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 13px"><B>1.=20
Sign the online petition</B></SPAN></FONT><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =

face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> The=20
Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson now has an online petition to =
University=20
of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and Washtenaw County Prosecutor =
Brian=20
Mackie for you to sign. Read the petition and sign-on at: =
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/defendwilkerson"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>http://www.ipetitio<FONT class=3DApple-style-span =

color=3D#001fe7>ns.com/petition/defendwilkerson</A><=
FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> The trial starts soon (see below), so please =
add your=20
name and let others know about the petition as soon as=20
possible.<SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"> <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> 2.=20
Contact Prosecutor Mackie If you=20
haven't already done so, it's not too late to make a call or send a =
letter and=20
an e-mail to Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie. You can find the =
contact=20
information and a sample letter at: <A=20
href=3D"http://defendwilkerson.org/sampltr.html"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span color=3D#001fe7>http://defendwilker<FONT =

class=3DApple-style-span=20
color=3D#001fe7>son.org/sampltr.html</A><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> You can also contact University of Michigan =
President=20
Mary Sue Coleman President Mary Sue Coleman<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> University of Michigan<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> Ann=20
Arbor, MI 48109 <A=20
href=3D"mailto:presoff@umich.edu"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span color=3D#001fe7>presoff@umich.<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span =
color=3D#001fe7>edu</A><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> 3.=20
Rally for justice and peace As we=20
have done for the last two weeks, for the next two Fridays supporters of =
the=20
Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson will join the folks who rally in =
Ann=20
Arbor every weekday rush hour to protest the war in Iraq. Defend =
Wilkerson signs=20
and a banner will be provided. When:=20
Friday, November 16 &amp; 23, 5PM - 6PM <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> Where:=20
Corner of Fifth &amp; Liberty, Ann Arbor (in front of the Federal =
Building)=20
<SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"> <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> 4.=20
Trial dates and times Jury=20
selection is 11/19/07 at 1:30 PM. Trial is currently scheduled for =
11/26/07 at 1=20
PM and on 11/27, 11/28, &amp; 11/30 at 8:30 AM . All events take place =
in the=20
courtroom of 15th District Court Judge Elizabeth Pollard-Hines. The =
court is=20
located at 101 E. Huron St. (corner of Main St.) in downtown Ann Arbor. =
For=20
directions go <A=20
href=3D"http://www.a2gov.org/services/OtherServices/15D/Pages/Directionst=
otheCourt.aspx"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>here</A>. The=20
court phone number is (734) 222-3380. We'll try to keep you apprised of=20
scheduling changes but if you're coming in from out-of-town then you may =
want to=20
call first.<SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"> <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> 5.=20
New endorsers Thanks=20
to the efforts of Paul L., the Committee to Defend Catherine Wilkerson =
has two=20
new Florida-based endorsing organizations: <A=20
href=3D"http://bolivarianyouth.com/"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span color=3D#001fe7>Bolivarian=20
Youth</A> and =
the=20
<A href=3D"http://www.antiwarbroward.org/"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>Broward=20
AntiWar Coalition</A><FONT class=3DApple-style-span =

face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>.=20
Welcome and thanks to our friends and allies in Florida for joining with =
our=20
earlier endorsers: National Lawyers Guild, Detroit &amp; Michigan =
Chapter;=20
Council on American Islamic Relations, Michigan Chapter; Detroit =
Coalition=20
Against Police Brutality; Huron Valley Greens; Green Party of Michigan; =
Michigan=20
Emergency Committee Against War &amp; Injustice; and, the Gray Panthers =
of Huron=20
Valley.<SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"> <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> 6.=20
Other things you can do to help I was=20
recently asked by an activist in Los Angeles what he could do to help. =
Here's a=20
revised version of the list I sent him:<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> a.=20
Spread the word to friends and fellow justice and peace activists by=20
e-mail<SPAN=20
class=3DApple-style-span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
13px"> <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>b. Phone or send a letter to the prosecutor =
urging him=20
to drop the charges c. Let=20
friends and allies in southeast Michigan know about the case and the =
Committee=20
and encourage them to get involved d. Hold=20
a fund raising event--Dr. Wilkerson could teleconference or maybe send a =

video--or <A =
href=3D"http://defendwilkerson.org/donate2.html"><FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3>make a=20
donation to the Committee</A>. e. Get=20
organizational endorsements of our work.<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> f.=20
Write an article or do an interview on the case.<FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> g. If=20
you have connections to any high-profile political figures who might =
send a=20
letter of support then please let us know. <FONT=20
class=3DApple-style-span face=3DGeorgia size=3D3> </DIV></BODY></HTML>

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