[OT] What is happening to my country?

[ethios4]

To summarize, The US Federal Government is cracking down on the peaceful Rainbow Gathering this year - using it to test police state tactics on innocent people. Please read.....I posted this out of order so you can skip right to the truly frightening part...


REPRESSIVE FEDERAL POLICIES --

The Bush Administration has spent millions of dollars trying to stop the Rainbow Gatherings. They are enforcing a 'Noncommercial Group Use' permit regulation that is impossible for unaffiliated individuals to comply with. 36 CFR 251.54 They require that that someone sign as an agent for a fictional group entity named as permit Holder -- which then must assume full liability from the Government and bind participants vicariously to its terms.

By the creed of the gatherings, no one can appoint themselves to such a position. More importantly, such an ad hoc gathering has no legal capacity to designate agents or act as a group party in any way. As a result, individuals are denied personal standing in First Amendment exercise and subjected to harsh criminal prosecution for being anywhere near the area

The Forest Service requires that a permit be applied for in advance of the gathering. And they use any excuse possible to deny a permit application when we manage to submit one. This year their denial was based on the fact that a logging company had a permit to log in a nearby parcel of the national forest, even though there is no logging activity present whatsoever. The site is far remote from any inhabitants -- but still the Forest Service is all over our case.

Millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent to block this harmless gathering from taking place. The scariest aspect of all this is how Homeland Security is using these gatherings to perfect their techniques of martial law. Regulations written for the Federal Emergency Management Authority to deal with natural disasters are now being used to crush dissent in this country.

Each year the Rainbow Gathering is declared a "National Incident" and federal military law ensues. A Special Agent is appointed "Incident Commander", with a Delegation of Authority, a large law enforcement "Team", and huge budget to control the gathering. Qualified Forest Service administrators lose their power, while the county sheriff and other officials are brought into targeted law enforcement actions by inclusion in the Incident Team and other inter-agency agreements.

Each year Homeland Security gains more power over the individuals involved.

RIGHTS CRISIS IN COLORADO --

At this writing Forest Service law enforcement has issued over 500 tickets to the early arrivals at the gathering in Colorado. They have blocked the road and have prevented food and water from reaching those who managed to get into the gathering before the police roadblock was set up.

The 500 people with tickets are being herded into trials like none anyone has seen before in America. These pseudo trials are prototypes for what Homeland Security will use in the cases of insurrection or even a plague. Defendants lose the right to a public hearing (this year these hearings are being held behind closed doors in a firehouse garage near the site.

Attorneys and legal observers have been denied the right to even view these trials. The defendants are not explained their rights nor afforded the right to an attorney, the right to summon witnesses, the right to a jury trial, etc. Defendants ordered to appear each day at 9:00 a.m. and sit in the hot sun without water or sanitary facilities until their trials. Some have now been waiting for several days. These abbreviated trials only take a few minutes. Last year I tried to help a string of defendants defend themselves in these trials but felt helpless to do much as the system was clearly stacked against them.

This year is especially frustrating to me as I have to watch this come down from 6000 miles away. Right now I am in Hungary at a medical conference for my employment. I am flying home on Thursday and plan on being in court Saturday, July 1st, to defend some of my best friends who got a ticket for illegally gathering as they drove down a public highway.

WHAT TO DO --

The confrontation this year is getting more intense by the minute, which is why I am asking for your help. The only way to stop a massive conflagration in Colorado in the next few days is to get thousands of people to contact their political representatives as well as the responsible administrators at the Forest Service to demand that this repression stop immediately.

Please, even if you can never conceive of yourself at a Rainbow Gathering, you must understand that if these citizens lose their constitutional right to gather, we all lose such rights. This year the Rainbow Gathering is being used to set precedents that will be turned against drug policy, civil liberty, anti-war or other activists in the near future.
**********************
Following are some instructions on who to write and/or call

We hope to start flooding the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service with complaints starting Monday morning and not stopping until harassment stops. It is especially important that we get a few Congressional representative and Senators concerned enough to write the Forest Service for an explanation of why so much money is being spent to keep people from camping in the National Forest set aside for exactly that purpose.

Please keep the pressure on these bureaucrats until we are able to spread the word that the government has backed off and that the gathering can proceed unhindered.

If you do not know the contact information for your Congressman or Senator, you can find this here. You can call your representative at 212-224-3121. Besides your representatives in Washington, please call and write the following people to voice your protest to this harsh treatment of people who just want to go on a camping trip in the woods. Keep the calls coming until word is passed around that the government has called off their dogs. Please forward this letter to your friends and feel free to re-post it on any listserv or website you wish. Email me if you have any questions.

Don E Wirtshafter
Attorney at Law
Box 18 Guysville, OH 45735
740 662 5297
[email protected]


Here's the beginning of the letter, explaining the Rainbow Gathering...

Dear Friends and Family,

I need your help to protect my family, the collective efforts of tens of thousands of citizens known as the "Rainbow Family." This week, near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service has taken illegal action to stop this annual assembly for expression and prayer, in gross violation of the participants essential Constitutional rights.

The 'Rainbow' Gatherings have borne a legacy of spiritual & cultural pilgrimage to the National Forests since 1972, the purest exercise of open consensual assembly in our time. The annual 'Gathering of the Tribes' draws thousands over the first week of July, focusing on the 4th as a holy day of prayer for peace and freedom. In recent years small regional events in this mode have emerged, and such gatherings have taken place in many nations around the world.

THE GATHERING EXPERIENCE --

Some say the "Rainbow" Gathering is the continuation of the idealism of Woodstock. I think of it more as my annual spiritual retreat and family reunion. Since 1980, I have gathered with my family to compare ideas and pray for peace. I arrive loaded with the burdens of my work, depressed about the world situation. Each year I depart with my faith in humankind renewed and with the energy to fight the beast another year.

The rainbow family is not organized in any way; it is an exercise in self-determination and cooperation in the public interest, without need of government controls. We understand that no matter what comes down, it is the respect and care for each other that win in the end. We have no leaders or leadership, we have no offices or officers, we have no treasurer or treasury. We sit in counsel, often for days at a time in order to make mutual decisions, but there is no power to enforce these decisions on any individual. In the end, just like in society, it works because enough responsible people make sure that what needs to be done gets done.

We have been doing rainbow gatherings for over 30 years, each time in a different national forest across the country. We come in and set up a village in the woods. Cooperative kitchens pour out a wide variety of foods. Seminars on just about any topic are run by the hour.

The Rainbow is known as a healing gathering; people with various ailments come for help. Here in one place they can receive healing, from herbalists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and masseuses working with osteopaths and physicians. These healers work as a team and share their knowledge in a holistic approach that teaches all involved a lot about the roots of medicine.

Religious groups, ranging from Christians to Hare Krishnas set up camps. It's truly a free society. We go pretty far back in the woods to get away from the ills of civilization like alcohol and hard drugs. We have our gathering and then restore any damage we cause to the woods. And we have a perfect record of restoration of the forest.

It's great to walk through a gathering and see so many people but not a scrap of paper on the ground, not a cigarette butt in sight. Each year we train thousands of newcomers how to get along in the woods without destroying the place. Knowledgeable Forest Servide 'Resource' personnel love us; it's the Federal bureaucrats and police from Washington who are on our case.

[hambone1]

Scary. I reserve judgement until I hear the other side of the story, though...

[djshiva]

it's really not that far-fetched that this is happening. they have honed their para-military techniques on ravers and protesters, and now they have a large non-violent gathering to really test their mettle. *snort*

fascism creeps in slowly, so you don't realize it's happening...until it's all around you and you never noticed it.

ugh.

[djadonis206]

Yeah that sucks - curious how things like Burning Man can go on and things like this Rainbow Coalition can't? Or why the Rainbow people are running into such resistance.

yeah that sucks but I would like to hear the other side as well - can't really make a decision either way until I hear both sides of the coin from the other side.

[ethios4]

I'd also like to hear both sides, although it is hard for me to imagine what could possibly justify those kind of bogus unconstitutional trials...


Some resources to research these issues further:

The best Rainbow website: http://www.welcomehome.org

A good article written before the feds came down hard: http://www.csindy.com

More recent coverage: Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post

And some contacts if you want to protest this...

USDA, Natural Resources & Environment
Mark Rey, USDA Undersecretary
1400 Independence Ave. SW, .. 217-E
Washington, DC 20250
202-720-7173 Fax: 202-720-0632
[email protected]

Kathleen Gause, Director 202-205-8534
USDA Forest Service
Civil Rights Staff
Stop Code 1142
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington., DC 20250-1142
Tel (202) 205-1585


Office of the Chief
Dale Bosworth, Chief
USDA Forest Service
Yates Federal Building (4NW Yates)
201 14th Street, SW - Washington, DCÊ20250
202-205-1661; Fx: 202-205-1765
Executive Assistant...Karla Hawley, 202 -205-1195

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests,
Mary H. Peterson, Supervisor
2468 Jackson Street -- Laramie, WY 82070-6535
307-745-2300 Fax: 307-745-2398

U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region (R-2)
Rick Cables, Regional Forester
Mail: P.O. Box 25127 -- Lakewood, CO 80225-0127
303-275-5451
Richard Stem, Deputy Regional Forester, Resources: 303-275-5451

Steve Silverman, Office of General Counsel, Regional Attorney: 303-275-5536

Bill Fox, Law Enforcement & Investigations, Special Agent in Charge: 303-275-5253

Jerome Romero, Deputy Director of Civil Rights: 303-275-5340

[Rajah]

Just do like me.... Stop listening to talk radio, stop watching news, stop viewing CSPAN. Just tell them, DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO DO... I don't give a shit anymore.

[jonathono2000]

How long have you lived in the US. Get used to it. The Bill of Rights, The Constitiution don't mean shit. The government can do whatever the hell it wants and the only reason things like freedom of speech and right to gather exist is to make people that would never oppose the government have a false sense of security. As for those of us who disagree with the government, we have no rights.

[Hatchets McGee]

freedom of speech ?

freedom to get locked up...

[djadonis206]

Here's my plan to deal with the US Government and I've said this before

I'm studying to get a degree in something universal - first I need to finish these prereqs which I'm doing but then I may get a technical degree (IT stuff) but I'm planning on going to the University of Washington and getting a degree in Community, Evironmental planning - and a masters in Urban Planning

Then I'm packing my bags and leaving the country - Spain, South America or Europe

Sure everywhere has problems but my friend from Jamaica said it best - go to the United States and get your education then leave...easy

but I'm not leaving without a degree in something pimping - I'm not going to go to some fancy country and be stupid

fuck I'll move to Ibiza - or Amsterdam and get high on herion for the rest of my life.

I'm not a liberal or conservative I'm just me - I'm conservative on a lot fo things and liberal on everything else

I think people should be able to say and do what they want as long as no one is getting physically harmed

if the rainbow people want to gather, cool but don't bother the Aryan race if they want to gather <--- that's america - everyone's protected (supposedly under the constitution)

but I think if the government is truely trying to halt the free speech or right to gather for the sake of being facist then that's fucked up - but then again, I haven't heard both sides

I'm getting my education and getting out of here - this place is dumb except for the fried chicken, black girls in Atlanta and New York Yankees

[DeadlyKungFu]

They've been after the Rainbows for years. The problem with their organisation is that they move around from year to year and locals NEVER like to see them roll into town. It doesn't matter how peaceful or environmental the Rainbows are, no town wants to have an influx of thousands of strangers take over their small mountain town. Especially not a counter culture, that scares mountain folks who just want a quiet life in the woods away from people.

This is from a local news report:
"When it's over, all that's left is going to be one square mile of feces," said Alicia Spanhake of Steamboat Springs. "I hate hippies." Steamboat Springs is a pretty uptight town, I was once yelled at there "go back to Boulder!!" when they noticed I was from Boulder (going to school at CU). Colorado as a whole is pretty uptight and provincial.

As for their legal rights, our rights are only what our government grants us, not what the Bill Of Rights dictates. When the man's got you there's nothing you can do but grab your ankles and wait it out. I feel for those people awaiting 'trial'.


Burningman has had similar problems but over the years they've established a great relationship with the local town of Gurlach, NV. Coffee, ice and water sales from BM go to the local high school and the event itself has become a large part of the town's economy. By proving year after year that BM truly is a leave no trace event they've been able to get permits every year. BUT there have been many years where they almost didn't. Also, there are distinct individuals who are responsible for what goes on at BM, there are also hundreds of plain clothes and undercover cops from local and Federal law enforcement groups.

[ILTK]

[M. Bréqs]

...36 CFR 251.54 They require that that someone sign as an agent for a fictional group entity named as permit Holder -- which then must assume full liability from the Government and bind participants vicariously to its terms.

Sheesh.

The fact that they want somebody to represent the group and be liable in case anything happens is pretty reasonable to me.

What if there is lingering environmental damage from the gathering? What if somebody hurts themselves? With zero organizational structure, there's:

1. No incentive to assemble safely and responsibly towards the local environment / residents, becuase there's;

2. No accountability.

If the rainbow people wanna assemble (which they have the right to do so), it's simple. Get together, elect a representative, and sign the damn paper. It's that easy.

I mean, I have the right to vote, but I still have to REGISTER. Americans have the right to bear arms, but I imagine that they have to sign a piece of paper to do so. I have the right to free Health Care in Canada, but I still have to fill out a fairly comprehensive set of forms to get a health card. I have the right to own a dog, drive a car or catch a fish, but I need a license. Shit, nowhere in the constitution or bill of rights does it say that these rights must be extended without any sort of reasonable administrative process on the part of the government...

I see this more like these people are specifically and intentionally thumbing their nose at a very small, very reasonable excercise of authority (which is designed to protect the year-round residents and the environment) out of some manner of anarchist / anti-establishment idealogy. Either get with the program and elect a representative to go get a permit, or assemble on somebody's private property (with their permission of course) and the whole problem goes away.

By the creed of the gatherings, no one can appoint themselves to such a position.

...Then the problem isn't the government, it's your creed. Besides, nobody said anything about "appointing" a leader, just elect (or decide through weed-induced consensus) somebody to sign the damn forms. There's good reason we as a society demand accountability, it's fundamental to our organization. It's a fucking permit for christ's sake...

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

[hambone1]

Hmmm... I somehow thought there was another side to the original one-sided dialogue...

[djshiva]

...36 CFR 251.54 They require that that someone sign as an agent for a fictional group entity named as permit Holder -- which then must assume full liability from the Government and bind participants vicariously to its terms.

Sheesh.

The fact that they want somebody to represent the group and be liable in case anything happens is pretty reasonable to me.

What if there is lingering environmental damage from the gathering? What if somebody hurts themselves? With zero organizational structure, there's:

1. No incentive to assemble safely and responsibly towards the local environment / residents, becuase there's;

2. No accountability.

If the rainbow people wanna assemble (which they have the right to do so), it's simple. Get together, elect a representative, and sign the damn paper. It's that easy.

I see this more like these people are specifically thumbing their nose at a very small, very reasonable excercise of authority which is designed to protect the year-round residents and the environment. Either get with the program and elect a representative to go get a permit, or assemble on somebody's private property (with their permission of course) and the whole problem goes away.

By the creed of the gatherings, no one can appoint themselves to such a position.

...Then the problem isn't the government, it's your creed. There's good reason we as a society demand accountability, it's fundamental to our organization. It's a fucking permit for christ's sake...

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

well i am gonna have to disagree with you on a couple of counts mbreqs...

1) there is nothing wrong with wanting to organize on a non-heirarchal basis, which as far as i can tell, is the impetus behind the lack of a leadership with the rainbow family. i will agree that for the sake of lessening the issues behind the permits, they could just bite the bullet and just say "here's our rep" and be done with it. the flip side is that this person is gonna be held responsible for any issues, and if they are operating on a non-heirarchal basis, that's gonna be tough to find someone who can or will do that.

these two points especially i have to address:

1. No incentive to assemble safely and responsibly towards the local environment / residents, becuase there's;

2. No accountability.

we live in a society that assumes (nay, encourages) people to have no sense of personal responsibility. we hand over these responsibilities to a "government" that ostensibly is suppposed to take care of us, but never does. people operating under a specifically non-heirarchal structure tend to have given thought to this arrangement and have found it insulting and ineffective to assume that they cannot manage themselves without government interference.

our society's sense of accountability is courts and lawsuits, mostly because we have given up on raising people to believe that they are the masters of their own destinies.

i am not saying everyone going to a rainbow gathering gets this or even agrees. i have never been, so i don't know. but to assume that refusal to engage in the typical "leadership" mode is irresponsibility or deserving of draconian crackdowns is, quite frankly, missing the point.

so far our bureaucratic method of permits and permissions has been nothing more than an effective way to stifle true community and tie up large gatherings of politically minded people in red tape and arrest records...


2) mountain out of a molehill? if what has been posted is true about these random, out-of-court "trials", then there is a definite issue here. i don't think it's alarmist to say that if they are going to be held to the law, then the authorities should be held to it as well.

one major point to remember here, by the way. whether their permits are kosher or not, paying attention to these kinds of action by the govt is critical in a time where abuse of power and silencing of dissent is becoming a regularity. HOW the govt deals with this can be a lesson in their strategies for dealing with dissent and civil unrest. watch and learn, pay attention and you will see the larger strategies unfold...

[subterFUSE]

we live in a society that assumes (nay, encourages) people to have no sense of personal responsibility. we hand over these responsibilities to a "government" that ostensibly is suppposed to take care of us, but never does.

Shiva. What are you talking about? Are you talking about the USA? Are you kidding?

We most certainly DO NOT live in a society which "encourages no sense of personal responsibility." We live in the most capitalistic and free economy in the world, and we are expected to take personal responsibility every day of our lives. We are expected to support ourselves through working. We are expected to pay taxes. We are expected to obey laws, and we must face consequences when we break them.

The government is NOT expected to "take care" of us. We are not a socialist or communist country. If you can't take care of yourself, then you are not going to succeed in this country. End of story.

Certainly there are some programs which are intended to aid people, but you can't possibly think that the government is supposed to take care of everyone. That is not their mandate. Government is in place for the following:


Legislative branch.... to write laws.
Executive branch... to enforce laws.
Judicial brach... to interpret laws and the constitution.


Nowhere is it written that the job of government is to "take care" of people. At least... not in the USA.