131 Arrested at Veteran-Led Civil Resistance to Wars at the White House Dec. 16
By Ellen Davidson
December 16, 2010 | Posted in Ellen Davidson , IndyBlog
Veterans For Peace board member Elliott Adams chained himself to the White House fence with a bicycle lock Dec. 16. Photo: ELLEN DAVIDSONAfter a 10 a.m. rally in Lafeyette Park featuring Daniel Ellsberg of Pentagon Papers fame, retired CIA officer Ray McGovern, Dr. Margaret Flowers of Physicians for a National Health Program, and others, activists formed a solemn single-file process to the White House, silent except for a drum beat. There, they encountered police barricades. Some veterans began climbing over the barricades, until the police opened them up, allowing people to approach the fence in front of the White House.
As the light snow increased to heavy and began accumulating, activists kept warm by singing and chanting. At about 12:30, police began arresting protesters who remained along the fence, while supporters who did not want to risk arrest were moved across the broad street. Some of the demonstrators stood in the snow and freezing temperatures for nearly four hours before being taken to Anacostia processing center and released. They have all since been released. Some have elected to pay a fine, while others, including Ellsberg and McGovern, will go to trial on the charge of disobeying a lawful order.
Video from Huffington Post, who did good coverage of this. A google search showed plenty of web traffic, but very little main stream media,
, who did good coverage of this. A google search showed plenty of web traffic, but very little main stream media,
Suzie-Que's Truth and Justice Blog 
I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore… )G:
Wordzeeger, I understand your response to what the ‘political power’ in the United States stands for.
Under the Obama administration’, things are as bleak if not worse than under Bush. In fact, they are bleaker in the foreign policy matters and the imperialistic wars conducted under Obama.
But we have an obligation to the people here in the U.S. and everywhere to continue to inform without being too depressed, otherwise we leave more room to the warmongers and war criminlas to do what they do (e.g. in Afghanistan, Pakistan) and allow their global propaganda and military power a free hand.
Thanks for your kind words, Sudhan. I saw the video of Chris Hedges on Rawstory, this morning, with his message of hope.
This is part of the real story that was not reported in the corporate media.
Are You a TWIC—Work Card Security Risk?
Recently 131 Veterans For Peace Demonstrators were Arrested In Front of White House. Veterans For Peace Demonstrations and Civil Disobedience have brought attention to America’s ongoing costly wars. Should Americans be concerned that Citizens may subsequently be afraid to participate in lawful demonstrations against U.S. Government after Homeland Security issues millions of TWIC “right to work Cards” for private sector jobs; that Homeland Security may (disqualify) Veterans For Peace and other Civil Demonstrators—being issued TWIC Work Cards on the basis they are a “Security Risk?” Such concerns by working people could silence, intimidate Americans speaking out against Government.
The TWIC government website for issuing Work Cards states, that job applicants deemed a “Security Risk” (convicted of specified crimes listed by HLS), will not be issued a TWIC Card to work at certain private sector jobs/and current employees denied TWIC Cards can be fired. The TWIC site further states, HLS will inform rejected job applicants and fired employees the reason Homeland Security would not issue them a TWIC work Card; rejected job applicants and fired employees may appeal.
But realistically does HLS have to respond or fully provide a job applicant or fired employee the reason they were denied a TWIC Work Card? HLS can refuse to respond or not fully on the basis that doing so could threaten National Security or compromise an ongoing investigation.
Other countries to protect national security, to safeguard ports, trains and airways, have created agencies similar to TWIC, but moved forward to crush civil liberties. In the beginning e.g. the German Reich Government without public oversight, barred Germans holding certain private sector jobs that were threats to national Security, but soon prevented lawful Germans getting work because they spoke out or protested against the Nazi government. Could TWIC be similarly abused? Consider that TSA has put a large number of lawful Americans on “No Fly Lists.” Many that made requests to government to learn why they are on the “No Fly List”, were not provided an explanation by HLS/TSA. TSA is now in the process of labeling lawful Americans as “Extremists” that publicly oppose TSA mandated X-ray scans and invasive body-pat-downs at airports. So is it problematic Americans denied TWIC work cards might be treated similarly when requesting to know why they were denied a work card?
Who is a security risk? Currently HLS utilizes over 90 national FUSION CENTERS that obtain and store information on ordinary Americans. Fusion Centers nationally share information with law enforcement agencies that among other sources receive information from informants. Could erroneous information provided by snitches to local police/HLS be used by HLS not to issue a TWIC work card to Citizens never charged or convicted of a crime? Under such circumstances how would Americans denied the right to work rebuke the allegations of an informant?
Visit TWIC Website: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/twic_faqs.shtm#denied_twic
“Are You a TWIC—Work Card Security Risk?”
Thanks Rwolf, for this timely information. I have been asleep at the switch on this, and had to look it up. Does anyone keep up with all of the crap coming down the pipes? Hmm, i wonder…
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
The Secure Worker Access Consortium (SWAC)
Prison Planet has done some articles on this, and, yep, I would probably be a security risk. I have been sighning Marijuana petitions for around 40 years, and have attended antiwar demonstrations, not to mention being a loong time Bu$h basher. Fortunately, I am retired and on Social Security, but am concerned for my kids, grandkids, and especially my great grandkids. My son who works for HP used to have a full time job, but is now on Jobtemp and a part time worker. Jobtemp is another of my pet peeves, it’s like a leech hanging on a fish in polluted water…G: