UFPJ condemns "State of Emergency" declared by Georgia Governor

United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) condemns an executive order issued by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declaring a “state of emergency” throughout six coastal counties in Georgia. Perdue issued the highly unusual declaration to spread fear and interfere with fundamental constitutional rights to protest at an upcoming summit of international leaders.

A private island of the coast of Georgia, Sea Island, will be the site for a Group of Eight (G-8) meeting June 8-10. The island is off-limits to the public and protesters; UFPJ and other groups are planning demonstrations in nearby Savannah and Brunswick. While there has been lots of discussion and negotiation, few permits have been issued.

The “state of emergency” takes effect May 24, 2004 and runs through June 20, 2004; the executive order is online at:

http://www.gov.state.ga.us/ExOrders/05_07_04_01.pdf

The State of Emergency could preemptively create the situation where the majority of assemblies and events are declared unlawful and subject to use of force and arrest. Also, City of Brunswick has passed specific language that all demonstrations and events can be shut down if a "state of emergency" is declared.

UFPJ is demanding that the Georgia governor: (see email below)

1. Reverse his executive order calling for the State of Emergency

2. Immediately grant all permits for protests and public assemblies during the G8 Summit.

UFPJ is also calling for:

3. Congressional Observer Teams to monitor the spending of federal funds used for security during the G-8 meeting, and to monitor law enforcement agencies for any violation of protesters’ constitutional rights.

Perdue’s extraordinary action comes at a time of other crackdowns on dissent: New York City’s mayor is working to derail a major protest planned for the Republican National convention; in Boston public assembly and movement will be restricted by closure of up to 40 miles of roads including interstate highways during the Democratic National Convention.

This State of Emergency is a direct attack on democratic rights and could allow for:
martial rule to be declared curfews to be imposed military units to "guard" the streets
detention and arrest of demonstrators until the "emergency" is over denial of all protest permits and assemblies
escalation of use of force with limited accountability

TAKE ACTION NOW!

1. Contact Governor Perdue and let him know that this State of Emergency is a clear effort to suppress the Constitutional rights of those opposed to U.S. government policies and the G8. Tell him to rescind the State of Emergency and grant permit applications for protests and other public assemblies.

Govenor Sonny Perdue
203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-1776
Fax: 404-651-7714
Email: georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us

The news from Georgia comes in the context of continued attacks on our democratic rights. These attacks must end now.

In just the last week we have witnessed:
– Permits denied or not granted in New York City for public assembly at the time of the Republican National Convention;
– Restriction of public assembly and movement by the closure of up to 40 miles of roads in and around Boston during the Democratic National Convention;
– Georgia Governor Purdue’s declaration of a State of Emergency, effectively legalizing all efforts used to suppress protests against the G8 Summit!

Governor Perdue’s declaration is the latest alarm. The Governor cites "potential danger to the persons and property of this state from unlawful assemblages, threats of violence and otherwise"; the executive order creates a unified, public safety command for the Group of Eight Summit."

This declaration, at a time when no permits for marches have been granted, creates the perilous situation where no protest can occur without becoming an "unlawful assembly, providing police and military units the justification for violence free from the burden of accountability.

During the tenure of the Bush Administration, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the enactment of the Patriot Act and the closing down of spaces for public dissent have created an unprecedented assault on constitutional rights and civil liberties across the United States. These assaults include:

– Violations of the 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments through sneak and peak searches; prolonged detentions without access to council; political profiling; round-ups of Muslims and people of Arab descent; and the use of secret military tribunals and deportations.

– A return to the shameful days of COINTELPRO and federally directed infiltration, surveillance and disruption of community groups, non profit organizations, and hip hop artists; data mining; no-fly lists of anti-war activists; infiltration and recording of meetings of peace and other non-violent activists; and visits by the FBI, local law enforcement, and military intelligence to university campuses, high schools and even an elementary school student.

– The deployment of tens of thousands of poor and working people, with disproportionately high numbers of people of color, to fight the illegal wars of empire abroad; the militarization of domestic police forces including the expanded use of "less-lethal" weaponry to violently disperse public assembly and protest.

– The denial of permits for marches, rallies, assemblies; the expanded use of misnamed First Amendment Zones, protest pits, barricades, and the corralling of people like cattle; the use of police armies to block public spaces and control the free flow of pedestrian movement in order to suppress political dissent; the use of "indestructible" metal fences, security zones, and no-protest zones.

Despite these egregious violations of our rights, people still gather to speak their truth, all to often facing rubber bullets, clubbings, tear gas and pepper spray. When elderly retirees and war veterans are thrown to the ground with guns pointed at their heads, as they were in Miami during the FTAA meetings last November, we know there is something deeply wrong in this country.

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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

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