/* Written 9:45 pm Jun 26, 1993 by swing@igc.apc.org in igc:alt.gathering. */
/* ---------- "messages from alabama 2 + announce" ---------- */
MESSAGES FROM ALABAMA 2
ABC - ATF: Alpha-Beth Gestapo
After inadvertently photographing an Alabama Alcohol
Control undercover agent, Jackie Betz, a Rainbow participant, is
arrested. ABC agents Mike Reese, Mike Jones and "Bob" drive Betz
to a barn in a wooded area near the Talladega '93 Gathering. She
is e motionally harassed, has male agents threaten to strip
search her. One agent lifts her dress, exposing Betz to other
male agents in the Game Warden barn. In the Cleburne Jail in
Heflin, Ala., Betz is charged with obstructing governmental
operations and has $500 bond set. Betz has returned to the
Gathering. Civil action against the three ABC agents is pending.
This episode took place on 6/24/93, following claims by
Little Hawk that he was taken by ABC agents and a gun placed to
his head, whereupon he was warned that he'd better not cause any
more trouble.
The word from Alabama is that the locals love usQ we're
getting good pressQ and we're under government harassment. (At
one point agents came in wearing bulletproof vests, in black
uniforms with the trigger-finger cut out of their gloves.) Drive
legal a nd follow all the rules.
Little White Owl
P.S. cancel the second phone number for the Birmingham office;
205/933-6012 is the only working number there through July 1,
when it will be changed to one in Heflin.
ANNOUNCEMENT
A Celebration of Life Stand Your GroundQ It's the Right Thing to
Do! July 14-27, DeSoto National Forest, south of Hattiesburg,
Mississippi
Q a political and environmental statement to reclaim the National
Forests as our lands without "Special Use Permits," exercising
our First Amendment Right to peaceable assembly Q a weekend
concert/campout with constant music each weekend from Friday p.m.
to Sunday p.m., 14 days of artistic, cultural & environmental
events and workshops (bring yours & come!) Q free & voluntary Q
music will be recorded & used to benefit Rural Alliance for
Military Accountability (equipment needed) Q performers,
environmental groups, etc. contact Tony at 205/933-6012
Why? 1. to bring attention to the mis-management and abuse of
National Forest lands by the Forest Service and U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture 2. to stop the F.S. from issuing the Special Use
Permit requested by Camp Shelby to establish an additional 33,000
acres in DeSoto Forest as a military training area 3. to seed the
idea of folks again beginning to use their N.F. lands without
permits 4. to formulate an active tribal clan in the
Alabama/Mississippi area
This is not a Rainbow event Q Rainbow resources needed!