Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 10:33:20 -0800
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: FBI Harassment at liberation conference



Civil Rights Lawsuit Readied
Following Boca Raton Incident

        FT LAUDERDALE – A news conference will be held Wednesday,
10:30 a.m. at the Ft. Lauderdale Federal Courthouse (299 East Broward
Blvd) to announce details of a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of
students and other community activists harassed by police last weekend in
Boca Raton as they attempted to hold a "liberation" conference.

        A representative working in conjunction with civil rights groups
will be on hand for the news conference (main entrance to the courthouse).

        Among the expected defendants are the Boca Raton Police Dept.,
Federal Bureau of Investigation and Florida Atlanta University. Causes of
action include defamation, conspiracy, illegal search and seizure, death
threats and other civil rights violations under all applicable federal and
state laws.

        This will all be elaborated upon at the news conference Wednesday.

        Police reportedly threatened to shoot attendees  — including
those from the Native American (AIM), African-American, environmental and
animal rights movements from throughout the U.S. —  stopped others without
provocation, searched vehicles without probable cause and detained others
for hours without charging them with any offense.

Contact: ACLC/California (916) 452-7179
*Note: Please contact us if you cannot attend the news briefing. The rep
is available for separate interviews, upon request...


URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
February 15, 1999

NEWS CONFERENCE, PICKET SET
MONDAY TO PROTEST ACTIONS
OF BOCA RATON POLICE, FBI

        BOCA RATON, FL – A major news conference has been called for
Monday at 10 a.m. at the Boca Raton Police Dept. (100 NW 2nd Ave) to reveal
details of shocking civil rights violations by police and the FBI at a
national conference on grassroots activism here this weekend.

        A picket will be held following the news conference. Confrontations
with police and arrests are possible. An anti-fur protest will also be held
at 11:30 a.m.  Monday at the Town Center Mall Bloomingdale's.

        According to civil liberties group representatives, local, state
and federal officers violated the civil rights of community-based activists
— including those from the Native American (AIM), African-American,
environmental and animal rights movements from throughout the U.S. —
attending the "Total Liberation Conference" in Boca Raton Friday through
Sunday. 

        Police reportedly threatened to shoot attendees, stopped others
without provocation, searched vehicles without probable cause and detained
others for hours without charging them with any offense.

        The overreaction of police also forced a local university to cancel
the reservations made by conference organizers. When the conference sought
to move into a nearby park, local police declared the park closed to the
public.



======-- 
Chuck0
Communitas Network


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