Draft Letter for Members of Congress Regarding Miami/FTAA Events

Dear Mayors Diaz and Penelas,

We are writing to express our grave concern at the treatment of activists who exercised their right to express political dissent during the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) meetings in Miami this past November. This right should be guaranteed as outlined by the First amendment to the Constitution.

Peaceful, non-violent protests were planned for the week of the FTAA meetings. The police response to these protests and to the activist presence in Miami was disproportionately harsh and aimed at preventing free expression. It has been shown that police regularly surveilled activists and unnecessarily raided their meeting spaces as well as locations designated for media and medical work. Prior to and during the FTAA meetings, activists were subjected to countless indiscriminate and unlawful stops and searches meant to chill dissent during a politically vital period.

Police arrested not only activists, but also legal observers, medics, journalists, union members, retirees, bystanders, and attorneys. The arrests of dozens of people were exceptionally and unnecessarily brutal. The excessive use of weaponry included rubber, wooden, and plastic bullets, beanbag projectiles, tear gas, pepper spray, batons, tasers, and electric shields. This type of force should be used sparingly and certainly not for peaceful demonstrations.

In all, over 250 people were arrested as a result of this “security” effort with over two-dozen people facing felony charges. We are concerned that given the circumstances, people were charged falsely and without basis, designed to frighten people out of protesting in the future

It is difficult not to come away with the conclusion that the city’s actions delivered a chilling message: Anyone expressing political dissent in Miami will be harshly punished. This is hardly an appropriate message in a country that endeavors to protect such conduct.

Once jailed, they experienced some of the routine cruelty and unaccountability of the penal system. Protestors say they were denied food, water and medical attention; they were kicked, punched and handcuffed so tightly as to cut off circulation; some were sexually assaulted; many were denied access to their attorney. If this is the kind of treatment accorded to a unified group of prisoners with media attention and strong support systems on the outside, we shudder to think of the treatment that awaits an average prisoner in the Miami penal system.

The protestors in Miami were characterized as “punks” with violent intent. However, they are courageous, intelligent and determined to have their voices heard. They are our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, and most importantly, our future leaders. And just like their predecessors who fought for the abolition of slavery, and for suffrage and civil rights, they faced intense abuse, mistreatment, police brutality and judicial prosecution. But they know that any cause worth fighting for comes with a cost of more than sweat and tears.

Rather than inappropriately touting the events as a “model for homeland defense,” perhaps a more thoughtful and reflective analysis is due.

We call upon the State Attorney for Miami to drop all charges against those who were arrested while exercising their rights to free expression during the FTAA meetings. We urge the city of Miami to end its campaign to cast people who were in Miami to exercise their first amendment rights as violent criminals.

Sincerely,

cc: State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle