Like Scheidler, RICO cases against Operation Rescue were civil suits, not criminal prosecutions. So far as I can tell, the government has never prosecuted an organization under FACE.
Michael R. Masinter 3305 College Avenue Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, Fl. 33314 Shepard Broad Law Center (954) 262-6151 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chair, ACLU of Florida Legal Panel On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Eastman, John wrote: > In the late 1980s, and perhaps beyond, there were RICO prosecutions > against Operation Rescue and even against their lawyers (at least > threats of RICO prosecutions; I don't recall whether any of the threats > against law firms actually materialized), for coordinating non-violent > protests at abortion clinics. The Supreme Court finally put this to > rest last term in Scheidler v. N.O.W. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael MASINTER [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 7:11 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Civil Disobedience, History and Greenpeace > > Last year two Greenpeace activists boarded a ship believed to be > unlawfully smuggling mahogany; they accompanied the ship to shore and > were > later charged with a petty offense for unlawfully boarding the ship. > The > government has since indicted Greenpeace, Inc. for boarding the ship and > for conspiring to commit the unauthorized boarding. > > Civil disobedients expect to be and routinely are prosecuted for > engaging > in civil disobedience, and there is nothing surprising in the decision > by > the government to prosecute the individuals who boarded the ship. But > the > decision to indict Greenpeace, Inc. seems unprecedented. Is there any > history of federal prosecution of nonnviolent advocacy organizations > whose > members engage in civil disobedience, or is this a first? What does > this > portend for other advocacy groups that encourage or sponsor civil > disobedience? > > Michael R. Masinter 3305 College Avenue > Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, Fl. 33314 > Shepard Broad Law Center (954) 262-6151 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Chair, ACLU of Florida Legal > Panel >
