-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Whittier_Peace] Greens Call for Probe of CA National Guard
after Spying Episode
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:37:58 -0700
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News Release
THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
www.cagreens.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Contact: Sara Amir, GPCA spokesperson 310.270.7106
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA spokesperson 530.277.0610
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Greens second call for immediate probe
of California National Guard after emails
disclose spying on anti-war groups at Capitol
SACRAMENTO (June 30, 2005) - The Green Party of California
today said it had "grave concerns" over the recent revelation
that the California National Guard has admitted setting up a
new unit to spy on California citizens - especially those
engaging in free speech activities in opposition to the war in
Iraq.
The Greens called on the Legislature to start an immediate
investigation, praising Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Garden Grove,
who Wednesday also said he wanted hearings.
In a published report in the San Jose Mercury-News Sunday,
the Guard confessed - confirmed by Guard upper-echelon
emails - that it had tracked at least one anti-war rally held on
Mother's Day in May at the State Capitol that included Gold
Star Families for Peace, Raging Grannies and CodePink.
In those emails, the Guard said its "folks" continued to
"monitor" the rally, which included parents of American
soldiers killed in Iraq. These kind of activities by the military -
tracking civilians' constitutionally-protected activities - are
illegal under the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents
the U.S. military from participating in domestic law enforcement.
"We have grave concerns that the First Amendment rights
of Californians have been violated, in spirit and in practice
by overzealous National Guard leaders. It's something our
elected lawmakers in Sacramento should investigate
immediately," said Tom Bolema, GPCA Coordinating
Committee representative from Los Angeles.
Noting that the Guard exists to protect Californians in times
of natural disasters, the Greens added that the Guard is
already being misused because it is sending large numbers
of its personnel to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"There is no place in a free society for military spying on
its citizenry, especially those who are expressing their
constitutionally-protected rights. The Guard has violated
that trust, and we expect a full investigation," said Bolema.
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