Seattle Doctor's Searing Statement On Police Brutality
From Dr. Byron Weeks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
12-5-99
My name is Richard DeAndrea. I'm a medical doctor. What I saw up here was
martial law. This turned into a police state. Everything you have seen on
television regarding local news broadcasts including national public radio
was a blackout. The police were using concussion grenades. They were using
shooting tear gas canisters directly at protesters, faces. They were using
rubber bullets. Some of the damage I saw from these rubber bullets took off
part of a person's jaw, smashed teeth in their mouth. I saw the police
arrest people who had their hands up in the air screaming we are peacefully
protesting.
The amount of looting that took place was so minimal I don't even know
where they got the footage from. I am saying this beyond a shadow of a
doubt. This is a definite sign that American is heading towards a police
state unless people start standing up for their rights as individuals. I am
actually shocked and ashamed. I am ashamed of the police force, I am
ashamed of the mayor I am ashamed of Bill Clinton. I am ashamed of the
whole thing.
Jared: These rubber bullets - what are they?
Dr. DeAndrea: They are made of polyester type material. They are like a
hard plastic toy. The idea is to hit your body, do damage, not actually
penetrate. But I did see penetration wounds, I did see people bleeding. I
did see teeth loss, I did see broken bones. There were children present,
there were families present, they were firing upon families, mothers,
grandmothers. They were just firing at them. They came out in full police
force. They brought out swat teams, they had the national guard up here,
there was CIA surrounding the delegates' buildings. It was very obvious
that there was an institutional control that had no regard of human rights
whatever.
In addition we have video footage of protesters being taken away as well as
human rights being violated. Prisoners were taken and they were tortured.
There is a case, I believe his name is Holm, Keith Holm. He was tortured
because he would not give his name. They handcuffed, laid him on the floor,
they smashed his face against the concrete, they grabbed his hair, they
ripped out a lock of hair. and then placed pencils between his fingers on
them until he would give his name. They were also banging his head against
metal objects. He was actually the first protester released because the
Internal Affairs came in to do an investigation and they wanted him gone
because he would be able to give testimony.
We're treating people in a studio loft downtown. I just treated an ear
wound. People have been treated for concussion injuries. There have been
people who have been treated for plastic bullet wounds. Lots of tear gas
injuries, lots of damage to cornea, lots of damage to the eyes and skins.
They were using a pepper spray, a tear gas and they were also using some
sort of nerve gas. We had reports of many demonstrators winding up with
seizures the next day. It causes muscles to clamp up, muscle contraction,
seizures.
They have done several illegal things regarding these people in jail. They
have been telling them that they would not be let out, not have their bail
set if they didn't get their names. Its their legal right not to give their
name. They don't have to speak at all. Attorneys came up and said we are
representing these people. The police called their attorneys liars. At this
point they have still refused to let any of them see their clients. There
are close to 600 people who were arrested and they have been holding them
for two days on charges that are mostly misdemeanors - refusal to disperse.
A lot of people in there have not gotten medical attention, either. I have
gotten calls from young ladies in there who have had all sorts of emotional
problems as well as physical problems. They have called me for medical
attention from inside the jail. There are people still sitting in there who
have not even been processed.
Today there were fewer attacks by police, but they did arrest more people.
And there was no violence today by the marchers and all through the day
yesterday it was the same. What you are seeing on television about looting
and anarchistic protesters - there's straight-out blackout they are
basically pushing that. There is not much damage to property here. There
are not many windows that have been damaged or stores that have been
looted. Those are extremely rare cases.
I used to believe newspapers were telling the truth. But now I am no longer
behind that.
This shouldn't happen in America.
This is still America, isn't it?
I'm beginning to wonder.
--
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