Last Friday, during the IMF protests 649 people, who were protesting peacfully and legally were corraled by the Washington, D.C. Police, detained & arrested for "supposed" intent to commit a crime. In this group, were reporters and even a memeber of the Secretary of State's staff who was taking photographs.

This arbitrary act has been labeled the "Ramsey Plan", named after the Police Chief, Charles Ramsey.

It is my opinion, that this kind of premeditated behavior by the police, sends a chilling message to those whomight want to exercise their Ist Ammendment right of expression. I would understand if the particular group had been told to move or warned that they would be arrested or if they were actually doing something illegal, but they weren't. They just happen to be folks in one area of a larger protest.

I think it is very important that the "terorist" don't turn us into terrorist against our own people. Hey, their are plenty of folks out there Hell-bent on hurting us that we need police to keep an eye on. And there are lots of crooks and killers and theives that society needs proteaction from but arresting those folks who are leagally voicing their feelings is not a step forward in our little domocratic experiement, folks.

Now, who will be first to tell me just how wrong I am. But before you do, remember that the political pendulum swings so there are precedence involved here.

Bobert