US artists face jail in Italy

Subject: US artists face jail in Italy
From: InOBU
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:13 PM

Hi folks: the following is from New Jersey Quaker Su Thomas, facing jail in Italy, after her group was arrested as suspected anarchists after the WTO demos in Italy last year. She was suspected of being an arnachist because she had black underwear in her bags...
Cheers Larry...
Dear friends,

With wars escalating around the world, it seems selfish to request divine assistance just for my own situation, but I can't do otherwise right now. You've all been so kind in helping me so far; I thank you for your continued support. We may still need it for quite a while.

On Tuesday, April 9th, the Publix Theatre will have a hearing in the Genoa Courts. It will be a closed hearing, no defendants, press or public will be present; just lawyers. This is how Italian trials usually are. The Italian Supreme Court has reviewed the original decision of the Genoa Tribunal from August 14th that set us all free, and rejected it. The Supreme Court has decided that there needs to be some stronger motivation for our release than just the lack of clear evidence against the Publix Theatre. On Tuesday, the Genoa courts will review the evidence again, and decide whether to issue another order for pre-trial incarceration.

This decision only directly affects the 19 who were freed in the main tribunal. The Publix Theatre was freed in three groups: a group of 19 (who are having their release reviewed on Tuesday), me (because I had a separate lawyer), and the five men who were released the day after the women were (because they, too, had a separate lawyer.) The prosecutor appealed the release order for all of the Publixtheatre defendants, but for technical reasons only the main group of 19 is under review for the moment.

This is a dangerous sign for all of us, because the PublixTheatre case is the only one that has made it this far in the courts, suggesting that they wish to bring us to trial, and that, as the sole object of the prosecutor's energies, PublixTheatre may find itself the "fall guy," taking the blame for all of the tragedies of Genoa. This is especially hard to deal with as some of the police who were giving the orders during the terrible police violence of Genoa have actually been promoted.

Italy is having a difficult time right now. A leading economist, Marco Biagi, was recently assassinated; the Red Brigades have taken responsibility for the murder. Independent media, lawyers, and unionists have found their offices under attack. Three million people recently marched on Rome to protest a proposed change in labor laws. Given the highly charged political climate, and the fact that the tribunals are closed, it may be difficult for the PublixTheatre to receive a fair trial.

Please hold the judges and lawyers of the courts of Genoa in the Light from now through Tuesday. May truth and justice prevail, and may these innocent defendants be allowed to continue their peaceful cultural work for ethnic tolerance, diversity, and the brotherhood that transcends national boundaries. In a world climate of increasing religious and cultural warfare, such work is more important now than ever. May these baseless charges against us be dropped, so that we can all get on with our lives.

Walking home today, I stopped to smell the blossoms on a cherry tree. I was so happy to be free. You really get to miss flowers, when for twenty-four hours a day your only sights are barbed wire, concrete walls, bars and guards with machine guns. As one of my favorite journalists has said, "Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul," not just on the soul of the prisoner, but on the soul of humanity.

If you wish to send a letter of solidarity with the Publixtheatre Caravan for our hearing on Tuesday, you can send it to the Left daily, "Il Manifesto," [e-mail]. As usual, it is important to avoid critical or attacking tones; loving support is the best tone.

God bless you all and take good care of yourselves. I love you each so much.

In peace,

your friend Susanna

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 12:48 AM

In defense of security it was jusified for the greater "good of the people."

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: Grab
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 01:33 PM

Larry, do you have details of what she was accused of having done, and why the accusations are rubbish? I mean, the underwear line makes it all sound kinda set up, but if it's underwear with traces of TNT residue on it, for instance...? We don't have any background on this, you know.

Sorry to be a pain in the ass, but I do like to know about what I'm asked to support. ;-) Having said that, after Genoa I'd believe just about anything of the Italian police.

Graham.

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 01:48 PM

Without personal knowledge, I will say that I have heard that the Italian judiciary is highly respected and sophisticated. With personal knowledge, I will say that all of my Italian girlfriends had black underwear.

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: RichM
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 01:55 PM

...but won't imprisonment help their cause? Otherwise, why demonstrate in another country, and then be surprised by the response?

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: GUEST,Just Amy
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:03 PM

Some info at www.no-racism.net/nobordertour/bordersound/

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: GUEST,Just Amy
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:31 PM

More information can be read at the following web sites. Most of the information on the web about PublixTheatre is either in German or Italian.

http://noborder.eu.org/noprison/appeal.html

http://home.att.net/~SuSupport/Sept_1_2001.htm

Subject: RE: US artists face jail in Italy
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 04:57 PM

Thanks just Amy... I expected more folks knew about the details of the case. The idea of marching in a legal demonstration in a supposed democracy - is not to be arrested, especialy when the charges are incitement to violence, when it was other folks that were violent. As to the black underwear, some violent groups were anarchist, Su's was niether anarchist or violent. She was there to make a statement against globalisation, while others (WTO) were there to try to accomplish globalisation.... Is your point, through folks who disagree with you in jail?
Cheers Larry