Clevelander brutalized and arrested for postering "Bush Step Down" : Cleveland IMC (((i)))

My name is Carol Fisher, and I am on the staff of Revolution Books in Cleveland OH. At the bookstore we have been immersed in building and supporting the initiatives of World Cant Wait. Yesterday, 1.28.06, while putting "Bush Step Down" posters on telephone poles along a major thoroughfare on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I was brutalized by Cleveland Heights police, charged with 2 counts of felony assault and held incommunicado under police custody in the hospital! This outrage and others like it must be exposed and opposed by all who hate the direction that the Bush regime is taking this country and the world.

Here is what happened:
I had set out from my house with a full agenda, to contact lots of people and get out materials about our upcoming Cleveland event at Peabody's to Drown Out the State of the Union address, and the call to protest at the White House on Feb. 4th, with the Cleveland bus info. My first stop was the an area known for its community of artists and progressives, where I stapled up posters for blocks and was greeted warmly by those who saw and appreciated what World Cant Wait is doing. I talked to an artist, and a Palestinian store owner who took fliers to distribute to customers.

Next stop, to the east side. I drove down a street in Cleveland Heights, another area known for its diversity and progressive history. This street was badly in need of postering too and though i was in a big hurry, I couldnt drive on without getting up a few signs. Before long a cop called from across the street: "Ma'am! Hundred dollar fine for doing that!" Oh really, since when? Another way of keeping us from getting the word out, eh? But not wanting to get arrested, I said ok and put up my staplegun and walked away. But that wasnt the end of it. "Ma'am! Hundred dollar fine unless you take those posters down." He is pursuing me across the street. Damn! OK fine, I say, I will take them down (not wanting to get into a confrontation, because I have lots to do today!) But this too is not enough for the cop. He wants my ID. I say I dont have my ID. He grabs my arm. I say let go of me, I am not doing anything wrong, I will take the posters down. People are watching to see what happens, are outraged but very afraid. The cop wont let go, he clearly wants more grief from me, and he is in the spotlight. He wants people to be scared. He pushes me against a store window and next thing I know I am face down on the sidewalk with two cops on top of me, one with his knee in my back. I am trying to call out to people, to tell them what the posters are about. They keep pushing my face into the sidewalk. I cant breathe.

I have osteoradionecrosis in my jaw, resulting from radiation treatments for cancer. My jawbone is slowly deteriorating, is very fragile, and doesnt heal well. I am 53 years old, not exactly a spring chicken. A hand comes down again to push my chin against the concrete. By this time there are four cops on the scene. My hands are tightly cuffed behind my back. They lift me up and shove me onto a parkbench and shackle my legs. I am still calling out, telling people what this is about. One of the cops says to me, "Shut up or I will kill you!", "I am sick of this anti-Bush shit!" "You are definitely going to the psyche ward." Then somebody calls the EMS, and a fire squad shows up. The cop superviser appears and puts his finger in my face: "I dont like it when people treat my men like this and if you don't obey the law you will suffer the consequences."

I am lifted into the EMS truck, hands still cuffed behind my back. I ask to make a call and this is refused, but a fireman offers to make a quick call for me. If not for this, no one would have known where I was or what was happening, a fate shared by many immigrants in this country. At the hospital, I am treated as an arch-criminal. Escorted by four policemen, I shuffle into the emergency room, legs still shackled, covered with leaves and mud. I think to myself, if I was Black, I would not have made it this far. I would probably be dead by now. People in the emergency room are shocked by the scene and by what I am saying happened. I probably do look pretty crazy by now.
They put me on a gurney and pull the curtains around. One female nurse and four male cops. They want me to undress in front of the cops. I refuse. The cops refuse to leave. Finally the nurse shields my body with a gown as I undress and put on hospital clothes. I am cuffed to the bed, and two cops remain guarding me the whole time. They put in an IV. I have no idea what they have in mind. Questions, probes, tests and a tetanus shot, a hint from the nurses that friends are calling to find out whats going on. First they say that one friend is coming in to see me, but that never happens.

After many hours a psychiatrist appears to determine my sanity. I dont want to talk to him, but have no choice. "This information is confidential", I say. Well yes, he says, but if the police want the information, I don't know if I can refuse... "This information is confidential", I repeat, and I tell him, there are times when you have to decide which side you are on. I have told him why I have wound up here and what they did to me, and I tell him, this is a moment in history when people have to stand firm against these repressive measures. He replies, "Fair enough", and proceeds to write a detailed record of my injuries.

I dont know it at the time, but outside in the waiting room all hell had broken loose. In a very short period of time, over a dozen WCW people showed up at the emergency room to demand that someone be allowed to see me. The WCW people discussed what was happening with the folks waiting in the ER, who were horrified at what was happening, and very supportive when they were shown the posters I had been putting up. The police and hospital staff claimed over and over that the police were in charge of me, and they determine what happens, not the doctors! Another example of a police state.

At one point, there was a big confrontation between the WCW people and the police, right in the ER. My supporters said that we weren't going to leave until someone saw me. Some of them were sitting in the waiting room holding the big green WCW posters.

The main cop tried to have a "private conversation" with the person with medical power of attorney. " NO! Come out here in the open where we can all hear!" As people gathered to listen to the conversation, and enter in their own opinions, the police threatened WCW folks with arrest! They argued, stood their ground, called this shameful (both to the police but also to the nurses who did nothing to stand against this shit). The cops kept saying that there was no legal right to see me, but people responded that, in Bush's America, the law is whatever the police say it is and that there is a moral and ethical right to to check on someone who is in the hospital.

Then a large phalanx of cops came. My friends pushed it as far as they could, then marched out of the ER, followed by the cops, all the way up to the street. 4 more people showed up who'd heard about what was happening and wanted to help.

A lawyer and a doctor, who are endorsers of the WCW Call, persisted in getting what info they could. All the while, people were calling the local media (who never showed up!), calling in complaints to the Cleveland Heights Police Department, and Cleveland Heights City Hall. I was never able to be seen by my own nurse or doctor or communicate by phone with anyone.

Shortly after being released from the hospital, I was released on my own recognizance. The battle is far from over. This is but one example of the attempts that the state, their authorities and spokespeople will make to try to keep us from opposing the crimes of this regime, and especially now, 2 days before the State of the Union address. Our cause is as righteous as it gets, and no attempts to intimidate or suppress, with threats or laws or physical abuse, should stop us but instead strengthen the resolve, build our organization and further demonstrate to the world that this regime is doomed, they are vicious, and they must be stopped.

As it says in the Call, "If we speak the truth, they will try to silence us. If we act, they will try to stop us. But we speak for the majority, here and around the world, and as we get this going we are going to reach out to the people who have been so badly fooled by Sush and we are NOT going to stop...The future is unwritten. Which one we get is up to us."

There are plans in the works for possibly a press conference, suing the Cleveland Heights Police Department, taking this issue of brutality to the Cleveland Heights City Council Meeting on Feb 6, and circulating a pledge of medical personnel to not allow medical treatment to be run by the police. We will also be working with lawyers to fight these outrageous charges. If any legal aid could be offered nationally, it would really help.

Call the Cleveland Heights Police at 216-291-3883
Call Cleveland Heights City Hall at 216-291-4444

When the police and those they work for are so scared of one person putting up "Bush Step Down" posters in Cleveland OH, it shows that this regime realy is running scared! I urge you to put posters up everywhere. See you all in Washington DC on Feb 4.

Please contact us at cleveland@worldcantwait.org or 216-633-6200

Link to webpage for Cleveland Heights Law Dept.

"A diverse, progressive, vital suburb of Cleveland with 50,750 residents"

"You'll feel at home here - Cleveland Heights residents are educated, artistic, involved, and care very much about our community. Come for a visit… stay for a lifetime!"

The city is committed "To provide excellent protection through professionally well-trained safety forces."

- - clv hts website

This recent action by the police against a peaceful activist is clearly and completely out of step of acceptable use of force. Not only was this activist clearly working towards some very admirable social goals in a (supposedly) community-oriented and progressive city, but the police who handled the situation were clearly extremely untrained. they couldn't deal appropriately with a 53 year old woman putting up signs.

I looked up the crime stats on the city. Surprisingly, the police probably aren't that busy with any real crime, so they've had to resort to <i>stifling useful political criticism</i>. I'm just going out on a limb here, but it's my guess that the content of the posters had something to do with this?

How can the activist community of Cleveland find it acceptable for someone to be treated like this, no matter how tacky these WCW posters are (sorry, i think they are pretty ugly..), or what one's opinion of the organizers or movement is?

I don't even need to mention how this action by the police is a suppression of civil liberties, i think that is well known.

Well, I guess we'll let it slide that police are arresting people for their "unpatriotic" tendencies and political leanings that they don't personally agree with. And we have to do what it takes to win. After all, we're at war, right? We? Against terrorism right? RIGHT?! wanna know what i think? fuck the state, fuck the war, and fuck patriotism. but hey, thats just me.

It's too bad that cleveland heights aren't exposed to what we in cleveland would generally consider "progressive activism", a part of which is the free spread of ideas, unrestricted by such absurd tendencies as the desire for aesthetically pleasing cities. these cities we live in are abominations to nature and were stolen from the native americans. if anything, return urban aesthetic to the natural, not to the artificial.

the most beautiful street in cleveland is train ave. the reasons are obvious if you've ever driven by. something tells me cleveland heights lacks similar beauty.

-- --- my feelings about WCW --- --
(and how they've changed in light of events)

I must admit that I do not get good vibes from the movement in general. I just don't. I've heard things, things about the RCP, about front groups. And I don't agree with the RCP or with authority of any form. It has alot to do I perceive ideas, and how they are constructed and presented to me. Some people need a leader. I don't want one, or need one.

while WCW has a very good statement to make, i don't really see how it has the ability to succeed in displacing the "regime". am i being defeatist? maybe i'm missing the point. maybe it's not an organization set up to provide solutions. maybe that's up to the members. i simply don't view it as an effective anti-establishment organization because it doesn't provide the atmosphere that's going to be needed to set up structures of power after tearing down the current ones. are the democrats just going to "fix things" once the current administration is gone? or new republicans? yeah, right. maybe when i was first presented with the DIY part of this movement by a wcw organizer, they actually intended for me to take them up on the offer, to contribute my talents and faculties into collaborating with the antibush movement, overcoming the problems with such a 1-faced front and providing input into the movement that would not only expose problems, but offer solutions.

enter distrust, fear of co-opting of my personal time & effort

i do not view a social organization as a means to an end. more or less, i live for the moment, and i don't believe that social organizations should be the distillation of each member's political beliefs into one, narrowly aimed objective. rather, i think each member's talents should be used to the fullest extent, otherwise, organization is pretty much useless.

what i really need to see in the wcw movement to have faith in it is for people to stop reading things they've been handed in front of crowds who won't even know what to do with the information except become mad. i don't believe in speeches. i believe in discussions. i'm not going to support the wcw because some 'celebrity' did.

--- END criticism BEGIN constructive criticism ---

what i need to see is people taking the initiative to start writing their own slogans, printing their own fliers, and coming up with their own creative ways to destroy, subvert, expose, and upset not only the current "regime" but the system that put it in place.

the system that values the dollar over human happiness. the system that would have you working hard to pay rent to live somewhere when blocks and blocks of beautiful brick buildings lie in ruin down the street, which could be occupied by groups seeking a cooperative and free way of living. the system that throws out hundreds, thousands of tons of food and resources every day. that pollutes the air. and that kills iraqis.

those systems need to be confronted, not just the bush regime. any group that confronts any of those unjust systems, and is met with opposition by the state in doing so, has my solidarity

one last thing i have to say. the battles between generalities and forms are constructed with goals in mind that are NOT YOURS. create your own realities and live your lives in ways that are meaningful to yourself. most importantly, find friends, and learn some security culture. we all need it nowadays, ya don't know what they're doing to spy on us. (i'm guessing they're up to alot)

-C
word to clefnb, keep up the amazing work

This makes me physically sick.
This government is doing everything the Third Reich did IN PLAIN VIEW and no one can see it! Those who see it turn away in fear or embarassment. Where are the Americans who fought the British for the freedoms they are taking away? Are we a nation of FAT CHICKENS ripe for the slaughter?
I'll be there tonight AND on February 4th, but you won't know because the indy media is the only honest media out there.

The absolute next step is for the parties affected by this Gestapo tactic that these sham public servants did is to immediately contact Christine Link at the Cleveland ACLU. Similarly I would contact Nadine Straasen at the National ACLU Headquarters in Washington.

The City of Cleveland Hts. needs to be sued and the Cops responsible for this outrage shoudl be fired and jailed themselves. These people are a sick and dangerous appendix to the Criminals that have taklen over our Country in Washington. the Bush juggernaut.

Good luck. I will be doing everyhting I can do to spread the word about what has occurred.

Looks like you need some new posters. The date on the posters you were hanging are for November 2005. Could you possibly post a link to a real news article not just your extremely fishy sounding story or does the gestapo control everything?

I called Cleveland Heights police and city hall today. I was ping-ponged at the former and at the latter was forwarded to Judy at the city manager's after I asked to speak with some one in public relations. No one would make a comment which I take to mean that much more pressure needs to be applied.

I lived in Cleveland Heights for 16 years and could not wAit to leave. My children attended Heights Hell and I did not want to disrupt them with a move. The problem begins with Chief Lentz - a fascist through and through.

The most terrifying thing is, these pigs...who are ideologically driven (an entire issue unto itself), would have done the same thing to an 83 year old.

Armed Revolution seems inevitable and extremely desirable when I read stories like this.

As an old friend living farther away now, I am obviously depressed by this news, and yet it's certainly not unpredicted. Those assholes- in short! I miss you guys and send my love and solidarity from where I am now. Take care you all, I miss you from the bottom of my heart and wish you all much strength in this battle!!

I live in Columbus and first heard about this from someone on a bus from Cleveland when I went to D.C.for the world cant wait rally. I am also in my 50'sand help[ed organize the jan. 31st rally as well.

I was very shocked...especially in light of Carol's age and medical problems. I admire her activism and also courage in speaking up for herself to bystanders and not being intimidated for the future as evident by speaking out in Washington on 2./4/06. Carol, I am sorry this happened to you and I am grateful for what you are doing.

I have written and suggested to the freepress(freepress.org) that they do an article about this and sent them information. I also sent a copy of this article to dozens of political friends.

It is very scary indeed. Although I agree with the need to attack the whole problem of people taking a back seat to money, we need to start first with driving out this dangerous administration. Our two remaining powers since our votes don't count anymore is our presense in the streets (by the millions not thousands ) and our money (all they want from us) through alternative economies and alternate stores to patronize (and also parallel elections and our own media stations), organized, nationwide boycotts, etc.

Together, we will overcome!

Cleveland Indy Media Center