U.S. officials drop activist subpoenas

[4dsc]

http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4788993/23504845.html

Federal authorities retreated Tuesday in their investigation of an Iowa anti-war demonstration, withdrawing grand jury subpoenas delivered last week to four peace activists and Drake University.

The shift came as the investigation drew nationwide condemnation from civil liberties advocates, politicians and peace activists.

Also Tuesday, a federal judge lifted a gag order on Drake, where employees had been ordered not to discuss an inquiry into a meeting the anti-war activists held there Nov. 15. Federal authorities had asked for records of the campus chapter of the National Lawyers Guild - which hosted the anti-war conference - and for the impressions campus police had of the gathering.

[Just Me]

1. Fabulous, the gag order is lifted,...now they can really start protesting!

And I do hope that they raise the roofs about this and the "plants" and the state laws Republicans attempted to enact criminalizing (to the level of felony) protests last year. These types of actions are absolutely unacceptable!!!!

[BiggJawn]

2. Speaking of "plants"...

I wonder how many hang around here, Trying to get someone to post some stupid, half-baked crap...

Like...
"Les sanglots longs Des violons De l'Automne
Blessent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone. "

[KG]

4. a message to the resistance - the invasion is on!

:)

[Just Me]

7. Are you being "astute"? *LOL*

[metisnation]

3. predicted on DU

someone was talking about this on DU before...they said that they will start arresting people and then let them go. Just to scare the masses from protest. Got to love living in Imperial Amerika.

[revcarol]

5. Kucinich speaks, and all of a sudden, it's an issue!!

This was around for at least a week, and as soon as it became a CAMPAIGN ISSUE,...subpoenas dropped.

Because the conservatives are almost as pissed about their "lack of privacy" with the Patriot Act as we are with stifling political dissent.IMHO

[bvar22]

6. Pictures of rally in Des Moines

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=5456#5489