Green Activist Nancy Oden Prevented from Boarding Plane

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

From: "Randy Earnest" <earnest@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2001 09:27:41 -0500
Sender: owner-lbo-talk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply-To: lbo-talk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


To my knowledge, isn't this the first instance reported of someone
who fits a "political profile," as opposed to a racial profile, being
denied flight access?  I called Oden, and she said that the story is
true.  No agency has contacted her to offer an apology or
rationalization for the action.  I haven't seen any other coverage,
but apparently she's being described as "uncooperative."  This came
about because one of the National Guard grabbed her arm and proceeded
to tell her of his thoughts concerning the attacks, at which point
she pulled away.

Randy Earnest

GREEN PARTY USA COORDINATOR DETAINED AT AIRPORT
PREVENTED BY ARMED MILITARY FROM FLYING TO GREENS MEETING IN CHICAGO

"I was targeted because the Green Party USA opposes the bombing of
innocent civilians in Afghanistan."
--Nancy Oden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2001

MEDIA ALERT:

GREEN PARTY USA will hold press conference in CHICAGO
SATURDAY, NOV.  3
10 a.m.
at the J. Ira and Nicki Family Hostel
24 East Congress Parkway (at Wabash), 2nd floor
------------------------------------------------

GREEN PARTY USA COORDINATOR DETAINED AT AIRPORT
PREVENTED BY ARMED MILITARY FROM FLYING TO GREENS MEETING IN CHICAGO

Armed government agents grabbed Nancy Oden, Green Party USA
coordinating committee member, Thursday at Bangor International
Airport in Bangor Maine, as she attempted to board an American
Airlines flight to Chicago.

"An official told me that my name had been flagged in the computer,"
a shaken Oden said.  "I was targeted because the Green Party USA
opposes the bombing of innocent civilians in Afghanistan."

Oden, a long-time organic farmer and peace activist in northern
Maine, was ordered away from the plane.  Military personnel with
automatic weapons surrounded Oden and instructed all airlines to deny
her passage on ANY flight.  "I was told that the airport was closed
to me until further notice and that my ticket would not be refunded,"
Oden said.

Oden is scheduled to speak in Chicago Friday night on a panel
concerning pesticides as weapons of war.  She had helped to
coordinate the Green Party USA's antiwar efforts these past few
months, and was to report on these to The Greens national committee.
"Not only did they stop me at the airport but some mysterious party
had called the hotel and cancelled my reservation," Oden said.

The Greens National Committee -- the governing body of the Green
Party USA -- is meeting in Chicago Nov. 2-4 to hammer out the details
of national campaigns against bio-chemical warfare, the spraying of
toxic pesticides, genetic engineering, and the Party's involvement in
the burgeoning peace movement.

"I am shocked that US military prevented one of our prominent Green
Party members from attending the meeting in Chicago," said Elizabeth
Fattah, a GPUSA representative from Pennsylvania who drove to
Chicago.  "I am outraged at the way the Bill of Rights is being
trampled upon."

Chicago Green activist Lionel Trepanier concluded, "The attack on the
right of association of an opposition political party is chilling.
The harassment of peace activists is reprehensible."

For further information, please call 1-866-GREENS-2  (toll-free)