Peace activist detained at airport, denied right to travel because of anti-war opinion

[Gar Lipow <lipowg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(Note: normally when I do fowards I do not edit. In this case I've moved
 address, and foswarding appeals to the bottom ,because I think the
content is so urgent.)
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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


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)
....

(The Green Party USA statement on the war against Afghanistan is at
http://www.greenparty.org/911.html
They are the original Green Party in the U.S. since 1986)
==========

PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL MEDIA AND LISTSERVES. THANX (Mitchel Cohen)

The Greens / Green Party USA
226 South Wabash, 6th floor
PO Box 1406,
Chicago, Illinois 60690
Toll-free Phone: 1-866-GREENS-2

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
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