>I have transcribed the communique below, which was originally issued
>publically on a leaflet today. If you can lend support or help in any
way,
>we will all be the stronger in doing so for the struggle to come.
>
>I apologize if you receive multiple postings.
>
>In Solidarity,
>
>John Persak
>General Organizer, IWW, Seattle, USA
>
>==============================================
>"The criminalization and arrest of a comrade must been seen as part of
>the ongoing social struggle, precisely because they are the harshest
>material means used by the state to discourage all radicalization,
always
>and in whatever way."
>
>---from "Revolutionary Solidarity" by Pierleone Porcu
>
>-----------------------------------
>My name is joi and I am charged with two felonies (malicious mischief
>1 and assault 3) resulting from the WTO meeting in Seattle late last
>year. I was arrested after being pepper sprayed and tackled from
>behind by a plain clothes Seattle police officer. I spent 8 days in
jail,
>with a bail set at $10,000 before being let out on person recognizance.
>
>There is a widespread misconception that the Direct Action Network
>legal team has been assisting those arrested the week of WTO.
>However, DAN and it's legal team decided early on against any
>solidarity or assistance for the felons because we allegedly broke the
>non-violence guidelines. It's ludicrous to see self proclaimed
activists
>ally themselves with the state, choosing to offer up as sacrifices
those
>with more radical tactics. It is difficult for me to adjust to the
harsh
>reality that I may lose over a year of my life (sentence range of
>convicted of both is 5-14 months) while the corporations I am accused
>of vandalizing trudge on killing cultures and destroying the earth.
>
>Seattle is most commonly agreed upon as being a "victory" by many in
>the activist community. We have to remember that the police state we
>experienced for just a few days here, is the way thousands of people
>are forced to live their entire lives. We are extremely privileged in
that
>most of us could return within days to the comfort of our daily lives
>relatively unscathed. Overall, I see Seattle as being the first
definitive
>step in a struggle that is far from over. But for me, and a handful of
>others, the aftermath is far more to be reckoned with than anything we
>could have expected.
>
>It is my intention to seek out the support I hope is out there among
the
>anarchist/radical community. My trial date is set for May 15th in
>Seattle. Letters of support and donations, which will be used to pay
for
>jail and legal support can be sent to:
>
>Joyanna Zacher
>PO BOX 1141
>Seattle, WA 98111
>e-mail: joi_polloi at yahoo.com
>
>There can be no justice at the hands of the oppressors.