Radical media, politics and culture.

Busses to CAE Grand Jury Trial June 15

"BUS FROM NYC TO BUFFALO for PROTEST JUNE 15th

Calling for an IMMEDIATE END TO THE INVESTIGATION OF STEVE KURTZ and the
CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE

A group of artists in NYC are organizing a bus to go to Buffalo in support of Steve Kurtz from the Critical Art Ensemble (CAE). The demonstration will be in front of a Grand Jury in Buffalo on Tuesday June 15th, 9 AM at the Mahoney Federal Court House, Court St. Buffalo, NY.

Thus far seven subpoenas have been issued to: Adele Henderson, Chair of the Art Department at UB; Andrew Johnson, Professor of Art at UB; Paul Vanouse, Professor of Art at UB; Beatriz da Costa, Professor of Art at UCI; Steven Barnes, FSU; Dorian Burr and Beverly Schlee.

Please see the information about the CAE, the case and the peaceful demonstration attached below or visit www.caedefensefund.org.

The plan for the bus from NYC is to leave on the evening of the 14th, drive overnight to be there for the 9am hearing and return that same day to arrive back in New York City on the 15th at night. EXACT DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

We are currently researching commercial bus rentals and the type of bus and would like to gauge how many people will be interesting in traveling from the NYC area to Buffalo. The cost could run anywhere from $45 - $70 each based on the amount of travelers and the bus size. If we can get 47 people, we can keep the cost at $45 and make a strong showing in Buffalo.

If you are interested and would like to take the bus contact us ASAP as reservations must be made soon and we have to asses the amount of people joining the protest from New York City.

SHARON HAYES purpleshaze@yahoo.com

VALERIE TEVERE neurotransmitter@mail.com

Please pass this request on to your mailing lists as we'd like to bring as many people as possible up to Buffalo. It is crucial to have a large presence of supporters for Steve Kurtz and the Critical Art Ensemble.

best, Valerie Tevere
and Sharon Hayes

PRESS RELEASE: June 8, 2004
Contact: organize@caedefensefund.org

WE ARE DEMONSTRATING TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE END TO THE INVESTIGATION OF STEVE KURTZ AND THE CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE.

SUPPORT FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, AND FREEDOM OF KNOWLEDGE.

PROTECT US--DON'T PROSECUTE US! SECURE LIBERTY--CRITICAL ART ENSEMBLE IS INNOCENT

The committee to organize CAE Defense is calling for a peaceful
demonstration of support outside the Grand Jury hearings on the case of Steve Kurtz (CAE), on June 15th.

WHERE: Mahoney Federal Court House, Court St. Buffalo, NY
(See map at: http://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com)
WHEN: 9 AM, June 15, 2004

Critical Art Ensemble (CAE) is a collective of internationally recognized artists who work in public, educational, academic and art contexts. Most recently their work has been directed towards providing the general public with awareness and understanding about biological research. The aim of their work is not alarmist or sensational. Through participatory performance experiences CAE provides information and knowledge. It brings people into contact with the reality of scientific research often not accessible to the general public. The work is always undertaken in a safe and considered way, using materials commonly available in scientific education and research practices.

The FBI in its efforts to protect the public is now overreaching its mandate by using an overwhelming amount of pressure against a group of artists making their work for the peaceful purpose of vital public discussions. Artists like CAE stimulate public debate necessary to a healthy democracy. Our constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and our government is charged with securing that right. The job of democracy is to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. In the United States we are not governed by mob rule, nor should government exploit its responsibilities to the public by persecuting innocent people. We too, as citizens must stand up now to affirm our rights and defend our liberty.

This is a peaceful demonstration. Please bring signs and banners. Check the website for PDF©ˆs of signs and slogans you can print out.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FREQUENTLY FOR UPDATES ON THE DEMO.

http://www.caedefensefund.org

A Word About Demonstrations.

As with all demonstrations it is advisable to bring personal identification (driver's license, passports, student id©ˆs, proof of address, etc.) Let someone know where you are going to be. Stick with a buddy.

If you can't join the crew on the bus but want to drive yourself:

Driving directions: From Interstate 90 take 33W into downtown all the way to the end. It will put you onto Oak St. Continue on Oak for 2 long blocks to Broadway. Go right on Broadway which runs right into Court St. The first square is Lafayette and then comes Niagara Square. There are paid parking lots all around this downtown area. Information on possible housing will soon be available on website also.

BRIEF BACKGROUND STORY:

To date Steven Barnes and Dorian Burr, founding members of CAE, as well as Beatriz da Costa and Paul Vanouse, artists who have collaborated with CAE, and artists Adele Henderson and Andrew Johnson, have been served with subpoenas to appear before the federal Grand Jury that will consider bioterrorism charges against University professor Steve Kurtz whose art involves the use of simple biology equipment. The subpoenas are the latest installment in a bizarre investigation in which members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force have mistaken an art project for a biological weapons laboratory (see first press release on www.caedefensefund.org). The artists involved are at a loss to explain the increasingly bizarre case that shows how vulnerable the PATRIOT Act and other post-9/11 "security" measures have made freedom of speech in this country.

According to the subpoenas, the FBI is seeking charges under Section 175 of the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, which has been expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act to prohibit the possession of "any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system" without the justification of "prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose." (See http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/175.html for the 1989 law and http://www.ehrs.upenn.edu/protocols/patriot/sec817 .html for its USA PATRIOT Act expansion.) For more detailed information on the nature of CAE's projects and the biological agents they were working with please see the website: www.caedefensefund.org.

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