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<h1><b>Feds Drop Subpoenas Against Peace Protesters<br><br>
<br>
</b></h1><h2><b>Advocates Rally At Federal Courthouse
Tuesday</i></b></h2><font size=3><a href="http://www.theiowachannel.com/education/2833197/detail.html" eudora="autourl">http://www.theiowachannel.com/education/2833197/detail.</a><a href="http://www.theiowachannel.com/education/2833197/detail.html" eudora="autourl">html<br><br>
</a>POSTED: 11:28 AM CST February 9, 2004<br>
UPDATED: 1:51 PM CST February 10, 2004<br><br>
<b>DES MOINES, Iowa -- </b>The U.S. attorney in Des Moines dropped two
subpoenas against local peace protesters Tuesday. <br><br>
The attorney sent a letter to Ben Stone at the Iowa Civil Liberties Union
saying the subpoena against Wendy Vasquez was withdrawn. Later, Brian
Terrell told NewsChannel 8 his subpoena was also droppped. No word yet on
if the subpoenas against two other protesters and Drake University have
been dropped. <br><br>
The case has received national attention and has outraged peace activists
and civil libertarians. Tuesday morning, peace activists held a prayer
vigil at the Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting House at 42nd and Grand.
Two people under federal subpoena were there. Shortly after noon Tuesday,
advocates rallied in front of the federal courthouse in Des Moines
(pictured, above right). <br><br>
When Vasquez's subpoena withdrawal was announced Tuesday during the
rally, the crowd outside the courthouse cheered wildly. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h3><b>Trespassing Investigation</b></h3><font size=3>Monday, a
federal prosecutor said subpoenas seeking records of a legal activist
group and ordering four antiwar activists to testify before a grand jury
are linked to an investigation into trespassing at Camp Dodge last
November. <br><br>
Earlier that day, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Des Moines postponed
those four appearances before the grand jury. <br><br>
<br>
And Monday evening, U.S. Attorney Stephen O'Meara provided the first
official details of what the investigation is about. O'Meara said reports
that the case is being investigated as an "antiterrorism"
matter that involves the United States Patriot Act are "not
accurate." <br><br>
The grand jury originally issued subpoenas to at least four Iowans last
week: Wendy Vasquez, Elton Davis, Patti McKee and Brian Terrell.
<br><br>
The activists had been scheduled to appear Tuesday, but the government
pushed it back until next month. Reasons for the delay were not given.
<br><br>
The grand jury is also seeking documents and information from Drake,
though a legal activist group is asking a federal judge to throw out the
subpoena. <br><br>
<br>
The federal government issued the subpoena last week because it wants
records of an antiwar forum that took place Nov. 15 at Drake (pictured,
below left) and of a war protest the next day at Camp Dodge (pictured,
above left). Polk County Sheriff's deputies arrested some of the
protesters. <br><br>
In a statement released Monday evening, U.S. Attorney Stephen O'Meara in
Des Moines said: <br><br>
"The narrow purpose and scope of that inquiry is to determine
whether there were any violations of federal law, or prior agreements to
violate federal law, regarding unlawful entry into military property --
and specifically to include whether there were any violations as a result
of an attempt to enter within the fenced, secure perimeter at Camp
Dodge." <br><br>
O'Meara said the investigation "does not relate to the rally held at
STARC Armory on Nov. 16." He confirmed his office is investigating
an event that occurred at Camp Dodge at or about the same time as the
peace rally at STARC Armory. <br><br>
Several protesters were arrested at that well-publicized event where law
officers were waiting for protesters who crossed over a line demarking
National Guard property. The investigation appears to pertain to an
incident that same day elsewhere on Camp Dodge property where someone
entered or attempted to enter the fenced area of the military property.
<br><br>
As for the protestors, O'Meara said, "The United States Attorney's
Office does not prosecute persons peacefully and lawfully engaged in
rallies which are conducted under the protection of the First Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States." <br><br>
O'Meara said reports that this matter are being investigated by the Joint
Terrorism Task Force are not accurate. <br><br>
The subpoenas were served by a local sheriff's deputy who works on the
FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. <br><br>
<br>
</font><h3><b>Drake Subpoena</b></h3><font size=3>Though a judge has
gagged Drake from discussing the case, the National Lawyers Guild, which
helped sponsor the antiwar conference, faxed KCCI a copy of that Drake
subpoena. It asks for all conference records, including names of people
who were there. <br><br>
The grand jury also wants Drake's names and records of the National
Lawyers Guild's campus chapter and Drake security records, including any
observations of what happened at the forum. <br><br>
The guild filed court documents asking a judge to block the grand jury's
subpoena: "To the extent that the grand jury is being employed for
the purposes of probing into protected political and associational
activities or intimidating and harassing supporters of the peace or
antiwar movement, the grand jury has clearly overstepped its
authority." <br><br>
<br>
</font><h3><b>Harkin Inquiry</b></h3><font size=3>Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin
told NewsChannel 8 he's writing U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft
asking him for more information. <br><br>
"I want to know what is going on. I want to know what is happening
here and why these subpoenas are being issued," Harkin said, prior
to release of the statement from the U.S. attorney in Des Moines.
<br><br>
In a letter to Ashcroft released Tuesday, Harkin said: <br><br>
"Prosecutors should be particularly vigilant about using
extraordinary steps in cases when such a treasured American value as free
speech is at stake. I hope that the steps taken in this case are an
effort to protect citizens and security, not to silence legitimate voices
calling for peace. <br><br>
"When law enforcement measures are disproportionate to the
activities they target, or when they appear to target activities that are
legitimate expressions of dissent, then those law enforcement measures
have a chilling effect. They stifle liberty instead of protecting
it." <br><br>
Federal officials had previously refused to provide any information about
the grand jury inquiry. The statement released late Monday came after
national attention began focusing on the case in Des Moines. Reporters
for both the <i>New York Times</i> and <i>Los Angeles Times</i> were
working on the story Monday. <br><br>
Tuesday, the American Friends Service Committee demonstrated in front of
the federal courthouse in Des Moines around noon.<br><br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
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