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September 05, 2004
Political Prisoner in NYC
Hey everyone.
Thanks for the amazing outpouring of support. I was released Thursday, September 2nd at around noon after being detained for 40 hours. I was one of 1200 people arrested in a 4-hour period on Tuesday night during RNC week in New York City. I along with many others were not actively engaging in civil disobedience or otherwise doing anything other than walking down a sidewalk talking pictures. The police penned in a whole block near Union Square and arrested everyone within. We were all taken to Pier 57, now infamously being called Guantanamo on the Hudson due to it’s chain link fencing and razor wire. Most of us were held there for at least 12 hours under filthy and crowded conditions. The place had been a former city bus garage. The cement floor has accumulated years of motor oil, diesel fuel, antifreeze and who knows what other chemicals. During my stay, there were few benches in the smaller cages and none at all in the larger cage. People were forced to lie down on the bare toxic concrete to try and sleep away the hours. After some processing, we were taken by prison bus to Central Booking aka The Tombs. The next 28 hours were an endless series of shuffling from cell to cell, multiple searches, subhuman food, mind control and frustration. It wasn’t until 20 hours into the process that I was allowed a phone call and not until the end of my 40 order hour ordeal was I able to see a lawyer and soon thereafter, a judge. I was charged with 2 counts of Disorderly Conduct and one count of Parading Without a Permit as were many others. These charges are violations and normally warrant an on the spot Desk Appearance Ticket. It was quite obvious to me that the intent of holding us so long was to keep us off the street as long as possible. A New York State Supreme Court justice ruled the city is in contempt for holding us so long and may be fining the city $1000 per head ($500k) for doing so. I walked away with an ACD, Adjournment of Contemplation for Dismissal, which means no conviction, no fines and the record is sealed as long as I don’t get arrested for the same offense within the next 6 months.
There is talk of class action suits to address the toxic conditions at Pier 57 and the ridiculous & illegal amount of time we were held. Everyone is encouraged to document their experiences as soon as possible while it is still fresh. The more documentation we have, the easier it will be to backup any claims that arise.
If you have any questions or comments regarding what happened to me, feel free to drop me a line and I will do my best to address them. If you were also locked up during this time, please contact me and say hi. I’m trying to maintain connections with as many people as possible that has gone through this.
In solidarity,
Eddie Codel
email: eddie@eddie.com

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This just in from Ryan Junell:

EDDIE IS FREE!
after 40 hours in the ‘care’ of the police state, mr. codel has been freed. he just gave me a call from chinatown on his way to pick up his belongings from the depot. thank you all for your helpful words! I told him about the outpouring of support when I was on the phone with him in jail this morning around 3:30am and it totally lifted his spirits. he’s a trooper anyhow, but I know for a fact he felt pretty awesome that over 1000 people had learned a little bit about his story on the ebay page and that people from his various communities had emailed him with support.
here’s an interview I shot with a detainee last night around 2:30am – I spent about two hours outside and inside 100 centre street (the city courthouse). when I left police presence was growing to contain the 250+ audience. this afternoon I understand there are over 1000 supporters (friends, lawyers, medics, parents, etc) standing outside and waiting for people to be released.
this stuff is amazing and I’m so excited to be here watching this VERY REAL stuff happening first hand. I think about that line in star wars when obi wan says ‘if you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine” – these arrests are badges of honor for almost all of the demonstrators I’ve talked to. jailing them and running through the system strengthens their resolve to get bush out of office and intensifies their activism.
these actions did NOTHING to stop terrorism. the authorities here, conscious or not, have done EVERYTHING they could to suppress FREE POLITICAL SPEECH. the chant “this is what democracy looks like.” rings true for me here.
interview with detained protestor:

http://www.texasmonkey.com/archive/jail.story.090104.mp4

ebay page for eddie
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