From: jk1@pyuxd.uucp (Kudolo)
Subject: WEED AND SEED
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 18:02:59 GMT
Keywords: violence initiative

from misc.activiam.progressive:


/** gen.newsletter: 135.3 **/
** Written  4:17 pm  Nov  1, 1992 by jdav in cdp:gen.newsletter **
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                 People's Tribune (Online Edition)
                 Vol. 19 No. 44 / November 2, 1992

                 P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL  60654
                        Email: jdav@igc.org

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3. "WEED AND SEED:" A POLICE STATE GROWS IN SOUTH CENTRAL L.A.

By Jose Mendivil* (second of three parts)

LOS ANGELES -- The highest law-enforcement agency in the nation, 
the Justice Department, now has the ability to directly control 
South Central L.A. and Pico Union/Koreatown through the federal 
"Weed and Seed" program.

The government's repressive counter-revolution after the L.A. 
Uprising was blatant. Now those same police forces involved in 
that counter-revolution will have the opportunity to bribe or 
blackmail grassroots community organizations and leaders in a most 
covert and subtle manner -- "If you want money to rebuild your 
communities, you first have to give us your blessing that we can 
establish a police state in your neighborhood. You have to give up 
your rights if you want funds."

"Weed and Seed" only applies to low-income, and in most cases, 
primarily African-American and Latino communities. Weed and Seed 
calls for special task forces composed of the FBI, DEA, the U.S. 
Attorney, the LAPD, the L.A. County Sheriffs Department and local 
district attorneys. These task forces would be under federal 
control, and would utilize federal laws to subject suspects to 
"pretrial detention" "speedy trials" and "mandatory minimum 
sentences."

The continued federal duality in sentencing would lead to more 
young kids doing 15 years in prison for relatively minor crimes 
such as LSD possession.

Weed and Seed creates a two-tiered justice system. Federal laws, 
as supported by Supreme Court rulings, often recognize fewer civil 
liberties than do state laws. For example, cities participating in 
federal crime-prevention programs such as Weed and Seed have been 
allowed by judges to "tag" cars with surveillance devices even 
before a crime has been committed. There is also the danger of 
imposing federal laws on non-federal offenses. For example, the 
youths who were charged with beating Reginald Denny, which is 
called assault and battery, were also charged with "interference 
with interstate commerce," a charge that has a 20-year sentence, 
on the grounds that gravel in his truck was being hauled to a 
location where it might be mixed with "out of state" ingredients.

Weed and Seed is a method to further control populations that are 
seething with rebellion, populations who see their children thrown 
away by an economic system that has nothing to offer them.


NEXT WEEK: "Weed and Seed: A police state grows in South Central 
L.A." concludes as grassroots leaders from L.A. and around the 
country comment on this deceptive police-state policy.

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*The author wishes to credit a report on Weed and Seed by the 
Labor Community Strategy Center as a primary source for this 
story. The report may be obtained by sending $2 to: Labor 
Community Strategy Center, 14540 Haynes Street, Van Nuys, 
California, 91411, telephone 818-781-4800.
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This article originated in the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE (Online Edition), 
Vol. 19 No. 44 / November 2, 1992; P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 
60654; Email: jdav@igc.org. Feel free to reproduce and use unless 
marked as copyrighted. Please include this message with 
reproductions of this article. The PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE depends on 
donations from its readers -- your generosity is appreciated.
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** End of text from cdp:gen.newsletter **



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