Four Detained and One Arrested at BASHBACK! Demonstration Against Human Rights Campaign

Rochester Indymedia coverage from the DNC 2008! <!--break--> Tonight, August 26, at around 7pm, four allies of BASHBACK! were detained with one arrested while demonstrating against a Human Rights Campaign party. According to one witness, the four were approaching the demonstration in a group and police called them over and began to question them. Approximately 10 police in full riot gear surrounded the four and then searched them, took their names, and held them for about 30 minutes at the intersection of E. Colfax Ave. and Clarkson St. Police ran their names through their computer and found an outstanding warrant against one demonstrator. The person was arrested at the scene. Members of I-Witness Video and Indymedia gave the arrestee the legal number (303-830-0277) and were able to record the detention and arrest. The other three were released. According to their flyer, BASHBACK! was demonstrating against HRC because, “Instead of supporting a united queer community, the Human Rights Campaign <b>dumped transgender people</b> from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.” The flyer continues, “HRC’s betrayal of trans people is just the tip of an oil-slicked iceberg. Since HRC receives funding from <b>Shell, BP and Citibank</b>, you can bet their vision won’t stray far from <b>corporate agendas</b>. And that includes <b>the Iraq War</b>. Rather than saving the lives of queers here and in Iraq, HRC fights to <b>stockpile the military with queer fodder</b> for Bush’s Crusade.” To find out more, check out, www.hrcisnotforme.com and boycotthrc.com. For more on BASHBACK! check out, www.myspace.com/bashbackdenver.

<p>Rochester Indymedia coverage from the DNC 2008!</p> <!--break--><p>Tonight, August 26, at around 7pm, four allies of BASHBACK! were detained with one arrested while demonstrating against a Human Rights Campaign party. </p> <p>According to one witness, the four were approaching the demonstration in a group and police called them over and began to question them. Approximately 10 police in full riot gear surrounded the four and then searched them, took their names, and held them for about 30 minutes at the intersection of E. Colfax Ave. and Clarkson St. Police ran their names through their computer and found an outstanding warrant against one demonstrator. The person was arrested at the scene. Members of I-Witness Video and Indymedia gave the arrestee the legal number (303-830-0277) and were able to record the detention and arrest. The other three were released.</p> <p>According to their flyer, BASHBACK! was demonstrating against HRC because, “Instead of supporting a united queer community, the Human Rights Campaign <b>dumped transgender people</b> from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation but not gender identity.”</p> <p>The flyer continues, “HRC’s betrayal of trans people is just the tip of an oil-slicked iceberg. Since HRC receives funding from <b>Shell, BP and Citibank</b>, you can bet their vision won’t stray far from <b>corporate agendas</b>. And that includes <b>the Iraq War</b>. Rather than saving the lives of queers here and in Iraq, HRC fights to <b>stockpile the military with queer fodder</b> for Bush’s Crusade.”</p> <p>To find out more, check out, <a href="http://www.hrcisnotforme.com">www.hrcisnotforme.com</a> and boycotthrc.com. For more on BASHBACK! check out, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bashbackdenver">www.myspace.com/bashbackdenver</a>.</p>