First paragraph (Teaser):

Protesters have been beaten, sexually assaulted, tortured, and abused by Miami police during and after the FTAA demonstrations. Some protesters are in critical condition. Please read how you can help the over 250 people arrested - some are in hospital!

Rest of the text:

This week thousands of protestors came to Miami to oppose the FTAA. The Free
Trade Agreement of the Americas is an international trade agreement that
aims to extend corporate control throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to the mass action there was a calculated campaign on the part of the
police to intimidate and harass protestors. One officer characterized this
campaign by saying "You can beat the rap, but not the ride".

As we feared, our protests were met by a massive show of state repression,
backed by $8.5 million in US Government funding. Miami Police Commissioner
John Timoney oversaw a massive, paramilitary assault on our constitutional
and human rightS.

Protestors were attacked by police wielding batons, tear gas, pepper spray,
rubber, wooden, and plastic bullets and other chemical agents. Over 100
protestors were treated for injuries; 12 were hospitalized. Police dispersed
large groups of peaceful protestors with tear gas, pepper spray and open
fire.

Small groups leaving the protests were harassed, arrested and beaten. This
campaign of fear and intimidation culminated in the closure and
militarization of downtown Miami. There were confirmed reports of military
tanks patrolling the streets after dark on Thursday night.

Our legal team estimates more than 250 arrests. People have become political
prisoners and are being held in jail. More than 50 of them were arrested
while holding a peaceful vigil outside the jail in solidarity with those
inside. They were surrounded by riot police and ordered to disperse. As they
did, police opened fire and blocked the streets preventing many from
leaving.

We are now receiving reports from people being released or calling from jail
that there is excessive brutality, sexual assault and torture going on
inside. People of color, Queer and transgender prisoners are particularly
being targeted. There is a confirmed report of one Latino man arrested along
with 62 others outside Miami-Dade County Jail Friday, who is currently
hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit for an injury he received after
being beaten in the head with night stick by an arresting officer.

People have also been denied access to attorneys, visitation rights,
vegetarian or vegan food, and access to essential medication and medical
attention.

We call on people from around the globe to take action immediately to
support our sisters and brothers who are being unfairly arrested and
brutalized. We are calling for three immediate actions:

1) Call, fax, email elected officials with the demands listed below. Contact
information below.

2) Money is urgently needed to get people out of jail. They are making
everyone post between $100 - $5000 I in bail. We are working with bail
bondsmen, but this is not enough. Send money to cover legal and jail-support
expenses including: bail, getting people rides back home and other legal
costs. Please send money to:

Online donations are possible at:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ftaadonate

You can also mail a check or money order to:

United for Peace and Justice/FTAA Fund
P.O. Box 607
Times Square Station
New York, NY 10108
[Please specify "Legal Fund" in the memo field]

3) Global Day of Action on Monday at any time and any appropriate location.
This could be US Embassies, Departments of Justice or FBI offices.

THESE ARE OUR DEMANDS:

a. Drop all charges.
b. Release all political prisoners.
c. Meet basic human needs: no more brutality, provide appropriate food,
access to medicine and medical attention, warm clothing.
d. Provide access to attorneys and visitation rights.
e. Provide equitable treatment to all prisoners.
f. Do not share information collected with the INS.
g. Fire Chief Timoney

Many thanks for your support. It is urgently needed.

To send a free fax:
http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=245&source=19

PLEASE CALL AND WRITE:

MANUEL A. DIAZ, Mayor, City of Miami
305.250.5300
305.375.5071
may...@miamidade.gov OR mann...@ci.miami.fl.us

ALEX PENELAS, Mayor, Miami-Dade County
305.829.9336 home
305.375.5071 office
Chief of Staff: Francois Illas
Fil...@ci.miami.fl.us

KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE
State Attorney
305.547.0100

JOHN TIMONEY
Chief of Police
305.673.7925
305.579.6565

OTHER NUMBERS:

Local media has been grossly biased in their coverage. While this is
somewhat to be expected, the following are numbers that people can call to
voice frustration.

CBS4: 305.639.4551, 305.639.4601, 305.639.4426
WPLG channel 10: 305.576.6397
WSUN Fox: 954.524.0388 (Rosh Lowe)

Miami Jail Information: To track people in the system try:

http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com

Miami-Dade Jail (felonies)
Facility Supervisor: Captain E. Cambridge
Address: 1320 NW 13 Street Miami, FL. 33125
Facility Phone: 786.263.4100

Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (misdemeanors)
Facility Supervisor: Captain M. Fernandez
Address: 7000 NW 41 Street Miami, Fl. 33166
Facility Phone: 305.470.7600

Carlos Alvarez, Director of Metropolitan Sheriff Department
Miami-Dade Police Department
9105 Northwest 25th Street
Miami, FL 33172-1500 USA
Telephone: 305.471.2100
Fax: 305.471.2163

OTHER CONTACT NUMBERS OF CITY OFFICIALS:

ALEJANDRO VILARELLO
City Attorney
305.416.1800

JOHNNY WINTON, Miami City Commissioner
305.858.7344 home
305.250.5333 office
E-mail: jwin...@ci.miami.fl.us

KATY SORENSON, Miami Dade County Commissioner
305.375.5218
305.378.6677

Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
E-mail: agon...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.250.5430

Commissioner Joe M. Sanchez, District 3
E-mail: jsan...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.250.5380

Commissioner Tomas P. Regalado, District 4
E-mail: t...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.250.5420

Commissioner Arthur Teele, Jr., District 5
E-mail: artt...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.250.5390

City Manager Joe Arriola
E-mail: jarr...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.250.5400

City Attorney Alejandro Vilarello
E-mail: l...@ci.miami.fl.us
Telephone: 305.416.1800

City Attorney's Office
444 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 945
Miami, Florida 33130