Stop I-69

During the morning hours of October 28 the Main Chase bank of Bloomington Indiana had it’s back ATM smashed. This is the third attack on Chase bank in Bloomington since August . The second one was their ATM on second street being smashed during the night on the early morning hours of October 6 ‘08. The first on July 27 ‘08

We are declaring attack against Chase Bank for it’s involvement with Gohman asphalt company (GAC). GAC is responsible for the construction of the first 1.7 miles of the I-69 NAFTA super highway. We find this disgusting. GAC is responsible for the relocation of families. The murder of wild animals. The destruction of delicate ecosystems. The contribution of sweat shop labor. The furtherance of globalization We are demanding that Chase bank bank drop all involvement with GAC now! Until then expect more attacks!

We welcome all friends to join in on the fun!

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20081028113624378

Please come out to the public meetings next week! We can’t let them push ahead with planning, selling the lie that I-69 is a done deal. Join up with landowners, residents, and other community members to say “No new-terrain, no to I-69.”
“”Future Land Use Alternatives for the I-69 Corridor in Greene County -
Public Open House” ‘
Tuesday October 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Eastern Greene
Middle School (State Highway 54 at State Highway 43, Bloomfield, IN 47424).
The community is invited to review and comment on future land use
alternatives for development along the proposed Interstate 69 Corridor.
The I-69 corridor is roughly four miles in width running from the
Daviess County Line near Newberry through Scotland and Hobbieville to
the Monroe County Line near Cincinnati. This is an essential component
of the I-69 Corridor Plan for economic development being prepared under
the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Interstate 69 Community
Planning grant.

“Future Land Use Alternatives for Bloomfield – Public Open House” ‘
Wednesday October 29th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Bloomfield
Volunteer Fire Department (75 W. Mill St., Bloomfield, IN 47424).
The community is invited to review and comment on future land use
alternatives in and about the town of Bloomfield. This is an essential
component of the comprehensive plan for the physical growth and
development of Bloomfield being prepared under the Indiana Department of
Transportation’s Interstate 69 Community Planning grant.

“Future Land Use Alternatives for Greene County – Public Open House” ‘
Thursday, October 30th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the 4-H Center
(State Highway 54, Switz City, IN 47465).
The community is invited to review and comment on future land use
alternatives for Greene County. This is an essential component of the
comprehensive plan for the physical growth and development (including
tourism) of Greene County being prepared under the Indiana Department of
Transportation’s Interstate 69 Community Planning grant.

For the past week (10/21-10/24), the American Road and Transportation Builders Association has been meeting in Chicago.  This annual convention brings together hundreds of major  players in the infrastructure business, people who specialize in forcing overpriced megaprojects on unwilling communities.  This year,  a number of companies that have recently become infamous for participation in  I-69 were leading sponsors and participants, with HNTB leading one of the major workshops of the conference.

In response, Chicago residents came to together to organize a picket of the conference.  Banners and signs were raised outside the Hyatt Regency while protesters chanted and demanded a stop to I-69 and the roadbuilders’ schemes.  The picket lasted over an hour today (Thursday, October 23), leading hotel managers and convention planners to overreact and call the police, who were unable to halt the picket.  Embarrassed, the hotel managers simply fled indoors.  The protesters united, will probably keep chanting!
Visit http://www.artba.org/ to see more about the convention.

- THE NEW CALENDAR CAN BE FOUND DIRECTLY UNDER MORE INFO. TO THE LEFT.
- PLEASE KEEP CHECKING AS NEW EVENTS WILL BE ADDED SOON.
- ARE YOU HOSTING AN EVENT RELATED TO STOPPING I-69? PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN ADD IT TO THE CALENDAR. THANKS!

Gohmann Asphalt, the company awarded the contract to construct the first 1.77 miles of Interstate 69 in Southern Indiana, has decided to start a legal battle with activists. Gohmann seems to be working in conjunction with the FBI, Indiana State Police and various other law enforcement agencies to cripple the movement. This comes at a time when other types of repression seem to have peaked in southern Indiana. There has been frequent police harassment, surveillance, questioning, IDing and photographing of activists and vocal opponents of the road.

At the second Gohmann lockdown 15 people were arrested solely on misdemeanor charges and yet the collective bail was upwards of $30,000. Those arrested are facing between one and three charges, these being trespassing, resisting law enforcement, and conversion (exerting unauthorized use or control of someone else’s property). Many of these charges are groundless and clearly an attempt to intimidate activists into refraining from future actions against the road. No plea agreements have been accepted and trials dates are expected to be ongoing throughout the fall and possibly continue into the winter.

Additionally, a lawsuit, which appears to be a SLAPP suit, has been filed against the16 individuals arrested at actions at the Gohmann Yard in Haubstadt, Indiana. A SLAPP suit is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, in which a corporation or developer sues an organization in an attempt to scare it into dropping protests against a corporate initiative. Gohmann is seeking restitution for alleged damages.
It is clear that the supposed “damages” are completely fabricated or, at the very least, hugely inflated. Gohmann was initially seeking $16,000 from the one individual arrested at the first action, but has since added the other 15 people arrested at the second action and increased the sought restitution to over $27,000. Included in the lawsuit is a statute stating that the defendants are potentially liable for up to three times that amount. This exorbitant sum is being demanded, despite the fact that the first person arrested was offered a plea agreement for their criminal charges requiring only about $330 in restitution for these supposed “damages.” This incredibly exaggerated and inaccurate sum seems to be intended to crush the movement against I-69 and anyone who dreams of trying stop this road.

At this point, almost all of the defendants are being represented by public defenders for their criminal charges but are representing themselves in regards to the lawsuit as public defenders are not granted in civil cases and they cannot afford lawyers. Conversely, defendants have been able to retain a pro bono lawyer from the ICLU (Indiana Civil Liberties Union) to represent them in regards to Gohmann’s final attempt to quell their first amendment rights by filing a restraining order against all 16 people.
The restraining order contains many over the top stipulations. Should it remain in place it would require that defendants remain a minimum of 100 yards away from any site that Gohmann has proprietary or monetary interest in. This would include all 1.77 miles of the route. The restraining order extends to many situations out of the control of defendants such as proximity to Gohmann trucks or driving by Gohmann sites.

According to many lawyers who have been consulted, the restraining order contains law used to protect workers from potential stalkers and violence. Law typically used in domestic abuse situations is also cited. Clearly, this is an abuse of these laws, as none of the actions by defendants were violent, or intended to cause or threaten violence. Included in the restraining order were inflammatory documents and statements attempting to link defendants with extremist groups such as the Earth Liberation Front (an underground group which engages in sabotage and direct action in “defense of the earth”). They attempted to link defendants to various other environmental groups with which they have no connection. It seems like an attempt to portray defendants as being part of a much broader network of eco-radicalism.

The legal situation can appear somewhat bleak right now. However, as one lawyer commented, “these are their biggest guns and they are pulling them out now, at the beginning.” Often large companies or the state attempt to overwhelm smaller groups with a lot of legal bureaucracy, knowing that it is a greater burden for those with fewer resources. These are clearly scare tactics meant to consume our energy and time but legally appear to be fairly groundless. Despite these difficulties defendants plan to continue fighting this on all levels and will not let these tactics of intimidation stop them.

Legal funds or contacts are greatly appreciated and being sought. If you have any ideas or resources please contact roadblockef@yahoo.com

Resistance to the construction of Interstate 69 continued nationally on Monday as nearly 100 people took over K Street in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate their opposition to NAFTA & I-69. SDSers, Potomac EF!ers, and others danced in the streets, handed out hundreds of fliers and stickers about I-69, and held corporations publicly accountable for their complicity in I-69 and the Plan Puebla Panama. Distracting the police with their funky dance moves, the crowd was able to storm the Cato Institute, a right-wing think tank responsible for forcing neoliberal ideology down the throats of communities across the world, and left their pristine glass doors plastered with anti-I-69 stickers.

The rowdy crowd continued to the offices of HNTB, a planning firm responsible for I-69, but were limited to blocking traffic and chanting by the line of riot police protecting their corporate bosses. The group finally danced its way down to the Washington Post, holding the corporate apologist responsible for uncritically supporting neoliberal policies and free trade agreements throughout the Americas. Once again, the crowd was almost obtained entrance to the offices, distracting those inside and disrupting work, but were forced down the stairs by a line of riot police.

The action forced hundreds of people to stop in their tracks (literally, as traffic was stopped by a dancing reclamation of the streets), open their eyes, and learn about Interstate 69. It also served as a reminder to those responsible for Interstate 69: we know where you are, we will continue to visit you wherever you hide, and all that protects you are thin glass doors and a line of riot police. Capitalism may be globalized, but so is resistance.

***URGENT UPDATE***

Fifteen I-69 opponents were arrested Monday morning blocking the entrance to Gohmann Asphalt, and need your support and solidarity. Many of them are being held on trumped up felony charges, and some of the female-bodied arrestees have been put in exceedingly unsafe situations. We are doing our best to make sure everyone is safe and get everyone out, but we need dollars like whoa. Any little bit helps!

or to the I69 Legal Office, 323 S Walnut, Bloomington, Indiana, 47401

People who have been calling the jail constantly and demanding humane treatment of the arrestees have done a great service, but at this point stopping those calls would make the job of the legal support team significantly easier as we try to keep lines of communication open between us, the arrestees, and the jail/D.A.’s office. THANKS!

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This morning, over 20 citizens opposed to the construction of Interstate 69 shut down work at the Haubstadt Asphalt Yard belonging to Gohmann Asphalt & Construction, Inc. Five of the opponents locked themselves together in a circle at the yard’s gate, accompanied by five others dedicated to keeping them as comfortable as possible in the face of summer heat and the threat of police violence. With construction slated to begin this week, opponents are demanding that Gohmann immediately drop their contract for work on I-69. Additionally they demand that Gohmann and their accomplices, Riverton Trucking, Inc., drop a spurious civil suit brought against the only I-69 opponent arrested at a previous lock-down at Gohmann Asphalt’s Haubstadt facility.

Gohmann A&C is the primary contractor with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the construction of the first 1.77 miles of Section 1 of the proposed highway from Evansville to Indianapolis. Several weeks prior, five opponents chained themselves to a truck leaving Haubstadt Asphalt Yard belonging to Gohmann Asphalt & Construction, Inc.. The five—accompanied by twenty-five supporters—demanded that Gohmann drop their contract with INDOT or face continued opposition and work stoppages. Until Gohmann drops its contract, opponents will continue to hold them accountable for the evictions of farmers, the disruption of communities, and the devastation of the environment caused by I-69.

I-69 has been hotly contested for almost two decades, with voices raised against its part in the destruction of the environment, the economic prosperity of Southern Indiana communities, and the violation of Hoosiers’ property rights. Although over 70% of Indiana residents are opposed to the road, the governor and corporate interests are ramming I-69 down the throats of Southern Indiana residents in a complete subversion of the democratic process.

Over 400 families will be displaced in Southern Indiana; thousands of acres of farmland, wetlands, and wildlife refuge will be paved over; and the already-polluted tri-state area will face thousands of pounds of increased daily emissions from the increased truck traffic through the region. The interstate is ultimately intended to stretch from Canada to Mexico, linking up with an extensive network of roads being constructed there. The highway is a physical manifestation of NAFTA and other free trade agreements throughout the Americas—the same free trade agreements that have cost 31,000 jobs in Indiana alone since their beginnings in 1994.

“This road is being billed as an economic stimulus for Southern Indiana, but in fact it will only bring minimum wage jobs at truck stops and fast food joints. Meanwhile, all the other jobs are shipped to sweatshops further and further south of the border. The people of Indiana deserve better,” said Judith Mayland, a protestor at the site.

Various citizens’ groups have opposed I-69 for two decades, but with construction starting this week, opponents are stepping up the resistance in order to ensure that the will of the people is enacted.

“We’ve written letters, attended public meetings, and voted, and despite massive opposition they’re still trying to build this road,” one of the locked-down opponents said. “They haven’t listened and they haven’t listened. Now it’s time to lay our bodies on the line so that they finally get it that when we say ‘No road!’ we mean ‘No f***king road!’”

    As construction on the highly contested NAFTA superhighway looms closer in
Southern Indiana, police presence and harassment against anti I-69
organizers is rapidly on the rise.   Now Gohmann Asphalt and Construction,
Inc. seem to be trying their hand at repressing resistance by suing an
activist for damages in response to a lockdown at an Asphalt yard in
Haubstadt, Indiana.  On June 25th, a truck leaving a Gohmann Asphalt
facility had the air let out of it’s tires, blockading access to the
plant, while 5 people locked down to the truck.    On July 10th, the only
arrestee from this lockdown was summoned to a deposition in order for
Gohmann to obtain the names and addresses of the other parties involved in
the lockdown.  This Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP)
is clearly Gohmann’s attempt at scaring activists into dropping actions
against their company, despite their bogus claims that they suffered
damages that may exceed $16,000.  This is not the only time Gohmann has
compromised integrity for profit.  In 2007 they settled an $8.2 million
lawsuit for providing fraudulent asphalt density samples in inspections to
increase profits while undermining the safety of the roads.  Gohmann is
getting rich off the destruction of land and communities, and is making
$25 million off the first 1.77 miles of I-69.  For them this petty lawsuit
isn’t about money, it’s about repressing opponents to the highway. Yet as
Gohmann and the state organize to intimidate us we only grow stronger.
    The only arrestee still hasn’t found a lawyer and doesn’t have the funds
to obtain one.  Help with legal funds and advice/referrals from lawyers
experienced in SLAPP suits is needed. People in Indiana are not letting
heightened repression in the interest of capital sway efforts to stop this
highway! This week is groundbreaking on the highway so come to
Indiana and join us in fighting the NAFTA superhighway!

The Indiana Department of Transportation is having a secret groundbreaking ceremony for I-69 this week. If you’re reading this, you’re probably not invited. The I-69 Listening Project and Roadblock Earth First! are putting on a counter-party to speak against the construction of this highway and work towards the construction of community. Landowers and activists will speak about how and why the construction of I-69 will be so destructive and about the seventeen-year-old campaign against this road. Come listen, learn, and spend time with us! We’ll set up a barbeque and bring a selection of side dishes and dessert. Bring food to throw on the grill and to share!

Logistical info: July 20, 2008, 3 pm, at Werth Park on SR-64, just west of SR-57 near Oakland City.

Also July 28 is the National Day of Mobilization against I-69. There are lots of corporations involved with its construction, and they have offices all over the place. See “Those Responsible” to find a list of the culpable parties.

There are now beautiful flyers for both of these events up on the Resources page, under the flyers section!!

****Information from the I-69 Media Office****

The I-69 Media Office, an independent clearinghouse for anti-I-69 information and action reporting, has launched its new website. http://i69mediaoffice.wordpress.com. The website includes a wealth of information for affinity groups doing anti I-69 actions, including annotated lists of both corporate and independent media contacts in the region of southern Indiana. Check out the “about us” to see what sort of help we can offer affinity groups doing media work around the I-69 campaign. The website is still under construcion, and more information, such as how-to guides and sample press releases, will be up soon. Write i69media@yahoo.com if you have any question or suggestions.