Positive News US is a free, not for profit newspaper published four times a year in Ithaca, NY. We report on successful projects around the world in the areas of sustainability, social equality, education and happiness, with a clear message that "another world is possible."
more...
| a part of Positive News International |
Spy Unit Dismantled |
Photo: Code Pink members Ellen Mitchell and Natalie Wormeli
by Ruth Robertson
CodePink Women for Peace member Natalie Wormeli is feeling in the pink these days. Natalie and other California activists were recently congratulated for “taking out of action” an illegal spy unit that monitored peaceful protesters.
The strange story of the California National Guard’s secret intelligence unit was first exposed in the San Jose Mercury News in June of 2005. Whistleblowers reported to journalist Dion Nissenbaum that the Guard had monitored a Mother’s Day Rally in Sacramento organized by CodePink and Cindy Sheehan’s group, Gold Star Families for Peace. Other groups whose members had joined the demonstration, including the Raging Grannies and Veterans for Peace, recalled that the event seemed to have been under scrutiny by unknown persons taking photos and writing down license plate numbers.
Natalie, an attorney who sits on the board of the ACLU of Northern California, kept the issue of the National Guard spy unit before legislators and the press, meeting with top military brass at headquarters and urging on Senator Joseph Dunn (D-California), who launched investigations into the Guard’s misuse of funds. CodePink members in neon pink wigs joined Raging Grannies in flowered hats to deliver tea and cookies to National Guardsmen who seemed overwhelmed at the activists determination to expose the truth.
According to an Associated Press article (12/02/05) the Guard admitted that the unit never had proper budget approval from the California legislature, and actually violated military procedure. Ms. Wormeli said that, in addition, the intelligence division violated federal laws established in the 19th century to ensure that the military would never be involved in spying on citizens. Natalie, who in the summer of 2005 took a large pink box labeled “Put requested records here” to National Guard HQ, was looking pretty in pink five months later when the Guard announced that the spy unit was to be immediately dismantled.
Contact: Code Pink
Tel: 415-255-7296 for
www.codepink4peace.org
CodePink Women for Peace member Natalie Wormeli is feeling in the pink these days. Natalie and other California activists were recently congratulated for “taking out of action” an illegal spy unit that monitored peaceful protesters.
The strange story of the California National Guard’s secret intelligence unit was first exposed in the San Jose Mercury News in June of 2005. Whistleblowers reported to journalist Dion Nissenbaum that the Guard had monitored a Mother’s Day Rally in Sacramento organized by CodePink and Cindy Sheehan’s group, Gold Star Families for Peace. Other groups whose members had joined the demonstration, including the Raging Grannies and Veterans for Peace, recalled that the event seemed to have been under scrutiny by unknown persons taking photos and writing down license plate numbers.
Natalie, an attorney who sits on the board of the ACLU of Northern California, kept the issue of the National Guard spy unit before legislators and the press, meeting with top military brass at headquarters and urging on Senator Joseph Dunn (D-California), who launched investigations into the Guard’s misuse of funds. CodePink members in neon pink wigs joined Raging Grannies in flowered hats to deliver tea and cookies to National Guardsmen who seemed overwhelmed at the activists determination to expose the truth.
According to an Associated Press article (12/02/05) the Guard admitted that the unit never had proper budget approval from the California legislature, and actually violated military procedure. Ms. Wormeli said that, in addition, the intelligence division violated federal laws established in the 19th century to ensure that the military would never be involved in spying on citizens. Natalie, who in the summer of 2005 took a large pink box labeled “Put requested records here” to National Guard HQ, was looking pretty in pink five months later when the Guard announced that the spy unit was to be immediately dismantled.
Contact: Code Pink
Tel: 415-255-7296 for
www.codepink4peace.org
Announcements
What do You find hopeful in the world today? Please contribute a short paragraph and be published in Positive News. We are currently selecting...
more >
The California Edition of Positive News is well on the way! We are looking for volunteers to help make it happen. To join our team contact...
more >
