Matthew Rothschild: More Military Intrusion Into Law Enforcement

from The Progressive:



More Military Intrusion Into Law Enforcement
By Matthew Rothschild, August 21, 2009


Here’s another story about the ever-eroding line between the military and civilian law enforcement.

On Aug. 9, nine peace activists walked onto the base at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin to protest the wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, to demand the return of the National Guard, and to call for nuclear disarmament.

They were cited for federal trespassing, and five were released. But the Army police at Fort McCoy detained the other four, who had previously been apprehended there. The Army police held them for more than three hours, and then drove them 70 miles to the Dane County jail in Madison and put a hold on them until the next day.

Problem is, the Army is prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act from engaging in domestic law enforcement. And Army regulations say that civilians should be issued citations and then turned over “to the appropriate civilian authorities.” In this case, it would have been the U.S. Marshals. But the Marshals didn’t come and get them.

The four activists—Joy First, Alice Gerard, Brian Terrell, and Bonnie Urfer—were evidently held for 24 hours on the authority of Fort McCoy alone. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.progressive.org/wx082109.html

Arresting people for trespassing on an military base is not domestic law enforcement.