MEETING NOTES FOR PEOPLE FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND HEALING

January 29, 2011

SPECIAL NOTE: Next Saturday's meeting will be at the Beyond the Bridge; see below.

The People for Peace, Justice and Healing met Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Tully's on N. Tacoma Avenue. Present for check-in were: Sallie, Karen, Karen, Rob, Colleen. Discussion: Egypt, possible PJH meeting places (probably not Egypt.)

AGENDA:

1. Tim and the release of public records: Colleen
Concerned citizens are asked to attend the meeting—5:30 p.m., February 7, of the Citizen's Review Panel (Annex of City Council Building)—when there will be an attempt to get a response from TPD re: the recently released report on John Towery, who "spied" on persons in the peace community involved in Tacoma Port actions. Towery, it is now claimed, was a "volunteer" for the military. The law forbids that an employee of the military be engaged in any actions against U. S. citizens. Towery's report was shared with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and Tacoma Police Department. Originally, there was also protests because social security number(s) and other personal information of actual persons appeared in the released report. Originally, Tim was called on the carpet for this but Tim says it was the city's responsibility to redact personal information before the papers were publicly released. The personal material has subsequently been redacted. The legal question of Towery's activities remain a concern. The military claims that although an employee, Towery was "working on his own dime" and therefore they didn't violate the federal Posse Comitatus Act. A civil lawsuit has been filed and whether the military can prove this remains to be seen. Criminal charges are also possible.

Events:

1. The Washington State Coalition Against the Death Penalty met January 29 at UPS from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2. PJH will meet Saturday, February 5, at Beyond the Bridge, located at 2717 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405, 253.572.9199—6th Avenue and Anderson on the north side of the street and in the block east of the Washington State Liquor Store.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen