SONOMA COUNTY ACTIVIST GROUP PLACED IN JEOPARDY BY IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM

The following three articles include:

1. Petaluma's local paper, the Argus Courier, article discussing the P.R.O.'s possible involvement with recent vandalism

2. The P.R.O. met with the Argus Courier managing editor, CHRIS SAMSON, and publisher the following morning after the release of the paper to hold them accountable for their invalid information. We wrote up a response covering the main points of what was discussed at the meeting. They claimed it will be published in their next issue coming out this Wednesday.

3. The Press Democrat, Sonoma County's local paper, decided to validate the Argus Courier article by running one themselves about our possible involvement with the graffiti. Fortunately they included pieces from an interview with one of our spokespersons about the events.

4. The PRO is still strategizing for the next steps to be taken, so anyone interested can feel free to email us to be kept informed about this issue.

1.
Vandals' motives include hate, political animosity
Police, community members must act together to control problem
Published: Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006


Since summer debuted in Petaluma two months ago, the community has
been gripped by an increase in vandalism often described as
senseless. Residents and business owners scratch their heads wondering why
anyone would maliciously destroy others' property with no apparent
provocation. It just doesn't make any sense.
>
> Now, it seems, we've learned that at least some of the vandalism
> that's occurred in Petaluma this summer was far more directed, and
> less random, than previously thought. Some of Petaluma's vandalism
> apparently has its roots in prejudice, hatred and political animosity.

> The 16-year-old boy who was arrested last week for smashing five
> historic stained glass windows and tossing a crudely made fire bomb
> into St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on June 13 apparently did so
> because he hates the church, according to police.
>
> Though equally lamentable, this is quite a different situation than
> the angry drunk who knocked over planters, ripped out plants and
> turned over garbage cans in the downtown area the same week in June.
> One was thoughtless destruction, the other a specific and
premeditated act intended to hurt a single institution and the people associated
> with it.

> And it may be a similar kind of hatred, or twisted political animus,
> that led some people to go on a graffiti rampage one Sunday night at
> the end of July by spray painting anti-capitalism slogans on several
> homes, vehicles and personal property in two separate Petaluma
> neighborhoods.
>
> The people responsible for the mess probably thought they were
> striking back at "the man," but instead they wound up destroying
> property belonging to 12 innocent Petaluma families.
>
> It may be a coincidence, but it was only one week earlier that the
> Petaluma-based People's Revolutionary Organization presented "Pirates
> of Propaganda," a workshop in which people were given pointers on
> political graffiti. Organizers advised would-be taggers to go out "in
> groups," have a "lookout" and, "For best results, go out on Sunday
> nights — when fewest pedestrians are out, especially before 1 a.m.
and after 3 a.m. Wear an orange safety vest and hard hat and you won't be
> suspected."
>
> We don't know whether any of the young people associated with the
> anarchist-leaning PRO participated in the graffiti rampage at the end
> of July, but we do know that those responsible committed crimes
> against others and need to be brought to justice. Rather than make a
> political statement, these people set out to destroy other people's
> property. With the myriad of legitimate ways for people of all ages
to effectively express themselves in person, electronically or in print,
> committing vandalism can hardly be justified under any circumstance.
> Nor can it be confused with legitimate forms of civil disobedience.
>
> No matter what the motive, vandalism is an assault not only on
> property owners, but on all of us who strive to make this community a
> peaceful and just place to call home.
>
> We applaud the Petaluma Police for taking effective steps to stop
> vandalism in Petaluma this summer, and continue to encourage those
who witness acts of vandalism to report them immediately. The problem
will only continue if we do nothing to stop it.
>

>2. PRO's RESPONSE
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> For more information, contact Carl Patrick- SDWsonoma [at] yahoo.com,
338-5318
>
> On Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006, the Argus Courier
> newspaper published an editorial entitled "Vandals' motives include
> hate, political animosity," concerning recent vandalism in the city
of Petaluma. The article described the graffiti and property destruction
> that has occurred in Petaluma, specifically the politically charged
> vandalism in two neighborhoods. The article then goes on to imply
that this political act was possibly associated with the activities of the
> local People's Revolutionary Organization, who had sponsored a
> month-long series of actions and events in July, the goal of which
was to foster community involvement, specifically among youth, in working
> for positive social change. One of these events was the "Pirates of
> Propaganda," a day of workshops dealing with different forms of media
> (radio, newspapers, internet, and art). The Argus Courier's editorial
> staff suggests that the event encouraged people to commit property
> destruction, and thus it contributed directly to the recent
> politically-motivated vandalism. However, the intent of the event was
> to educate youth about how to get involved in local and independent
> media, and how to express them selves, artistically and politically,
> by using legitimate public space. "Graffiti ethics" were stressed
> throughout the workshop, defining the differences between artistic
> expression and vandalism. In no way did the P.R.O. encourage people
in these workshops to participate in the destruction of private
property.
> By insinuating that the legal activities of the P.R.O. are
> linked to the illegal actions of others, without one shred of
> evidence, the Argus Courier is not only being dishonest to the
> community, it is slandering a legitimate organization, and
endangering the safety of the many people who are associated with it. Among the
> activities of the P.R.O. are a weekly food serving to local day
> laborers, work with various labor unions around the county,
nonviolent antiwar actions, classroom presentations about civil rights,
> organizing in the immigrant rights movement, a free monthly movie
> night, fundraisers for local social justice groups, educational
> outreach on issues such as gay rights, women's rights, animal rights,
> and environmental sustainability. Because of our consistent presence
> in the community and on school campuses, we have created a positive
> outlet for youth who are seeking to participate in a wide array of
> movements for social justice. To attack a legitimate and positive
> organization is shameful and disingenuous. Furthermore, the
> implications made by the Argus Courier are eerily reminiscent of the
> days of COINTELPRO, where peaceful and inspirational activists (such
> as Martin Luther King Jr.) were targeted for destruction by the
> government and the media. The goal of COINTELPRO was to silence
> political dissent by framing, jailing, or even assassinating,
> nonviolent political activists. By cynically attacking the P.R.O.,
the Argus is bringing us back to the days where legal activism was
> synonymous with criminal behavior.
Although we invited the press to all of our events in July,
> we received no coverage for our many positive efforts, while the one
> incident of political vandalism gets front page coverage and space on
> the editorial pages on both the Press Democrat and the Argus Courier.
> We believe this is incredibly damaging and dishonest to our
community.
> Through our local papers, we are told horror stories about young kids
> committing "senseless acts of violence" against each other and
against private property, yet not one mention of the many instances where
> youth overcome violence and ignorance to take a stand on what they
> feel is right. How do you expect the youth to stop acting violently
if all of these positive activities are being systematically suppressed
> by the media?
> Additionally, if the Argus Courier is serious about curbing
> youth vandalism, then it will surely join us in our efforts to
> establish more public spaces around town where kids can express
> themselves without fear of arrest or punishment. We have seen the
> amount of legal public space decline exponentially in recent years,
> which has inevitably lead to more people damaging private property in
> order to express themselves. It is the right of all citizens to be
> able to create art in a free and open way. By privatizing every inch
> of our community, and criminalizing all those who seek to reclaim
> public space for artistic purposes, our city has created a situation
> where property violence is not only inevitable, but is sure to
> increase dramatically.
> Because of the aforementioned points, the People's
> Revolutionary Organization demands that the Argus Courier retract its
> statement that the P.R.O. is in any way associated with any political
> vandalism. Furthermore, we ask that you publish the above arguments
in the next issue of your paper, so all of your readers can know exactly
> where the P.R.O. stands. We are a legitimate political organization
> that seeks radical community change by using legal and peaceful
means.
> Never have we committed an act of violence against another person or
> another person's property. By connecting legal activism with illegal
> vandalism, the Argus has not only acted unethically, it has
> jeopardized many law-abiding young people, who are now seen as
> potential suspects simply for their involvement with the P.R.O. If a
> retraction is not made in the next issue, legal action will be taken
> against your paper for slanderous and false accusations against our
> organization. Furthermore, we will not hesitate to utilize our
> resources and allies within the community in pressuring your paper
> into publishing honest information about our organization and its
> activities.

3. PRESS DEMOCRAT ARTICLE
*Petaluma radicals' group denies July graffiti*
*Police may include People's Revolutionary Organization in inquiry into
vandalism on homes, cars*

JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat Police may be investigating whether
graffiti denouncing capitalism and suburbia on Castle Drive in Petaluma
in July is connected with the People's Revolutionary Organization.

By JOSE L. SANCHEZ Jr.
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A self-styled radical youth group denied responsibility for tagging a
dozen homes and vehicles in Petaluma with political statements a week
after it conducted a workshop on how to do graffiti.
Petaluma police said this week they may investigate the group, which
calls itself the People's Revolutionary Organization, in connection with
the vandalism.
"We had nothing to do with it," said Carl Patrick, 19, a spokesman for
the group.
The vandalism occurred overnight on July 30.
Founded in May 2005 by a dozen Petaluma teens and young adults, the
group has organized anti-war protests, critical mass bicycle rides,
workshops and movie nights to promote its agenda.
It also has been providing meals to Petaluma day laborers once a week,
Patrick said.
The group's 10-point program includes an end to military recruitment at
schools, more open space, a living wage, chemical-free food, an end to
consumption of animal products and higher taxes on gasoline.
On July 23, a week before two upscale Petaluma neighborhoods were tagged
with slogans like "Eat the rich" and "Suburbia ain't safe no more," the
group conducted a workshop in Santa Rosa titled "Pirates of Propaganda
Mission Accomplished: Media in Action!"
Ideas discussed during the workshop included how to create stencil art
and graffiti and how best to "get up" the material, according to an
account published on the Web site indybay.org.
Recommendations included going out in groups late on Sunday nights or
early on Monday mornings when few people are out, using lookouts and
wearing orange safety vests and hard hats to avoid suspicion.
Patrick confirmed the account of the workshop but said most of the
approximately 25 people who took part were not members of People's
Revolutionary Organization.
The workshop did not encourage targeting private property, he said.
"We don't believe it works," Patrick said. "It's not appropriate. It
jeopardizes our legitimate activities and puts us at risk."
Petaluma Police Lt. Danny Fish said the graffiti investigation is in its
early stages. He said police are aware of the workshop and may include
the People's Revolutionary Organization in their inquiry.
Several residents of the King's Mill neighborhood where the graffiti
took place said Friday they hope those responsible will be caught and
held accountable.
"I hope the police continue to work the case and keep us in the loop,"
said Tony Welker, whose garage door and vehicle were vandalized.
"If nothing is done it could get worse," he said.