April 11, 2001 Dear Colleagues, The Narco News Room is on forced leave of absence for the next few days. This absence is *imposed* by the Banco Nacional de Mexico ("Banamex") lawsuit that is brought to us - and you - by the same lawyer-lobbyist firm that brought you Plan Colombia; Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld. We are forced by the circumstances of the frivolous and expensive lawsuit against us to go to the law library and finish preparing our answer to their abuse of the court system. Three times they brought their persecution against photos, information and commentary about cocaine trafficking on the properties of Roberto Hernández Ramírez, the Banamex owner, in Mexico. Three times the judges threw them out of court, one judge ruling that "all the accusations were based on facts." Now they've come to New York City, where they want a fourth bite of the apple. But, as they will learn, the Big Apple bites back. All our stories of the past year remain at your service on The Narco News Bulletin web site. This necessity, to leave aside what we love best - that is, reporting on the drug war from Latin America - is temporary. And, of course, if any major news happens during this time we will rush from the law library to inform you - that is our first job. But in order to keep publishing, we must do battle in court. This classic harassment lawsuit - opposed to every principle of Free Speech as protected by the First Amendment - is generating major coverage from New York to Paris, as we've shared with you in recent days. Tomorrow, Thursday, The Boston Phoenix, http://www.bostonphoenix.com , will publish an in-depth intervew with Narco News, about all our work, not just this lawsuit, which is also now part of our work. Next Wednesday, Narco News celebrates our First Birthday, defying those who invested mountains of money to gamble that we would not live to see our first year. We invite you to attend our First Anniversary Celebration in New York City, Wednesday, April 18th, 8:30 p.m., at 538 1/2 West 40th Street in Manhattan. We are authorized to announce the appearance of the following talents at this event: social humorist Barry Crimmins, poet Ira Cohen, singer- songwriter Stephan Smith and authentic journalist Danny Schechter, "the news dissector." Other special guests can't be announced yet. But stay tuned. New York has always fought for Free Speech and against censorship. If you can't be in New York next Wednesday, please vote with your feet, and send a contribution to our defense fund. The more we are able to delegate our defense to attorneys, the less of this legal work we have to do ourselves. Information about how to contribute to the Drug War on Trial fund appears below. But if you're looking for the latest story on Narco News, and don't like it that you are denied your right to up-to-date coverage of the drug war from our América, remember that Banamex and Akin Gump are the ones who have denied us - who have denied you - the right to inform and to be informed. Take action. Bite back. Money is not the only form in which you can join the Big Apple Bite Back. If you are an artist, design a "Drug War on Trial" logo, banner, sticker, button, graffiti. If you are a musician, write a song, a poem, a letter, a story to support this defense. If you are an actor or actress, act out! If you are an authentic journalist, rise to the defense of your craft. If you are an organizer, organize! If you are an emailer, write emails. If you have a web site, or a newsletter, spread the word. If you are a human being, rage against the machine. The New York Narco News Tour is dedicated to the memory of Jeff Buckley (1967-1997), my late friend and collaborator, about whom I have broken a long silence in the Boston Phoenix interview that appears tomorrow. Jeff, who wrote in the final words of his magnum opus, "The Sky is a Landfill," these words: "I have no fear of this machine!" Do not fear. We will emerge victorious. We are already emerging victorious. And you can take that to the narco-bank. >From somewhere in a country called América, Sharpening truth and tooth for the big bite back, your correspondent, Al Giordano Publisher The Narco News Bulletin http://www.narconews.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Have you made your check out yet to "Drug War on Trial"? Send it to: Drug War on Trial c/o Attorney Thomas Lesser 39 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 U.S.A. See you next Wednesday! It's your Narco News, and your birthday too. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
