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May 21, 2012

Chicago Police Accused of Entrapment as Activists Charged in Terror Plots 
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Before the weekend began, three activists were arrested on terrorism
charges for an alleged plot to attack President Obama's campaign
headquarters and other sites around Chicago during the NATO summit.
Jared Chase, Brent Beterly and Brian Jacob Church are accused of
conspiracy to commit terrorism, material support for terrorism and
possession of explosives. Police say they recovered materials for making
Molotov cocktails in a raid last week. But attorneys for the so-called
"NATO Three" say they were set up by government informants who planted
the explosives. Supporters also say police seized equipment that was
used for brewing home-made beer. Michael Deutsch, an attorney for the
protesters with the National Lawyers Guild accused Chicago police of
entrapment.

*Michael Deutsch: "Obviously we don't have access to all the information
that the state has. But what we do know is that there were undercover
police officers that ingratiated themselves with people who come from
out of town. From our information the so-called incendiary devices and
the plans to attack police stations, attack the mayor's office, is all
coming from the mind of the police informants and are not coming from
our clients, who are non-violent protesters. They're not anarchists,
they don't belong to a 'black bloc' organization. They're involved with
non-violent protest. This is a way to stir up prejudice against a people
who are exercising their First Amendment rights."

 

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