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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Politics / City One Person With a Subpoena Showed Up to the Grand Jury, Didn't Answer Questions, and Was Told to Return at the End of the Month

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Aug 2, 2012 at 2:56 PM

BK
Leah-Lynn Plante

At roughly 12:45 this afternoon, Leah-Lynn Plante—a small, nervous-seeming woman in a red cardigan—stood on the front lawn of the federal courthouse and read a statement to a group of 75 or so activists who showed up to support her decision to not participate in today's grand jury proceedings.

She said, in part (speaking on behalf of herself and Dennison Williams, another Portland resident who was issued a subpoena):

We will not answer any questions other than our names. If we are asked additional questions, we will invoke our First, Fourth,and Fifth Amendment rights. Under no circumstances will we talk about other people.

This grand jury is a tool of political repression. It is attempting to turn individuals against each other by coercing those subpoenaed to testify against their communities. The secret nature of grand jury proceedings creates mistrust and can undermine solidarity. And imprisoning us takes us from our loved ones and our responsibilities. But our passion for freedom is stronger than the state’s prisons.

She was prepared to go into the grand jury room without her lawyer, not answer questions, and go to jail for contempt of court.

Then she walked up the courthouse steps, past a line of police officers, hugged a few of her friends, and walked (slightly teary-eyed) into the courthouse.

The crowd stood around, waiting and talking. Some said she could be in and out in 20 minutes or that she might be bound for jail. Forty-five minutes later, she popped back out and the crowd began cheering. She said she went in, gave her name, said she wouldn't answer any other questions, and was told to come back on August 30. "Now," she said, "I just want to get the fuck out of here."

As far as I could tell, nobody else who was issued a subpoena showed up.

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Comments (15) RSS

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That's not generally the purpose of a grand jury. This does seem like a fishing expedition, and more concerned with property rights than freedom of expression.

Posted by biffp on August 2, 2012 at 3:08 PM

Stay strong, Leah and everyone else. You are so inspiring!

Posted by blackgreens on August 2, 2012 at 3:23 PM

Lacking context here. Does anyone have any idea what the grand jury is investigating?

Posted by Joe in Seattle on August 2, 2012 at 3:29 PM

@ 3. See the post earlier today (it's linked at the top of this post). It appears that they are trying to root out who was behind the May Day smashup, but it also appears that they are doing so by rounding up people with connections to the anarchist community—essentially, targeting people for their political and social affiliations (the warrants we've obtained are heavy on finding "anarchist literature") rather than evidence of criminal activity.

But we don't really know because it's a grand jury—top secret!

Posted by Brendan Kiley on August 2, 2012 at 3:53 PM

A Grand Jury for what and about what? Don't bury that shit behind links. It's poor UI and lazy editorial.

Posted by tkc on August 2, 2012 at 5:24 PM

That took some serious guts on Ms. Plante's part. Many of the constitutional rights we take for granted (including aspects of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, which she invoked) simply don't apply at grand jury proceedings. And even if they did, it takes serious courage to actually assert those rights in an environment as intimidating as a courtroom when you are the object of the state's interest.

Posted by YakHerder on August 2, 2012 at 5:33 PM

What does she think she is?

A US Citizen who can't be forced to do more than identify herself by name, while within the boundaries of the United States?

Next thing you know, they'll start thinking they have Rights and aren't Serfs.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on August 2, 2012 at 5:35 PM

I have great respect for Leah-Lynn. It took a lot of guts for her to do what she did. If more people said no to the overreaching courts backing the suppression of our 1st amendment rights we might start gaining more ground in this struggle.

Posted by kjonesdp on August 3, 2012 at 5:14 AM

I have great respect for Leah-Lynn. It took a lot of strength for her to do what she did. If more people said no to the overreaching courts backing the suppression of our 1st amendment rights we might start gaining more ground in this struggle.

Posted by kjonesdp on August 3, 2012 at 5:17 AM

Poor spoiled white kids, didn't realize that 'smashy smashy' political
violence is illegal?

Posted by Sugartit on August 3, 2012 at 7:08 AM

Stay strong Leah-Lynn, there is a bigger picture here you're fighting for, and coming out of this with scars or not, this is the right thing to do. For all of us.

Posted by approachingmidnight

on August 3, 2012 at 9:10 AM

This woman creates more division in the community through lies, slander and animal neglect than state-sponsored tools of repression ever could. But I do wish her the best in battling it out for her rights.

Michelle,
Portland, Or

Posted by akkadia on August 3, 2012 at 4:46 PM

Posted by akkadia on August 3, 2012 at 4:49 PM

This is disturbing.

Could someone please explain to me why Williams was possibly involved in a scheme this sinister and exploitative?

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Woman-get…

Posted by akkadia on August 3, 2012 at 9:50 PM

Michelle,

"This woman creates more division in the community through lies, slander and animal neglect than state-sponsored tools of repression ever could."

Could you expand on that? I'm also suspicious of Leah's hyperbole and 'labeling' people including the irony of engaging in unfounded 'snitch hunts' while she and her peers complain of state sponsored 'witch hunts'. Go figure. NOW, it would appear she's been caught in the very snare she and p(a)ls set for others. It must be tough when the monster you created turns and decides you're on the menu.

Posted by pinbalwyz on December 18, 2012 at 9:19 PM