Tue02Sep - LONDON - Gary McKinnon Protest

[xmasdale]

Lucy, (Gary's girlfriend) is organising a gathering/demo/protest for Gary (McKinnon)
outside the Home Office in London this Tuesday at 4pm.
I know it's short notice but if you're able to attend or to spread the word in any way, it would be much
appreciated.

The United States want to Extradite Gary to face a sixty year prison sentence and have even threatened him with "being fried" and as they want to try him in Virginia and they still have the Death penalty, this is very frightening.
Since when do we extradite UK citizens for computer mis-use, which carried a community service sentence in the UK.
An extradition done on the strength of an allegation alone for a Non Violent crime (Gary has always denied causing any damage) but no Prima Facie evidence is now required.
We cannot extradite American citizens without proof but America can now take any UK citizen on the strength of an allegation alone.

The ECHR are taking on the case of Abu Hamza and allowed him a stay so why ignore Gary's Human Rights.
Gary has recently been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. This would not prevent Gary being tried in his own country but should have prevented him from being extradited to a country that shows scant regard for Human Rights and now advocates and approves of Torture being used.



Please help if you can

Janis (Gary's mum)

[paul wright]

Any reports how this went. Did anyone show apart from the girlfriend. This is the most important cause ever? What crime did Gary uncover?
Somewhere in his log there must be something to justify this.....

[TonyGosling]

I don't think you'll appreciate me putting my opinion here Paul - but I'll say it anyway. That Gary is a 'patsy' in all this.

Being set up to make everyone think the cyber-trap he fell into really means something. He can safely (from the dark forces' point of view) become a 'cause celebre' in the future because his cause is alien bunkum.

A 'soft' trojan horse for this idiotic 'extradition without evidence' treaty. Which may see more serious cases in the future.

Made for TV.

That doesn't detract from the fact that the law's been ripped to shreds and the guy's been utterly shat on.

[paul wright]

Yeah - well we see how this turns out, Tony
Whether he's really tilting at windmills or some such
I'm of the opinion that his two investigative objects - ufo's and free energy - might point to why the heavy response
Whether he's set up for something else doesn't really matter
Your suggestion is of an entrail
The fact that he's disgracefully set up is of prime import

[xmasdale]

[paul wright]

Great interviews Noel. And yours in particular. Pity you have to scroll to find it. Hope this is posted more accessibly soon

[xmasdale]

[xmasdale]

Update: New McKinnon demo Sun 28 Sept

Just received this from Gary's mum.

Hello Everyone,

Please see details of planned Protest and letter below from me (Janis/Gary's Mum)

Gary McKinnon protest 28 September to take place in Grosvener Sq. outside the US Embassy - so that's 4 pm on Sun 28 Sept outside US Embassy in London.

The last meeting of London ARM (minutes forthcoming) agreed that we would seek to hold a protest about the possible extradition of Gary McKinnon on the 28th September (a Sunday) from about 4 pm.

We agreed to try and get wider allies on board, including Liberty, Amnesty International, the UK Disabled Peoples Council, and others, such as local Stop the War Groups and any interested political parties.

I'd like to ask people to actively try and get a hold of people who they think might be interested in joining in such an event.

Protest is to take place in Grosvener Sq. outside the US Embassy - so that's 4 pm on Sun 28 Sept outside US Embassy

Thanks

Roderick

[politicsofautism] Re: Gary McKinnon protest 28 September‏
From: politicsofautism@yahoogroups.co.uk on behalf of roderick cobley (rocobley@hotmail.com)
Reply-to: politicsofautism@yahoogroups.co.uk


This link is an update from Gary's Solicitor Karen Todner http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39483871,00.htm?r=1

Any day now, my son, Gary McKinnon, could face extradition from Britain to
the United States where he would stand trial for hacking into US government
computers and could face a sentence of sixty years (Charged with 7 counts, proposed sentence Ten Years Per Count)

Gary has recently been diagnosed as suffering from Lifetime Aspergers Syndrome, which is why I and his family and his many friends and supporters around the world are arguing
that Gary should be allowed to stay in the U.K and face the courts in the
country where the offence, if offence there was, was committed.

The United States authorities waited two years to call for Gary's
arrest because of a then unratified, unsigned extradition treaty between
the two countries which would make it easier for them to have a British
citizen sent for trial in the US.
Yet, when he was first arrested in London, Gary was told he would probably get a sentence of community service for his hacking activities.

He naively admitted computer misuse
before he had engaged a lawyer and without a lawyer even being present. We
were still unaware that he had Aspergers Syndrome.

Gary gained no leniency for his honesty and on the contrary, his
extradition has been relentlessly pursued by the British and American
authorities, despite the crown prosecution service (CPS) declining to
prosecute Gary in Britain. This attitude will hardly encourage British
citizens to come clean regarding any crimes they may have committed. If no
leniency or consideration is given when a person accused of a crime
immediately and openly tells the truth, there is little point in them
admitting to anything.


The CPS refusal to prosecute Gary here was clearly done to allow the
Americans to arrest him two and a half years later, once the one-sided
extradition treaty was introduced and then made retrospective.
In addition, in order to indict Gary, the US authorities had to claim a
specific amount of financial damage. Gary has always denied causing damage
and without proof of such, the U.S could not prosecute him. Then, just a
month ago the U.S prosecutors stated in an interview, that once Gary was
extradited, the most difficult thing to prove would be the damage!

Several weeks ago the goal posts were changed yet again when the U.S
brought in a new law whereby no proof of damage was required where
military computers were concerned.
For the American law to then have been conveniently changed at such a
crucial time, so that proof of damage is no longer required speaks
volumes and does little to give us any faith in such a "legal" system. (Gary has always denied the alleged damage)

Surely as a vulnerable adult with Aspergers Syndrome, Gary should be
allowed to stay in the U.K and face the justice system of the country where
his alleged offence took place.
So why is Gary's Extradition still being sought? He admitted computer mis-use six an a half years ago and the U.S have changed the law so that they now have no need to prove the alleged damage.
So why is there now any need for a trial?

Gary could be sentenced to serve an appropriate time in an open prison in the U.K

If we can somehow keep up the pressure, the Home Office just might rule in gary's favour, as they are now apparently re-considering his case.

If this happened Gary & Lucy (and us "Janis & Wilson") could all have our lives back again.

Every morning for six and a half years we have woken up gripped by fear at the prospect of Gary being extradited and spending most of his life in a hard line U.S prison, or even dying there.

On most days it's difficult to wake up and put one foot in front of the other and this intense long term stress and fear has taken its toll of us all for the past six and a half years. This in itself has been a sentence of continual Torment.

Please try and come to the protest and get everyone you can to attend, as it just might change things for the better and at the moment the only hope we have is to draw attention to the injustice, extremely flawed treaty and proposed disproportionate sentence

This is not just about Gary; it's about the fact that any U.K citizen can now be extradited to America on the strength of an allegation alone. These allegations are presented to our courts as Facts and accepted as such by our courts and Law Lords without the accused having any opportunity to challenge or rebut the allegations.
Our courts and Law Lords have publicly pronounced Gary guilty of Damage to military computer systems without him having the benefit of a trial in which to challenge the allegations.
This has severely prejudiced any trial Gary might have in the future.

This treaty was signed in secret under the "Queens Prerogative" by David Blunket a day prior to Parliamentary recess, so that no debate by Parliament was able to take place.

This so called treaty was not signed by the U.S and despite the fact that it did not come into effect until April 2007, it was made retrospective in 2004 to allow them to request the Extradition of my son Gary and others without any proof having to be shown. A Prima Facie case was effectively dispensed with.

How can a treaty by its very nature be one sided and how can it be made retrospective?

The Nat West Three, British business men and white collar workers have been extradited under this one sided treaty without any proof having to be provided, although Politicians were told that the treaty was to be used for Terrorists.

We used to have a statute of limitations in this country and I don't know when that changed.

Many Thanks for the support given to us by friends and compassionate strangers who have become friends. Your help is appreciated more than you could ever know.

Yours Sincerely

Janis (Gary's mum)

Note Pinochet and others accused of extremely serious crimes lost their legal battles - Pinochet in fact lost twice in the Lords before the Secretary of State intervened at the last minute
(Jack Straw – who also prevented the extradition of Roisin McAliskey to Germany for an allegation of IRA terrorism) to prevent removal from the UK and end the extradition process.
McAliskey was on the grounds of mental health and Pinochet I believe primarily physical health.
However they were viewed at the time as political decisions in sensitive areas.

Gary's crime of computer misuse is so miniscule in comparison to either of the two cases just mentioned.

[paul wright]

[chek]

I couldn't agree more.

If any offence whatsoever has been caused in this case, it is that of negligence by officers of the US Govermnent, whether that of individual system users or administrators or designers, or those employed to oversee them.

Gary should by rights (and leaving aside all moral judgement regarding the complainant) be rewarded for explaining to those who were compromised how he was able to do what he did.

I'd bet that professional Russian and Chinese hackers - and those with the interests of other 'unfriendly powers' at heart - are laughing their extremities off at the po-faced procedural stupidity pursued through the policy of the USG.

[xmasdale]

Just received a new update as follows

LONDON AUTISTIC RIGHTS MOVEMENT ORGANIZE FOR GARY

The London Autistic Rights Movement is organising an demonstration in support of recently diagnosed Asperger's syndrome sufferer Gary McKinnon, who is facing imminent extradition to the United States of America, rather than facing a UK court, for his alleged computer hacking activities over 6 years ago.
Date: Sunday 28th September

Start Time: 4 pm

Location:

Embassy of the United States of America,
24 Grosvenor Square
London
W1A 2LQ

[exact rallying point To Be Announced later]

Location Maps:

Map on the US Embassy website

Streemap.co.uk map

Public Transport:

Nearest Tube stations are Marble Arch and Bond Street
Bus routes 148 and 14A along Park Lane

Press and Media Contacts: [To Be Announced]

Use the comments below or email us here at info@FreeGary.org.uk (using our PGP Encryption Key if you know how) and we will pass on media enquiries to the organisers

More details will be available soon.



----- Original Message -----
From: dhiren shah


Had an e-mail through facebook from another film maker --

Hi there, Dhiren. Thanks so much for your reply. I am a documentaryfilmmaker living and working in Johannesburg, South Africa, but I alsodo work for Little Bird, an Anglo-Irish company. Here is my profile onLittle Bird's site: http://www.littlebird.ie/flash/#/about_the_company/people/producers_pr oduction/catherine_muller
All the best, C

Also the creator of the facebook group (Markoff Chaney) knows a film maker who is interested in filming the protest.

I'm currently in contact with a documentary filmmaker and have asked him if he would come down and film the protest andtake interviews from people. His name is Dean Puckett and he's justrelease his first Doc 'An Elephant in the Room'. The Doc is free to view online here - http://www.nosmokewithoutfire.co.uk/

I suggest you view it if you haven't already. I feel his approach would be ideal. See what you think...

http://deaddeanfilms.com/elephantintheroom.html


I'djust like to state that I don't want to step on anyone's toes orneither am I looking for glory in this... I like to remain in thebackground, but am itching for some kind of public outcry aboutthis....not happening...due to pathetic media coverage. We have to finda way ourselves!

Of course, if any of this starts to solidify, I will pass the baton onto you or any member of Gary's clan who wish to take up the reigns and I think it is importantthat Gary be represented in the best light and creative control staywithin his group of 'trusted' friends.

I'll keep you posted of any developments.

Regards.


Markoff.


Dead Dean Films
Source: deaddeanfilms.com

TheElephant In The Room is a documentary following British filmmaker DeanPuckett through his journey into the 9/11 Truth Movement: a globalmovement of 'conspiracy theorists' who believe that the official ..

[xmasdale]

Hi Roderick, Anya & Co.



Duncan Campbell from the Guardian is planning to run another story re-Gary.



Nadine Montagnac is painting Gary's portrait and it is to be included in an exhibition she's taking part in at The London institute of contemporary Arts in London on the 6th of October . Nadine has Aspergers and runs an Aspergers/Autism womens support group. She has previously painted a portrait of the Queen and I believe she met the Queen in that context.



All proceeds will go to Professor Simon Baron-Cohen's autism research centre and Nadine is going to try and highlight Gary's situation among Autism professionals around the world attending the conference and the exhibition.



Nadine is also a musician and will be performing in the London concert for Autism which Jools Holland is presenting on the 5th of October, as part of a fundraising concert for Autism research charity.



Nadine also wanted Gary to perform his music there but she understands that he's too stressed right now.



I'm also writing a letter that I hope lots of well known people will sign. Tony Ben is one of the few Politicians that has answered my emails and he has told me that he fully supports Gary, so I'm sure he'll sign the letter and I'm sure Jools Holland will too.



I know that Menzies Campbell (Liberal) and Dominic Grieve (Conservative) are very opposed to the current Extradition treaty; I don't know which Labour MP's oppose the treaty; I think Diane Abott is one.

Mr May and Alan Simpson were very helpful but I think Alan Simpson's resigned now.



The poet and campaigner Benjamin Zephaniah from Birmingham also supports Gary and wrote to me after Tony Ben made him aware of Gary's situation. www.benjaminzephaniah.com

Gary's Barrister has also brought Gary's case to the attention of Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and I think she'll sign.



I'll have to try and find out which MP's are supportive re-Autism/Aspergers.

What I find the most unacceptable is that the Extradition treaty wasn't even thought of when Gary was first arrested but it was later initiated and then made retrospective in order to arrest Gary and a few others without the U.S having to provide any Prima Facie Evidence. (The U.S waited two years to arrest Gary, two years after the U.S indicted Gary and two years after his initial arrest by the U.K police.)

A recent letter of response from the Home Office states that the treaty did not come into force until 2007. So how on Earth could a treaty that had not yet come into force, be made retrospective several years prior? Someone told me that this is against British Law?



Gary's Barrister wants to book a room at the House of Commons or around the time of the Tory Conference so that he can persuade MP's to sign; it's a shame we missed the Labour and the Liberal conferences. The Hull Green Party have been very supportive, so perhaps theleader of the Green Party might sign the letter.

Gordon Brown said in his speech at the conference, that every child should be given a computer and that Labour are the party of the Family and that they will do that.

Perhaps we should ask Gordon Brown to assure us that no children or adults with Aspergers will later be extradited to the US if they become obsessive re-computers and can just trespass/walk right in as the security is literally non existent. It is very common for people with Aspergers to be obsessed with computers and even hacking.



I'll try and think of more things to try and help to persuade our government to refuse to surrender Gary for Extradition to the U.S.

Gary never travels and has a fear of travelling and even of using the Tube. He has never left the U.K since he was a child. So to Extradite him to stand trial in a country where he has no friends or family would be extraordinarily cruel.



It seems odd that we haven't heard anything from the Home Office or the U.S government yet.

Gary thinks they might be waiting until after the U.S elections as they don't want the info (re- the fact that the U.S computers had no passwords and no Firewalls) to come out during this time.



Thanks again to Everyone



Details Of Protest to Stop Gary Being Extradited To The U.S.A on this link: http://freegary.org.uk/



Best Wishes



Janis

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/22/hacking.usa?commen tpage=3&commentposted=1

[Disco_Destroyer]

McKinnon charges exaggerated by government - 14/06/2010 - Computer Weekly http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/06/14/241578/McKinnon-char ges-exaggerated-by-government.htm