Federal terrorism agents busted into a self-described anarchist’s New York home late last week and confiscated books, notebooks, newspapers, computers and even clothes. Helicopters circled overhead throughout the 16 hour search.

But the man was not being accused of terrorism, or anything even close to it. He was busted for “tweeting.” The terror squad that broke down his door was apparently seeking evidence of federal riot law violations, at least according to the warrant. 

Elliot Madison is a 41-year-old social worker who was arrested in Pittsburg during the G-20 Summit for allegedly sending information to protestors via the social networking service known as Twitter. He is now being charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of instruments of crime.

According to state police, law enforcement tracked him and a friend to a motel room where he was apparently operating a makeshift communications center and using a police scanner. The New York Times reported some of the notices that were sent out to protesters in an article entitled ‘Arrest Puts Focus on Protesters’ Texting.’ Among the messages: “SWAT teams rolling down 5th Ave.” and “Report received that police are ‘nabbing’ anyone that looks like a protester / Black Bloc. Stay alert watch your friends!”

Another tweet that came through read: “A comms facility was raided, but we are still fully operational please continue to submit reports.” After that, police eventually picked up on the fact that they were under surveillance. “Scanner just said be advised we’re being monitored by anarchists through scanner.”

The privacy watchdog Electronic Frontier Foundation obtained and posted online copies of relevant court documents, the search warrant and the original criminal complaint. Madison and his “co-conspirator” were apparently “observed seated infront [sic] of personal computers and telecommunication equipment, wearing headphones and microphones, with various maps, contact numbers and police and EMS scanners,” the police report stated. “It was further observed that they had been communicating with varioous [sic] protesters, and protest groups, both by us [sic] of cellular communications equipment and internet based communications, more commonly known as ‘Twitter.’”

For now, the Feds have been barred by a judge from going through the seized property from Madison‘s home, at least until the next hearing. The search was illegal, according to the anarchist’s lawyer in a filing with the court. Some of the confiscated materials are also protected by the First Amendment and may identify political associates, he claimed.         

Madison has denied that he broke the law. “They arrested me for doing the same thing everybody else was doing, which was perfectly legal,” he said, noting that even G-20 organizers had used Twitter to report on summit events. “It was crucial for people to have the information we were sending.” His attorney, Martin Stolar, was also quoted by the Times, saying: “There’s absolutely nothing that he’s done that should subject him to any criminal liability.”

The American Civil Liberties Union has condemned the government actions. "I guess if you have 5,000 police officers and a quarter-million dollars in fancy equipment, you have to do something with it," Pennsylvania ACLU legal director Witold Walczak told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Might as well go after some amateur ham radio operators in a motel room.” He also noted that police can communicate secretly, but that police radios are not secure.

“These cases present difficult First Amendment issues,” George Washington University Law professor and former prosecutor Paul Butler told National Public Radio. “Often, [the protestors] are arrested for conduct that they didn’t even know was illegal — it wasn’t illegal five minutes ago — and so, in a sense, all of these tweets and twitters are just designed to get the message out about what’s legal now.” He also noted that some of the “tweeted” messages sounded like “pure journalism.”  

Various estimates have placed the number of arrests during the G-20 at close to 200. The police acknowledge almost 100 of those. National Guard and law enforcement also deployed sound weapons, rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters and innocent by-standers. There have been reports of some minimal property damage caused by protesters or “agents provocateurs,” but critics have blasted the government’s response as heavy-handed.

Madison’s arrest and the Joint Terrorism Task Force’s search of his property certainly seems like overkill. People should be able to peacefully protest against globalist meetings without even having to worry about mass arrests and state-sponsored violence. But since it occurs, giving fellow demonstrators the heads up hardly seems like something that should qualify as a criminal offense. If he is found guilty, it could set a dangerous and chilling precedent.     

Alex Newman is an American freelance writer and the president of Liberty Sentinel Media, Inc., a small media consulting firm. He is currently living in Sweden and has spent most of his life in Latin America, Europe and Africa. He has a degree in foreign languages and speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian and a little Swedish and Afrikaans. In addition, he earned a degree in journalism from the University of Florida, with emphasis on economics and international relations.

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DDW said:

	I repeat again The filthy, foul police state is not forming, it is already here. WAKE UP AMERICA!!! STRIKE THEM DOWN!!!!
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October 07, 2009
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Still Free said:

Coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Americans get informed, then unite to: Follow the Constitution! Audit, then Abolish, the Fed! Audit, then Abolish. ACORN! Bring our boys home! Get us out of the UN! Leave our Health Care alone! Leave our 2nd Amendment alone! Stop killing innocent babies! ... and most importantly, if you are not already a member, join JBS! And if you cannot get involved, please send a donation, no matter how small. Still Free

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October 07, 2009
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JAQUEBAUER said:

No longer trust the Police A few years ago somone blew up my mailbox with an explosive device. The police were called, and before the day was over, the FBI, Homeland Security, Post Office Police, Local Police, County Bomb Squad, and Counter Terrorism Task Force were in my driveway. After pictures, a search of my garage and my statement, all left except for the FBI and Terrorism Task Force. I have a workshop with a great amount of tools and equipment, so my garage has lots stuff that could be used to make a bomb. There eyes lit up and these boys started the good cop/bad cop interrogation of me. These jerks suspected me of blowing up my mailbox. They went thru my garbage cans, and found a burnt rag from BBQing that weekend. Then the they got really nasty, whereupon I shut up. This experience left me to never call a cop again. These jerks wanted a collar, and anyone would do. I felt like the Gestapo was interrogating me......in the USA. They finally left, but a week later the BATF visited me wanting me to come downtown and submit to a polygraph. Thats when I called a lawyer. The BATF boys harassed me for 2 months and then stayed away. I was always a pro law enforcement person, and a patriotic American, Now I dont trust anyone with a badge..........and will never submit to questioning without a lawyer. I can understand what these protesters went thru--I dont agree with there motives but certainly understand the cop gestapo mentality. This is the USA today--you are presumed guilty

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October 09, 2009
Votes: +1