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<P><FONT SIZE=2>To: cae_defense@yahoogroups.com<BR>
From: sjkurtz@buffalo.edu<BR>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:28:37 -0400<BR>
Subject: [CAE_Defense] From Steve Kurtz: Thank You Letter to Supporters<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
July 12, 2008<BR>
<BR>
Dear Supporters,<BR>
<BR>
After four long, difficult years I have been released from my legal ordeal. I<BR>
want to thank everyone who supported me through this—the greatest challenge I’ve<BR>
ever had to face. I feel vindicated today because I am innocent, but today I am<BR>
also humbled by a legal and political victory that is not mine alone. Everyone<BR>
who contributed their support to this case can lay claim to a victory against the<BR>
forces aiming to abridge our fundamental rights. I am mindful that my case was<BR>
just one of many examples where fear and irrationality gained the upper hand<BR>
after 9/11. I am aware that my vindication is an exception. I continue to have<BR>
anxiety about the outcome of many pending cases still awaiting justice.<BR>
<BR>
Although it seems that my case has come to a conclusion, it is only now that I<BR>
can fully comprehend the immensity of what happened. The tragic death of Hope was<BR>
a profound loss. The unfortunate events following Hope’s death occurred at a<BR>
moment of intense pain and sadness for all of us. Neither my life nor the work of<BR>
Critical Art Ensemble has been the same without her. If she were here today, I<BR>
know she would be proud of everything that has been done by all the people<BR>
involved. Collectively, we stood without flinching, and defeated a monster of<BR>
social injustice. Hope always said that we should “never surrender” to<BR>
authoritarian power, and we didn’t.<BR>
<BR>
I was extremely fortunate to have a team of people immediately form a defense<BR>
group at the very beginning, when I was still in shock. I want to thank the<BR>
members of the CAE Defense Fund for coming to my defense from the beginning of<BR>
the ordeal.<BR>
<BR>
Throughout the past four years, so many people raised their voices in my defense,<BR>
and that of my friend and co-defendant, Robert Ferrell. So many contributed time,<BR>
energy, and resources. We could not have adequately defended ourselves without<BR>
the labor and activism of thousands — individuals, groups, artists and activists.<BR>
I am grateful to everyone who donated their work and talent to fundraisers for<BR>
our legal defense. And although I cannot thank everyone by name, to all of you<BR>
worldwide who helped organize fundraisers, letter writing campaigns, conferences,<BR>
teach-ins, protests and other events, your actions made a real difference in this<BR>
case.<BR>
<BR>
To all my friends, thank you for helping me through my darkest hours.<BR>
<BR>
To everyone, please accept my humble offer of thanks. I am grateful. I owe a<BR>
tremendous debt of gratitude to all of you for seeing me through this terrible<BR>
period.<BR>
<BR>
Please remember also that this case was about so much more than just keeping me<BR>
out of jail. This is a great legal and political victory that will affect many<BR>
cases to come. Through its prosecution of this case, the Department of Justice<BR>
was hoping to expand the most broadly written law on the books (mail fraud) into<BR>
an all-encompassing Leviathan that could be used at its discretion against any<BR>
citizen at any time. Not only did we prevent this dangerous expansion of the law,<BR>
the precedent we set has narrowed it. Because of our collective effort, a bogus<BR>
charge like the one targeting Bob and me is unlikely ever to happen again — and<BR>
if it were to happen, any competent attorney could easily shoot it down.<BR>
<BR>
What have I learned from my ordeal? I’ve learned that with tens of thousands of<BR>
supporters, with hundreds of thousands of dollars, with one of the best legal<BR>
teams in the US, with a crack media team, with a group of experienced<BR>
fundraisers, with four years of one’s life, and with total innocence, sometimes<BR>
one can slice off a piece of American justice. Which in the end means: The<BR>
overwhelming majority of people ain’t gettin’ justice, and we have to keep<BR>
fighting until they do.<BR>
<BR>
With Sincerity, Gratitude, and Appreciation,<BR>
<BR>
Steven Kurtz<BR>
<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.caedefensefund.org/releases/thanks.html">http://www.caedefensefund.org/releases/thanks.html</A><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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