Guest guest Posted July 11, 2003 Report Share Posted July 11, 2003 [Forwarded message from Roz re her treatment by INS and her request for us to help.] Annette ---- In a message dated 7/11/03 4:19:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Rozgruben writes: Dearest All, I have compiled the following as a complete package. We can use it to send out to anybody and everybody who is willing to help. It can go up on all internet boards and websites. I do not know how to do that but I know many people do. I am sending one today to Brian Graff and he has agreed (I spoke to him on the telephone yesterday) to send it out to all the members of the North American Vegetarian Society. I will send it out also to each and every one of the 55 people who have sent me letters so far and anyone else i can think of. A heartfelt thank you comes from me to you all. I know that, together, we can crack this Love Rozihsxxx ........................... Dear friend and supporter of Prof. Rozalind Gruben, We are calling upon you for help. PLEASE contact your local Congressional Representative and Senator. Everything you need to do so has been set out below. Faxing to a representative's office is more effective than just emailing, though we suggest both. Fax nos. for the reps' offices can be found easily through the websites listed below. We suggest emailing and faxing to both your Senators and Congressman. Here's a template to be used as you wish. It was very kindly compiled by Eric Rivkin who said we are welcome to use this as an example for others to follow. To contact your congressman, go here http://www.house.gov/writerep/ To contact your senator, go here http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Dear I am contacting you about an urgent matter relating to an important British citizen who was horrendously mistreated by the INS and improperly deported on June 25 at Newark airport. She is Professor Rozalind Gruben, a renowned international lecturer in the health and fitness field. Her positive and scientifically based educational material is clearly beneficial to US citizens wishing to improve their health. Statistics show that a majority of US citizens have serious health problems due to improper diet and exercise, and Rozalind has proven to bring about a healthy turn through education and demonstration. Her ordeal with the INS is written below. As an American citizen, I urgently ask you to contact the US State Department to allow Professor Gruben back in to the US to do her scheduled voluntary educational lectures for the benefit US citizens. She has planned voluntary lectures in July, hence the urgency of this matter. Professor Gruben holds a professorship in Applied Nutrition and Health Science. Her work includes the role of lecturer at Middlesex University in London. She is well known as a Course Director and Assessor of exercise teacher training within the fitness industry, including specializing in the needs of the elderly and other special needs groups. Professor Gruben is renowned for her exuberance, humor and energy, and is a regular presenter at many international conventions such as The World Vegetarian Congress, The Exercise Association of England, The North American Vegetarian Society and Fitness Professionals UK. As the author of various articles and books, including writing for The Readers Digest, The Hygienist, and National Exercise Association Journal, along with presenting on radio and international television, Professor Gruben is at the forefront of Natural Health and Fitness education today. On several occasions in the US and abroad, I have attended Prof. Gruben's voluntary lectures and found her educational material to be positive and scientifically based, and a great help to many US citizens I know personally. Her material and manner of presentation is clearly beneficial to US citizens wishing to improve their health and fitness. She has the unique combination of health education, fitness for special needs, women's health, the approach to helping people heal from eating disorders and addictions, and monumental expertise in nature-science-based nutrition. No one else can do exactly what Professor Rozalind Gruben does. America needs her, the world needs her. Everyone involved is grateful to you for putting in the time and effort necessary to look into this. If you wish to contact Professor Gruben, she is in England at rozgruben or by telephone on (01144) 1903 746572. Sincerely, Your name, address and phone no. here ........................... My full name is: Rozalind Alison Gruben The address of my home, (which I own) and the place of my residence is: 1 Cassidy Place, New Town Road, Storrington West Sussex My home telephone number is: (0) 1903 746572 My E-mail address is: rozgruben I was born on: August 10th, 1959 I was born at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by Sea West Sussex England I am a British Citizen I am Self-Employed as a Healthful Living Consultant My accountant, who does the tax returns for my business every year is: Kate Beale Her contact details are: Bristow Still Chartered Accountants, 39 Sackville Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 WD UK Tel: (0) 1273 326 409 My National insurance Number is: WE783951A My passport number is: 703118967 I bank at National Westminster Bank, High Street, Storrington, West Sussex England The purposes of my visit to the United States of America were: 1) To be with my fiancé 2) To honour commitments I had made to do VOLUNTARY speaking at numerous vegetarian/vegan/raw food events in the USA I am entitled to visit for up to 90 days at a time holding a green 'Waiver' form. I have a perfect history of being meticulous about NOT exceeding my 90 day limit on ANY occasion when travelling to the USA. What occurred: On June 25th my fiancé, Dr. Doug Graham, and I flew to the USA from London Gatwick England. The reason for our visit was to honour commitments we had made to do VOLUNTARY speaking at numerous vegetarian/vegan/raw food events in the USA We arrived at Newark airport in New York around the middle of the day. As an American citizen, my fiancé Doug passed through immigration without a problem, but I was taken away by the immigration police. For seven hours I was psychologically terrorised, disrespected, abused, insulted, shouted at, deliberately frightened and treated as if I were a murderer. They committed slander about my parents, whom they have never met nor seen. They took my full set of fingerprints and several photographs. The denied me access to a telephone and refused, for the most part, to allow me to ask any questions. Female officer D A Lowes (it may have been lows) was the first to question me and did so in the most aggressive, demeaning and insulting of ways possible to human communications. The officer who was the primary interrogator after that was a TERRANCE ANDREW PEGUS. Their terrorist tactics and psychological abuse eventually rendered me in such an emotionally distraught state that I vomited and had severe diarrhoea. I was neither allowed to see nor speak to Doug, who was doing all he could to free me from my torment. After some hours the police escorted him off the airport premises telling him that I would not be joining him and that there was nothing he could do. They marched me from room to room to be subjected to further insults and demeaning treatment. I had two sets of photographs of me taken, two full sets of finger prints and was made to take an oath. I have had chemicals smeared onto my hands and my personal belongings were raped. They bombarded me with ridiculous questions such as expecting me to remember the exact dates and details of my movements going back several years. When I told them that I did not remember they accused me of withholding information. They even asked me the date my library card had been issued of which, naturally, I had little recollection. In order to avoid being accused of withholding information I made a guess as to the library card's issue date and, as it was incorrect, I was then accused of lying. Regardless of the truth I told them, they accused me of lying almost every time. At one point they left the small room where I was held telling me that I had to sit there until I was prepared to tell the truth. I was already telling the truth. At no point did I ever raise the level or pitch of my voice, demonstrate rudeness or disrespect of them, refuse to co-operate or in any way antagonise them. They have taken away my right to ever again enter the USA on a green 'waiver' form. The only way that I can enter in future is with a visa. They tell me that if I 'abuse' that by coming to the USA as frequently as I have been that they will also take that away and then I would also be in 'serious' trouble. Issues of misinterpretation Business Card I had in my possession (in my wallet) contact cards that Doug and I had made up to give out to health seekers on both sides of the Atlantic. Doug works for money in the USA and I work for money in the UK. We had a joint card printed as oftentimes British people like to consult with Doug over the email when he is in America and sometimes American people like to consult with me over email when I am in the UK. In addition to this, we hand these cards out to people running events where we might choose to do voluntary speaking. The cards also mention events that we jointly run in Costa Rica where Doug has property. Cell Phone I was asked what the telephone number on the above mentioned card was and, in my highly distressed state, was unable to think clearly. I told them that the number was Doug's parent's telephone number in Key Largo. I was mistaken, and it was a genuine mistake on my part. The number is, in fact, that of my cell phone in the USA. I have such a phone because sometimes my clients in the UK, especially those who do not have email, need to contact me. Some of them are very sick people. The officer Terrence Andrew Pegus asked me who he would get if he called the number and I replied, in total innocence and believing it to be the truth, that he would either reach Bea or Marty Graham (Doug's parents). Naturally he did not, but instead reached the voicemail on my cell phone. The recorded message that I had left VERY clearly states that I am 'not in the US right now' and advises my friends and UK clients to call me at home in England. What Terrance Andrew Pegus insisted he heard the recorded message to say was 'I am not in the OFFICE right now. Which is absolutely untrue and a deliberate lie on his part. I have since called the number myself, and had numerous friends do so, all of whom verify that the message states 'not in the US' and NOT 'not in the office'. Financial Support As I attempted to explain to my interrogators, my fiancé supports me financially whenever I come over to the US. And I support him financially when he visits me in England. He used to give me arbitrary bits and pieces of cash when I visited him in order for me to be able to buy the personal items I needed. About a year ago he suggested giving me 10% of his book sales so that I did not feel so embarrassed at the age of 43 to ask for these dribs and drabs of financial support. I NEVER worked FOR him. He has NEVER been my employer. The arrangement was just between him and me. I am his fiancé NOT his employee and am prepared to state this under oath. I am suffering intense distress at being forced to separate form my fiancé. I have suffered from nausea, headaches, diarrhoea, insomnia and panic attacks since this episode and on the rare occasions that I fall asleep I suffer nightmares. My doctor confirms that I am suffering from post traumatic shock. In addition, I am very concerned for all the people I will be letting down by not being there to present at the various vegetarian and vegan gatherings this summer (see attached sheet) According to the American Embassy in England, I am not permitted to even begin the process of applying for a visa until August 5th 2003 when they have granted me an interview. By this time I will have let hundreds of American citizens down, many of whom will have travelled hundreds of miles to hear me speak. I have NEVER stayed in the USA a day beyond that which I am entitled to (90 days at a time). Yet, according to the paperwork, the INS have deported me on those grounds. I DO NOT live, in the USA. I live at my home address in England I DO NOT work in the USA I run my own self employed business from my home in England. I work as a health consultant. I can easily provide ample documented proof of these truths. When I travel to the USA, it is with the intention of bringing voluntary health education to American citizens so that they, and their loved ones, might experience superior health, suffer less, and become more productive and useful members of their community. I honestly believe that my deportment is absolutely inappropriate and profoundly wrong. The way I was treated was inhumane, deplorable to an extreme and absolutely inexcusable. Prof. Rozalind Gruben ........................... Douglas N. Graham, D.C. 609 N. Jade Dr. Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 852 0214 (650) 380 1282 cell To Whom It May Concern; My name is Dr. Douglas N. Graham. After over 20 years in private practice, I have elected, via public speaking, to give back to society the harvest of my experience. Prof. Rozalind Gruben joins me for many of these presentations, and was planning to join me at all of the following Summer '03 events, where we were to present individually, as well as in joint ventures. I wish to stress that Prof. Gruben is to receive no pay for presenting at these events, and she asks for none. In fact, she will pay her own travel fees as well. She is strictly on a humanitarian mission of goodwill. Professor Gruben has made commitments to speak for the following nonprofit organizations this summer at their major yearly conferences: Animal Rights 2003, Washington, DC June 30, July 1 *RawStock, Occidental, CA July 5-7 Healthful Living Intl, LA, CA July 11-13 **The Essene Gathering, Brietenbush, OR July 18-20 Hallelujah Ministries, Akron, OH July 24-26 Living Now, NY Aug 1 & 2 North American Vegetarian Society, Johnstown, PA Aug 5-10 Spirit Earth, Toronto, Canada Aug 15-18 Raw Food Festival, Portland, OR Aug 23-26 HealthEco, Silverthorne, CO Sept 6-15 *This event is not run by a nonprofit organization, but Rozihs is receiving no payment for presenting for them. **Professor Gruben's appearance at this event is pending confirmation, but she has spoken there in previous years. It is extremely important that Professor Gruben appears at these events. Her presence has been advertised by the organizers of the various events, and people travel the globe in order to attend and listen to her presentations. She cannot be replaced. No one can substitute for her. Sincerely, Dr Douglas N. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2003 Report Share Posted July 13, 2003 These are all very disturbing developments, and should concern us all, as Americans. Brenda Davis, a Registered Dietitian from Vancouver, BC, who has authored some books about vegetarian nutrition and is widely-known as an authority and speaker on this topic, was also denied entry to the US last year for a speaking engagement in Portland. I spoke today with a young woman who is with WASHPIRG (I believe that's the correct acronym) whose mother is an attorney representing people who are denied entry to the US. Apparently many people in the peace movement (including those who are not particularly activist-minded, that's just their leaning) are being kept out, thus silencing their voices in our movements. This is very frightening to myself and to my husband. On the front page of today's Seattle Times, the outgoing local FBI office head was quoted as saying " What is the quickest way to tyranny and the best way to prevent terrorism? The answer is the same: consolidate law-enforcement agencies. " We'll probably need to discuss this off-line, I'd suggest at Linda's potluck, and I will reserve further comments until that time. Sue Annette [cloudriver] Friday, July 11, 2003 8:47 AM RawSeattle [RawSeattle] More on Roz Gruben [Forwarded message from Roz re her treatment by INS and her request for us to help.] Annette ---- In a message dated 7/11/03 4:19:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Rozgruben writes: Dearest All, I have compiled the following as a complete package. We can use it to send out to anybody and everybody who is willing to help. It can go up on all internet boards and websites. I do not know how to do that but I know many people do. I am sending one today to Brian Graff and he has agreed (I spoke to him on the telephone yesterday) to send it out to all the members of the North American Vegetarian Society. I will send it out also to each and every one of the 55 people who have sent me letters so far and anyone else i can think of. A heartfelt thank you comes from me to you all. I know that, together, we can crack this Love Rozihsxxx ........................... Dear friend and supporter of Prof. Rozalind Gruben, We are calling upon you for help. PLEASE contact your local Congressional Representative and Senator. Everything you need to do so has been set out below. Faxing to a representative's office is more effective than just emailing, though we suggest both. Fax nos. for the reps' offices can be found easily through the websites listed below. We suggest emailing and faxing to both your Senators and Congressman. Here's a template to be used as you wish. It was very kindly compiled by Eric Rivkin who said we are welcome to use this as an example for others to follow. To contact your congressman, go here http://www.house.gov/writerep/ To contact your senator, go here http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Dear I am contacting you about an urgent matter relating to an important British citizen who was horrendously mistreated by the INS and improperly deported on June 25 at Newark airport. She is Professor Rozalind Gruben, a renowned international lecturer in the health and fitness field. Her positive and scientifically based educational material is clearly beneficial to US citizens wishing to improve their health. Statistics show that a majority of US citizens have serious health problems due to improper diet and exercise, and Rozalind has proven to bring about a healthy turn through education and demonstration. Her ordeal with the INS is written below. As an American citizen, I urgently ask you to contact the US State Department to allow Professor Gruben back in to the US to do her scheduled voluntary educational lectures for the benefit US citizens. She has planned voluntary lectures in July, hence the urgency of this matter. Professor Gruben holds a professorship in Applied Nutrition and Health Science. Her work includes the role of lecturer at Middlesex University in London. She is well known as a Course Director and Assessor of exercise teacher training within the fitness industry, including specializing in the needs of the elderly and other special needs groups. Professor Gruben is renowned for her exuberance, humor and energy, and is a regular presenter at many international conventions such as The World Vegetarian Congress, The Exercise Association of England, The North American Vegetarian Society and Fitness Professionals UK. As the author of various articles and books, including writing for The Readers Digest, The Hygienist, and National Exercise Association Journal, along with presenting on radio and international television, Professor Gruben is at the forefront of Natural Health and Fitness education today. On several occasions in the US and abroad, I have attended Prof. Gruben's voluntary lectures and found her educational material to be positive and scientifically based, and a great help to many US citizens I know personally. Her material and manner of presentation is clearly beneficial to US citizens wishing to improve their health and fitness. She has the unique combination of health education, fitness for special needs, women's health, the approach to helping people heal from eating disorders and addictions, and monumental expertise in nature-science-based nutrition. No one else can do exactly what Professor Rozalind Gruben does. America needs her, the world needs her. Everyone involved is grateful to you for putting in the time and effort necessary to look into this. If you wish to contact Professor Gruben, she is in England at rozgruben or by telephone on (01144) 1903 746572. Sincerely, Your name, address and phone no. here ........................... My full name is: Rozalind Alison Gruben The address of my home, (which I own) and the place of my residence is: 1 Cassidy Place, New Town Road, Storrington West Sussex My home telephone number is: (0) 1903 746572 My E-mail address is: rozgruben I was born on: August 10th, 1959 I was born at Southlands Hospital, Shoreham-by Sea West Sussex England I am a British Citizen I am Self-Employed as a Healthful Living Consultant My accountant, who does the tax returns for my business every year is: Kate Beale Her contact details are: Bristow Still Chartered Accountants, 39 Sackville Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 WD UK Tel: (0) 1273 326 409 My National insurance Number is: WE783951A My passport number is: 703118967 I bank at National Westminster Bank, High Street, Storrington, West Sussex England The purposes of my visit to the United States of America were: 1) To be with my fiancé 2) To honour commitments I had made to do VOLUNTARY speaking at numerous vegetarian/vegan/raw food events in the USA I am entitled to visit for up to 90 days at a time holding a green 'Waiver' form. I have a perfect history of being meticulous about NOT exceeding my 90 day limit on ANY occasion when travelling to the USA. What occurred: On June 25th my fiancé, Dr. Doug Graham, and I flew to the USA from London Gatwick England. The reason for our visit was to honour commitments we had made to do VOLUNTARY speaking at numerous vegetarian/vegan/raw food events in the USA We arrived at Newark airport in New York around the middle of the day. As an American citizen, my fiancé Doug passed through immigration without a problem, but I was taken away by the immigration police. For seven hours I was psychologically terrorised, disrespected, abused, insulted, shouted at, deliberately frightened and treated as if I were a murderer. They committed slander about my parents, whom they have never met nor seen. They took my full set of fingerprints and several photographs. The denied me access to a telephone and refused, for the most part, to allow me to ask any questions. Female officer D A Lowes (it may have been lows) was the first to question me and did so in the most aggressive, demeaning and insulting of ways possible to human communications. The officer who was the primary interrogator after that was a TERRANCE ANDREW PEGUS. Their terrorist tactics and psychological abuse eventually rendered me in such an emotionally distraught state that I vomited and had severe diarrhoea. I was neither allowed to see nor speak to Doug, who was doing all he could to free me from my torment. After some hours the police escorted him off the airport premises telling him that I would not be joining him and that there was nothing he could do. They marched me from room to room to be subjected to further insults and demeaning treatment. I had two sets of photographs of me taken, two full sets of finger prints and was made to take an oath. I have had chemicals smeared onto my hands and my personal belongings were raped. They bombarded me with ridiculous questions such as expecting me to remember the exact dates and details of my movements going back several years. When I told them that I did not remember they accused me of withholding information. They even asked me the date my library card had been issued of which, naturally, I had little recollection. In order to avoid being accused of withholding information I made a guess as to the library card's issue date and, as it was incorrect, I was then accused of lying. Regardless of the truth I told them, they accused me of lying almost every time. At one point they left the small room where I was held telling me that I had to sit there until I was prepared to tell the truth. I was already telling the truth. At no point did I ever raise the level or pitch of my voice, demonstrate rudeness or disrespect of them, refuse to co-operate or in any way antagonise them. They have taken away my right to ever again enter the USA on a green 'waiver' form. The only way that I can enter in future is with a visa. They tell me that if I 'abuse' that by coming to the USA as frequently as I have been that they will also take that away and then I would also be in 'serious' trouble. Issues of misinterpretation Business Card I had in my possession (in my wallet) contact cards that Doug and I had made up to give out to health seekers on both sides of the Atlantic. Doug works for money in the USA and I work for money in the UK. We had a joint card printed as oftentimes British people like to consult with Doug over the email when he is in America and sometimes American people like to consult with me over email when I am in the UK. In addition to this, we hand these cards out to people running events where we might choose to do voluntary speaking. The cards also mention events that we jointly run in Costa Rica where Doug has property. Cell Phone I was asked what the telephone number on the above mentioned card was and, in my highly distressed state, was unable to think clearly. I told them that the number was Doug's parent's telephone number in Key Largo. I was mistaken, and it was a genuine mistake on my part. The number is, in fact, that of my cell phone in the USA. I have such a phone because sometimes my clients in the UK, especially those who do not have email, need to contact me. Some of them are very sick people. The officer Terrence Andrew Pegus asked me who he would get if he called the number and I replied, in total innocence and believing it to be the truth, that he would either reach Bea or Marty Graham (Doug's parents). Naturally he did not, but instead reached the voicemail on my cell phone. The recorded message that I had left VERY clearly states that I am 'not in the US right now' and advises my friends and UK clients to call me at home in England. What Terrance Andrew Pegus insisted he heard the recorded message to say was 'I am not in the OFFICE right now. Which is absolutely untrue and a deliberate lie on his part. I have since called the number myself, and had numerous friends do so, all of whom verify that the message states 'not in the US' and NOT 'not in the office'. Financial Support As I attempted to explain to my interrogators, my fiancé supports me financially whenever I come over to the US. And I support him financially when he visits me in England. He used to give me arbitrary bits and pieces of cash when I visited him in order for me to be able to buy the personal items I needed. About a year ago he suggested giving me 10% of his book sales so that I did not feel so embarrassed at the age of 43 to ask for these dribs and drabs of financial support. I NEVER worked FOR him. He has NEVER been my employer. The arrangement was just between him and me. I am his fiancé NOT his employee and am prepared to state this under oath. I am suffering intense distress at being forced to separate form my fiancé. I have suffered from nausea, headaches, diarrhoea, insomnia and panic attacks since this episode and on the rare occasions that I fall asleep I suffer nightmares. My doctor confirms that I am suffering from post traumatic shock. In addition, I am very concerned for all the people I will be letting down by not being there to present at the various vegetarian and vegan gatherings this summer (see attached sheet) According to the American Embassy in England, I am not permitted to even begin the process of applying for a visa until August 5th 2003 when they have granted me an interview. By this time I will have let hundreds of American citizens down, many of whom will have travelled hundreds of miles to hear me speak. I have NEVER stayed in the USA a day beyond that which I am entitled to (90 days at a time). Yet, according to the paperwork, the INS have deported me on those grounds. I DO NOT live, in the USA. I live at my home address in England I DO NOT work in the USA I run my own self employed business from my home in England. I work as a health consultant. I can easily provide ample documented proof of these truths. When I travel to the USA, it is with the intention of bringing voluntary health education to American citizens so that they, and their loved ones, might experience superior health, suffer less, and become more productive and useful members of their community. I honestly believe that my deportment is absolutely inappropriate and profoundly wrong. The way I was treated was inhumane, deplorable to an extreme and absolutely inexcusable. Prof. Rozalind Gruben ........................... Douglas N. Graham, D.C. 609 N. Jade Dr. Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 852 0214 (650) 380 1282 cell To Whom It May Concern; My name is Dr. Douglas N. Graham. After over 20 years in private practice, I have elected, via public speaking, to give back to society the harvest of my experience. Prof. Rozalind Gruben joins me for many of these presentations, and was planning to join me at all of the following Summer '03 events, where we were to present individually, as well as in joint ventures. I wish to stress that Prof. Gruben is to receive no pay for presenting at these events, and she asks for none. In fact, she will pay her own travel fees as well. She is strictly on a humanitarian mission of goodwill. Professor Gruben has made commitments to speak for the following nonprofit organizations this summer at their major yearly conferences: Animal Rights 2003, Washington, DC June 30, July 1 *RawStock, Occidental, CA July 5-7 Healthful Living Intl, LA, CA July 11-13 **The Essene Gathering, Brietenbush, OR July 18-20 Hallelujah Ministries, Akron, OH July 24-26 Living Now, NY Aug 1 & 2 North American Vegetarian Society, Johnstown, PA Aug 5-10 Spirit Earth, Toronto, Canada Aug 15-18 Raw Food Festival, Portland, OR Aug 23-26 HealthEco, Silverthorne, CO Sept 6-15 *This event is not run by a nonprofit organization, but Rozihs is receiving no payment for presenting for them. **Professor Gruben's appearance at this event is pending confirmation, but she has spoken there in previous years. It is extremely important that Professor Gruben appears at these events. Her presence has been advertised by the organizers of the various events, and people travel the globe in order to attend and listen to her presentations. She cannot be replaced. No one can substitute for her. Sincerely, Dr Douglas N. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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