HOMELAND SECURITY BUTTONS SPARK DEATH A THREAT TO CEO KEITH SHIREY, WHO SAYS E-BAY BAN IS LETTING ITS GUARD DOWN

Political Science Professor Keith F. Shirey says he supports the U.S. Troops, but not War in Iraq.He is recieving death threats and hate mail on eBay where he sells $700 worth of pinback buttons.

(PRWEB) March 23, 2003 -- Pasadena, CA - Anti-War Protestor, Archival Digital Art (www.buybuttons.com) pinback button designer and retired Political Science Professor Keith F. Shirey says his latest politically sensitive button sold on eBay has triggered a email death threat over the Internet.

   Ive been accused of being anti American and connected to the al-Qaeda Network," said Shirey, who sells about $700 worth of anti war and anti Osama bin Laden buttons on eBay, which he says is also aware of the threat. eBay has ignored my plea for help, which to me says they support this domestic terrorism by letting their guard down. All I get from eBay is deceit, doubletalk and evasion. They have the power to suspend the account of the the guy making the death threat but haven't done it."

         The prowar radicals want Shirey to stop selling his hottest buttons on the Internet, which bears the caption True Homeland Security" and pictures President George Bush, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Secretary Tom Ridge of Homeland Security with pieces of duct tape across their mouths. Shirey, who is also Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Citrus college has been embroiled in controversial anti-war activities, sells other politically sensitive buttons on eBay, but it is the first time he has a received threat over a button posted on eBay.

         Shirey said hes concerned about trying to conduct business and these threats continue to go unnoticed adding, "the mother of all mammoth monopolies, eBay, doesn't care one way or another because it doesn't effect their profits."

         Shirey, appearing live Bostons WBNW and WPLM, a business and finance magazine radio show (March 12, 2003), with Host Lindsey Parker discussed his dilemma with Counterterrorism expert Elsa Lee. Lee told Shirey he should take the threat seriously and call authorities immediately, which he did.

The retired professor pointed out "terrorism is a politically motivated attack and that the threat he had received was a form of political violence.

On March 5, Shirey received an e-mail through the worlds largest auction company eBay filled with profanity and stating that Shirey was a 'buddy of al Qaeda and asserting, 'I hope some 400 pound Dixie boy buys just to get your address you traitor.