[act-ma] Today 9/27 - 4pm-6pm. United demo against FBI repression

[Sergio Reyes]

International Action Center Boston -iacboston.orgiacboston at iacboston.org  617-522-6626


EMERGENCY DEMO TO STOP FBI RAIDS AND HARASSMENT OF ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
  4-6 PM
JFK FEDERAL BUILDING, BOSTON

UNITED DEMO WITH BOSTON MAY DAY COALITION OTHER ANTI-WAR AND SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS

CALL FROM BOSTON MAYDAY COALITION:

Protest FBI Attacks on Progressives in Minneapolis and ChicagoWhen: Monday, September 27, 2010, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm


Where: JFK Federal Building • Government Center T • BostonBring your signs, chants and outrage at this latest attack on freedom of expresion and political dissent

The
 government of Barack Obama is responsible for the acts of the FBI and 
we should demand an explanation and an immediate stop to the persecution
 of progressive activists. People in the U.S. should remember the Palmer
 Raids of yesteryears and say that we will not tolerate a repeat of 
history. We also have to work towards repealing the law that allows the 
state to persecute progressives: the Patriot Act.


Our solidarity goes to all the activists that have been targeted on this act of repression and intimidation.

Below is a brief news summary of the events we protest:

The
 FBI searched eight homes in Minneapolis and Chicago as part of a 
"terrorism" investigation on Friday 9/24. FBI spokesman Steve Warfield 
told The Associated Press agents served six warrants in Minneapolis and 
two in Chicago ."These were search warrants only," Warfield said. "We're
 not anticipating any arrests at this time. They're seeking evidence 
relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism." 
The home of Minneapolis anti-war activists Mick Kelly and Jess Sundin 
were among those searched, they told the AP.


"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who 
opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America ," Kelly 
said before agents confiscated his cell phone. Sundin called the 
suggestion they were connected with terrorism "pretty hilarious and 
ridiculous." The agents took "computers, several boxes of papers, 
everything related to data like discs," Sundin said.


Both Sundin and Kelly were organizers of a mass march on the first 
day of the Democratic National Convention in St. Paul two years ago, and
 recently appeared at a news conference to announce plans for another 
protest if Minneapolis is selected to hold the 2012 Democratic National 
Convention. Police estimated the peaceful march drew 10,000 protesters; 
organizers put the figure at 30,000. More than 800 people were arrested 
during the four days of the convention, including Sundin and Kelly. 
Sundin said they've already sought permits for 2012, "something I don't 
think terrorists would do."


Call issued by the Boston May Day Committee.
The International Action Center supports the call below from the Minnesota Antiwar Committee for Emergency
 Actions at federal buildings and FBI offices on Monday and Tuesday, 
September 28 and 29 to Support Anti-War and International Solidarity 
Activists and Stop FBI Raids and Harassment, and urges you to 
participate in one of the actions listed below or to organize an action 
in your city if one is not already planned.

- Hide quoted text -

In solidarity,
Sara Flounders and John Parker, Co-Directors, International Action Center
IACenter.org 212-633-6646


IACBoston.org iacboston at iacboston.org 617-522-6626


Emergency Actions to Support Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists
 Stop FBI Raids and Harassment
 We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of 
anti-war and solidarity activists.  The FBI raided seven houses and an 
office in Chicago and Minneapolis on Friday, September 24, 2010.  The 
FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to eleven 
activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also attempted 
to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.


This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate 
their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and
 Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war.   The FBI has
 indicated that the grand jury is investigating the activists for 
possible material support of terrorism charges. 


The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to 
be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or
 organizing against war and occupation.  The activists are involved with
 many groups, including:  the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the 
Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a 
Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These 
activists came together with many others to organize the 2008 anti-war 
marches on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.  


We ask people of conscience to join us in fighting this political 
repression, as we continue working to build the movements against US war
 and occupation.

Take Action:

Call the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 or write an email to: AskDOJ at usdoj.gov.


Demand:

**Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.

**Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc. 

**End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.



Plan and Support national days of protest at FBI offices or Federal Buildings, September 27 and 28th. 

A demonstration has been called at the Minneapolis FBI Office Monday, 4:30, September 27th (111 Washington Ave. S.).



In Solidarity, the Anti-War Committee – www.antiwarcommittee.org



The following is a list of the 19 planned protests that we have 
heard of so far, and the list is growing. Please participate in the one 
nearest you, or if there is not one in your city, organize one and let 
us know atiacenter at iacenter.org so we can publicize it and add it to the list:

Please be in touch with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee - www.antiwarcommittee.org 




Monday 9/27:

Minneapolis, MN - 4:30, FBI Office Monday, 111 Washington Ave. S.

 
Chicago, IL - 4:30 Fedeeral Building, Federal Plaza.
 
Kalamazoo, MI - 4:30 Federal Building, 410 W Michigan Ave
 
Salt Lake City, Utah - 9 AM at Federal Building
 
Durham, NC - 12 noon Federal Building, 323 E Chapel Hill St


Buffalo, NY- 4:30 pm at FBI Building - Corner of So. Elmwood Ave. & Niagara St.

Boston, MA -  4-6 pm, JFK Federal Building


Gainesville, FL - Monday, 4:30 PM at FBI Building

  

Tuesday 9/28:

NYC, NY -  4:30 to 6pm Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza,
 
Newark, NJ - 5 to 6pm Federal Building Broad Street

 
Philadelphia, PA - 4:30pm Federal Building, 6th & Market,
 
Washington DC -  4:30 – 5:30 FBI Building, 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
  Detroit, MI -  4:30 pm McNamara Federal Building, Michigan Ave. at Cass


Raleigh, NC -  9 am. Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave
 
Asheville, NC -  5 pm Federal Building,
 
Atlanta, GA - Noon, FBI Building
 
Los Angeles, CA - 5 pm, Downtown Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles St


Tucson, AZ - 5 pm Federal Building
 
Wednesday 9/29:

Albany, NY -  5 to 6 pm Federal Building


International Action Center - iacenter.org

About the IAC | Donate | IAC Books & Resources | Contact Us


The International Action 
Center condemns the FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists homes
 on Friday, October 24 and supports the right of all social justice 
activists to defend the rights of workers here at home and to be in 
solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world resisting 
occupation and military dictatorship. The IAC urges full support of the 
activists targeted by the FBI and wide distribution of the statement 
below issued by activists targeted in the raids.


In solidarity,
Sara Flounders, Co-director, International Action Center


For Immediate Release

24 September 2010               

Contact: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612


                Steff Yorek, 612-865-8234

Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists Homes

Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the country.


We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of 
anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. 
 The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this 
morning, Friday, October 24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time.  The FBI 
handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen
 activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.  They also attempted to
 intimidate activists in California and North Carolina. 


"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The
 goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement 
against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for
 repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one 
of those handed a subpoena by the FBI. "They are designed to suppress 
dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the 
way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin 
America."


This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who 
dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of 
the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and
 war.  The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups 
including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican
 National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008.  The FBI agents 
emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists 
for possible terrorism charges.  This is a U.S. government attempt to 
silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East 
and Latin America. 


The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to 
be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or
 organizing against war and occupation.  The activists are involved with
 many groups, including:  the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a
 Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia 
Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the 
National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian Political 
Prisoner). 


Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists 
whose homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing 
expedition.”

We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity
 with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government.  Activists have
 the right not to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely 
refuse, just say “No”.


Please contact info at colombiasolidarity.org or info at fightbacknews.org if you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.


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