[act-ma] TODAY 4-6 PM: 9/27 PROTEST FBI RAIDS AND HARASSMENT OF ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS

[Nancy Murray]

One united demo in Boston TODAY, 4-6 PM (not Tuesday at 5)

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: International Action Center Boston <iacboston at iacboston.org>
Date: Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 9:07 AM
Subject: TODAY 4-6 PM: 9/27 PROTEST FBI RAIDS AND HARASSMENT OF ANTI-WAR
ACTIVISTS
To: iacboston at organizerweb.com

International Action Center Boston - iacboston.org
<http://www.iacboston.org/>
iacboston 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 Chicago
When: Monday, September 27, 2010, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: JFK Federal Building € Government Center T € Boston

Bring 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.

In solidarity,
Sara Flounders and John Parker, Co-Directors, International Action Center
IACenter.org <http://www.iacenter.org/> 212-633-6646

IACBoston.org <http://www.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
<http://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 at
iacenter 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 <http://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 <http://www.iacenter.org/>
About the IAC <http://iacenter.org/about/>  | Donate
<http://iacenter.org/donate/> | IAC Books & Resources
<http://iacenter.org/books_resources/>  | Contact Us
<http://iacenter.org/comments/>
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 ³An outrageous fishing expedition.²

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 ³No².

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

   - 30 -  

 





 


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