Hey folks,<br><br>Just wanted to send out a link to video from Monday, and info about the Rally for Tarek Mehanna tomorrow, Feb 25 on the Boston Common from 2-4pm.<br><br>Free Tarek!<br> <br>
Brian<br><br><br><a href="http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/24/occupy-4-prisoners-rally-tarek-mehanna/">http://www.occupyboston.org/2012/02/24/occupy-4-prisoners-rally-tarek-mehanna/</a><br><br><div><b>Occupy 4 Prisoners National Day of Action<br>
<br></b><a href="http://www.occupyboston.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/O4P-Boston.png"><img class="alignright wp-image-5576" src="http://www.occupyboston.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/O4P-Boston.png" alt="O4P Boston Occupy 4 Prisoners, Rally for Tarek Mehanna" title="Occupy 4 Prisoners, Rally for Tarek Mehanna" height="355" width="635"></a></div>
<div>On Monday, February 20, members of Occupy Boston, Ocupemos El
Barrio, the Jericho movement, Committe of Friends and Relatives of
Prisoners, and others led a protest against the Prison Industrial
Complex in front of the Nashua Street Jail. A speak-out across the
street from the jail included voices from the Black, Puerto Rican,
Muslim, Palestinian, Trans communities and many of the prisoners inside
displayed signs saying “HELP” “Free Us” and “99%”. It was a moving
experience as the 150 or so protestors raised their fists in solidarity
with prisoners, communicating non-verbally with them throughout the
protest.</div>
<div>A video and picture slideshow from the event is <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15169702/PrisonerSupport_20_Feb_2012.mov">available here</a>.</div>
<div>Livestream Video from the event is available <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20588102"> here</a> and also <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/20587330">here</a>.</div>
<div>More info on the Feb 20 National Day of Action is available at <a href="http://occupy4prisoners.org/">Occupy 4 Prisoners</a>.</div>
<div>==========</div>
<h2>Rally for Tarek Mehanna: Sat Feb 25</h2>
<h2>2-4pm <a href="http://www.occupyboston.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TAREK-MEHANNA4.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-5575" src="http://www.occupyboston.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TAREK-MEHANNA4.jpg" alt="TAREK MEHANNA4 Occupy 4 Prisoners, Rally for Tarek Mehanna" title="Occupy 4 Prisoners, Rally for Tarek Mehanna" height="213" width="216"></a>Boston Common</h2>
<div>On Saturday, February 25, from 2-4pm, members of Occupy Boston will join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/141188742666716/">a rally</a> by the Gazebo on the Boston common for<a href="http://www.freetarek.com/"> Tarek Mehanna</a> and against the Islamophobia and government-sponsored political persecution that his case demonstrates.</div>
<div>
<p><b>Imagine being in solitary confinement for 856 days and counting.</b></p>
<p>Why was Tarek Mehanna targeted by the government? Tarek has been
outspoken against US foreign policy, specifically in regards to Muslim
countries. He has voiced his beliefs that Muslims should protect their
religion and their brethren from being attacked. He has worked to raise
consciousness about Muslim prisoners like Aafia Siddiqui and to build
support for them. He has encouraged others to fulfill their obligations
as Muslims to struggle against oppression. In doing so he is seen as an
obstacle in the government’s effort to fight Islam by redefining it into
a meek, submissive shadow of itself.</p>
<p>By refusing to submit to the FBI’s coercive demands that he become an
informant, and by speaking out against US policies, Tarek set an
example that the government could not tolerate. The government and top
1%-owned media is persecuting him and countless others under bogus
“terrorism” charges and insinuations as part of a broader policy of
intimidating and <a href="http://muslimpeacecoalition.org/">silencing the Muslim community</a>. According to <a href="http://socialistworker.org/2012/01/19/united-states-of-islamophobia">Abdul Malik Mujahid </a>of
the Muslim Peace Coalition, Since September 11 2001, and the launching
of long-term US wars and military occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq,
more than 700,000 Muslims have been interviewed by the FBI, and some 75
percent of young Muslims report that they’ve been personally
discriminated against or their friends are being harassed and profiled.</p>
<p>It’s time to show the general public that we will not accept
political repression, racist scapegoating, and relentless persecution of
the Arab and Muslim sections of the 99%!</p>
<p>Please come to learn more, show solidarity, and take a stand against injustice on Saturday Feb 25!</p>
</div>
<div>For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/141188742666716/">https://www.facebook.com/events/141188742666716/</a></div>
<div>and</div>
<div><a href="http://www.freetarek.com/">http://www.freetarek.com/</a></div><br><br><br><br>