Hands Off Anti-War Activists
Report-back from National Committee to Stop FBI Repression conference
December 15, 2011 | 7:00 – 9:00pm
Walker Community Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis
Stop ALL Witch Hunts! EVEN NOW, Bush and Obama’s “Justice Departments” are investigating, subpoenaing, indicting, torturing, sentencing and imprisoning people for:
- Providing Humanitarian Aid
- International Union Solidarity
- National Liberation Struggles
- Anti-War Activism
- Immigrant Rights and Immigration Legal Assistance
- International Solidarity Work
- Being Arab or Muslim
- “Thought Crimes” (Really.)
We met with these people. We are these people. Serious and sobering information and updates were presented at the Nov. 5 conference in Chicago. We also formed new bonds for solidarity and resistance with Puerto Rican, Palestinian, Arab and Muslim fighters for justice, as well as other folks caught up in the U.S. criminal injustice system. Come to this important report-back from the conference to hear about imprisoned activists and the dangerous issues we all face for exercising what we thought were our rights. Please join us as we share legal, prison, legislative and organizing updates. It will take a movement to turn this around, before more get hurt. FFI: stopfbi.net
FightBack! News | Minneapolis City Council members condemn FBI, grand jury repression
Published on November 19, 2011 by FightBack! News
Minneapolis, MN – City Council members here signed a letter to Senators Amy Klobuchar, Al Franken and Representative Keith Ellison affirming constitutional rights of anti-war activists subpoenaed and raided by the FBI last year. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression published the letter on its website Nov. 15.
The letter states, “We are writing to share our concerns regarding reports about a Justice Department investigation of local Minneapolis peace and justice organizations and individual anti-war activists.”
The letter goes on to note, “This first came to our attention on September 24, 2010, when the homes of several Minneapolis residents were raided by FBI agents who confiscated computers, mailing lists, cell phones, passports, political literature, correspondence, and children’s drawings. That day the FBI also raided the office of the Anti-War Committee, an organization that the Minneapolis City Council, in 2007, publicly recognized as an important voice of nonviolence and political dissent. In connection with these raids, it appears that several Minneapolis residents have been investigated and served with subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury to testify regarding alleged material support for foreign terrorist organizations.
As elected officials we are committed to serving our constituents and our community. In that capacity we are formally sharing our concerns about the expansion of government surveillance of social justice organizations and anti-war activists in Minnesota as evidenced by this event. We are deeply concerned about the chilling effects these activities might have on completely nonviolent and legal activism as well as the threat it poses to the freedoms of speech and association and health of our democracy in general.”
The letter was signed by 12 of the 13 members of the Minneapolis City Council.
The letter is one of the many of statements that have been made by public officials, labor and community leaders opposing repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
MN-Committee to Stop FBI Repression Teach-in
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 5:00 until 6:00 (time might change depending on conditions).
People’s Plaza, 5th St and 3rd Ave downtown Minneapolis
Come get an update on our case or hear about it for the 1st time! FFI: stopfbi.net
Anti-War Committee Stands in Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Minneapolis
Anti-War Committee Stands in Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Minneapolis
COUNTY/SHERIFF HANDS OFF THE PEOPLE’S PLAZA!
Starting with New York city, and spreading to more than a thousand cities in the US and across the globe, the Occupy Wall Street movement has given voice to the majority of people, who are suffering from an ever-deepening economic crisis here at home, and endless war abroad. Minnesota has joined this movement in saying it’s time to put people over profits, and several occupations have started here, including one in downtown Minneapolis.
Since October 7, thousands of Minnesotans have occupied the People’s Plaza, outside the Hennepin County Government Center, maintaining a presence day and night to demonstrate against corporate greed and political corruption.
The Anti-War Committee has been a part of Occupy Minneapolis since the beginning, because we too are a part of the 99%. We understand that corporate control of resources in other countries is one of the driving reasons that the U.S. goes to war, and we will not pay with our tax dollars or our lives to further the profits of a few while so many suffer. At the occupation, we have rallied and marched, attended teach-ins, shared meals, participated in general assembly meetings and slept out on the plaza with no shelter.
County officials have restricted the rights of Occupy Minneapolis from the very first day. Claiming that it is for the safety of the protesters, we were denied the right to set up tents, or any kind of structure, to provide shelter from the cold and rain (even though many other occupations have tents). Yesterday, Hennepin County Commissioners voted for a plan to shut down the People’s Plaza on November 14th: All protest signs must be taken down and no one will be allowed to sleep at the Plaza.
Commissioners have cited the cold weather, but if they were concerned about the health and well being of the protesters they would lift the restrictions on shelter, not evict us. We know that this is an attempt to end the occupation they wish had never begun, and we condemn all threats to evict Occupy Minneapolis!
In the name of the 99%, we support the rights of the occupiers, and demand the right to continue a round-the-clock presence at the People’s Plaza. We call on all people of conscience to take concrete actions to defend Occupy Minneapolis. This includes contacting County Commissioners to demand they allow the occupation to continue without interruption. If the county moves to evict us from the People’s Plaza on Monday, November 14th, we call on all people of conscience to mobilize to the Plaza, and stand in solidarity with the 99%.
Please call the Hennepin County Commissioners and Sheriff Stanek. Let them know this is an unacceptable denial of our constitutional right to assemble!
Sheriff Rich Stanek: (612) 348-3744 and sheriff@co.hennepin.mn.us
Mike Opat, chair: 612-348-7881
Mark Stenglein: 612-348-7882
Gail Dorfman: 612-348-7883
Peter McLaughlin: 612-348-7884
Randy Johnson: 612-348-7885
Jan Callison: 612-348-7886
Jeff Johnson: 612-348-7887
General information: 612-348-3000
Committee to Stop FBI Repression National Conference
Chicago, IL on Saturday, November 5, 2011 | 8:30 – 5:00
Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is organizing a national conference at Kent Law School in Chicago on Saturday, November 5, 2011.
We are gathering to organize a broad front against FBI and U.S. government repression of activists and movements both at home and abroad. We know it is the people’s movements that deliver the goods — that bring equality, peace and justice.
While the White House lectures Arab and Muslim leaders in the Middle East about democracy and the treatment of their citizens, we experience FBI raids, grand jury investigations and outrageous criminal charges. Big business cheers and politicians smirk at police abuse of Occupy Wall Street activists, but people are growing angrier as thousands across the country are arrested for democratic protests. We are not alone in this struggle. We are together and growing stronger.
We hope you will come to hear Carlos Montes and offer solidarity as he faces a trial and possible imprisonment. We hope you can show support to the anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were turned upside down by the FBI, whose families are shaken by grand jury subpoenas and who are still facing multiple indictments, according to the U.S. Attorney.
We need to educate ourselves and then act upon the outrageous mistreatment of Arab and Muslim-American people and leaders in our country. We can fight back and make positive changes like movements of the past. Unjust laws like the Patriot Act can be overturned and civil liberties expanded. We can organize and we can win.
You can make a difference by attending the CSFR Conference at Kent Law School in Chicago. Take your new knowledge back to the groups and movements you are part of. We hope to see you on Saturday, November 5th. Please register today using the form below.
Support Carlos Montes! Drop the charges!
Tom Burke, for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression
CSFR Conference Agenda
8:30 Registration
9:00 Welcome
I. Drop the Charges, End Political Repression
Carlos Montes, Chicano leader, anti-war and immigrant rights activist, whose home was raided and ransacked by the FBI. Carlos awaits trial for charges reaching back 40 years.
II. Update On Anti-war and International Solidarity Activists targeted for repression by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald
Speakers are Jim Fennerty of the National Lawyers Guild and Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee in Minneapolis. Introduced by Prexy Nesbit, Africa solidarity leader.
III. Speak Out Against Repression — Morning Panel
- Alejandro Molina on Puerto Rican Movement, National Boricua Human Rights Ntwk
- Ali Al-Arian on the case of his father Dr. Sami Al-Arian
- Sharmin Sadequee on the case of her brother Shifa Sadequee
- Noor Elashi on the case of her father Ghassan Elashi and the Holy Land Five
- Hatem Abudayyeh on Palestine Solidarity
- Speakers invited from Irvine 11 and the case of Dr. Ashqar
IV. Workshops/Groups Session I
- Labor sector solidarity
- Palestine Solidarity
- Student sector solidarity
- Legislative Action
Lunch
Salute to Jacques Rivera, wrongfully convicted in Chicago, Illinois, freed from prison.
V. Understanding FBI Repression, Grand Juries, and Pre-emptive Prosecution — Afternoon Panel
- Michael Deutsch, People’s Law Office, on grand juries and conspiracy charges
- Steve Downs, Project Salam, on pre-emptive prosecutions and thought crimes
- Shahid Buttar, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, on the material support standard, ending the Patriot Act, and local civil rights defense
- Meredith Aby, Committee to Stop FBI Repression, building a broad front against repression.
VI. Workshops/Groups Session II
- Mapping the Landscape for Struggle — with BORDC leaders George Friday andShahid Buttar
- Organizing To Protest G8/NATO in Chicago and Republican National Convention-Tampa Protests – Joe Iosbaker of Coalition Against Nato/G8 War and Poverty Agenda CAN-G8, and Fernando Figueroa with Coalition to March on the RNC
- Immigrant Rights
- To be defined
VII. Stop FBI and U.S. Government Political Repression – Plenary for organizing and plans for action
VIII. Closing
Facilitators include **Steff Yorek, Jeff Mackler, Abayomi Azikiwe, others
Please write to info@stopfbi.net with questions.
Help distribute flyers for the conference
If you can, please print out some of the flyers for the conference and distribute them where you live.
FightBack! News | Somali women demand justice for two women on trial for material support of terrorism
Somali women at Minneapolis protest holding sign reading "To help my country is not a crime" (Fight Back! News/Staff)
Posted on October 19, 2011 by FightBack! News
Minneapolis, MN – More than 60 Somali women assembled outside the Federal Courthouse here, Oct. 19, in support of Hawo Mohamed Hassan and Amina Farah Ali, two Somali humanitarian workers who are charged with providing ‘material support for a foreign terrorist organization.’
The two women, who raised money to help destitute people in their homeland, are accused of helping al-Shabab, an Islamist organization that fights to free Somalia from foreign domination.
The jury is still out on the case.
Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression states, “These women have done nothing wrong. They worked hard to help people in need. They deserve the support of everyone who cares about justice.”
Free Spooky Dinner!
Free Spooky Dinner
In support of local activists targeted by the FBI for their Anti-War & International Solidarity Work.
Thursday, October 27th 2011 | 5:30-7:00pm
Walker Church | 3104 16th Ave S
Kid Friendly | Vegan & Gluten-Free Options
FFI: www.stopfbi.net
FightBack! News | Activists challenge U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald on grand jury witch hunt
Posted on October 7, 2011 by FightBack! News!
By Staff
- Bill Chambers (left) and Newland Smith (right) as they exited the building following Fitzgerald’s talk. (Fight Back! News/Staff)
On Oct. 6, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald gave a talk entitled, “Prosecuting Terrorism in the Courts” to a meeting of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Chicago. While 20 people gathered outside to protest, three members of the Committee Against Political Repression went inside to question Fitzgerald directly.
Fitzgerald is in charge of the grand jury that has subpoenaed anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Fight Back! interviewed the three who went inside: Bill Chambers, Newland Smith and Sarah Simmons.
Fight Back!: You went to see U.S. Attorney Pat Fitzgerald speak this morning. What was his talk about?
Newland Smith: The talk focused on the much improved job that law enforcement is doing in fighting terrorism now that criminal investigators and intelligence investigators can share information. He credited the Patriot Act for taking that “wall” down between these two groups so now “it doesn’t matter what’s motivating an investigator to share information…we can just decide whether to use criminal case techniques or intelligence case techniques.” Of course, Fitzgerald didn’t comment on how the mixing of criminal and intelligence investigations can easily lead to free speech and dissent being criminalized and treated with “intelligence” techniques as if they are connected to terrorism.
Fight Back!: Why did you go? What questions did you want him to address?
Sarah Simmons: I went because I thought it a rare opportunity to get up close and ask Fitzgerald questions to make him squirm. My question would have been “What is your office doing to safeguard civil liberties in the grand jury investigation of peace and solidarity activists, and how do you justify the taxpayers’ dollars being spent in this way?” Apparently his conscience is not bothered at all by what he does. His summation of the Patriot Act: It’s not really bad and he doesn’t know why people get so fired up about it; it just enables law enforcement to work more efficiently. I was also struck by how in awe the group seemed to be of Fitzgerald.
Bill Chambers: The AJC promoted Fitzgerald as this effective prosecutor of terrorists “including Osama Bin Laden for the 1998 African Embassy bombings and the 1995 bombing of the World Trade Center.” I wanted the audience to know that he is better known for the year-long grand jury investigation of 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Fight Back!: Were you able to ask your questions? How did he respond?
Bill Chambers: I was able to ask this question. “There has been criticism of you and your office by ten U.S. Representatives, including Jan Schakowsky in Chicago, that the investigation of anti-war and human rights activists is suppressing their freedom of speech and right to dissent. How do you respond to this criticism?”
His response – “I can’t even comment on the existence of such a case, but I can assure you my office is doing nothing to suppress dissent. There were even people out in front today protesting when I came in and they have the right to do that. Look around, there are people protesting everywhere – if I was trying to suppress dissent I would not get anything done.”
My follow-up – “Those protesters you are talking about haven’t been subpoenaed to a grand jury and had their homes invaded and property taken. So you don’t agree with Jan Schakowsky and the other U.S. reps’ criticisms then?”
His response: “People make all these criticisms of me and I can’t respond. It’s like I have duct tape across my mouth. How do you think that makes me feel?”
Fight Back!: Anything else you want to add?
Bill Chambers: I left the presentation the same time Fitzgerald did and caught up to him as he was waiting at the elevator with several others. I referred to his duct tape comment and asked him how he would feel if he was being accused in an investigation of supporting terrorists. He said no one is being accused of supporting terrorism and I reminded him that his office has acknowledged that several people are part of an investigation into material support for terrorists.
I was able to ride down all 29 floors in the elevator with him and some folks from the AJC. I continued to question him about the impact of his investigation on people who have had their reputations damaged, their homes invaded and some their bank accounts closed – all from an investigation he says doesn’t exist.
Exiting the elevator, one of the AJC event organizers made a special point of saying “We are happy you are here in Chicago.” It made me think that there are 23 activists, ten U.S. reps, 800,000 union members, and 12,000 people who have signed the defend dissent pledge that don’t share that same appreciation.
CSFR National Conference, November 5 in Chicago, IL
Join us for a national conference of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression in Chicago, IL on Saturday, November 5, 2011.
Featuring
Carlos Montes, Chicano leader and immigrant rights activist, facing trial after FBI directed LA Sheriffs raid on his home.
Midwest Grand Jury Resisters – 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists subpoenaed to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s Grand Jury in Chicago, the FBI raided seven homes in Chicago and Minneapolis on September 24, 2010.
Steve Downs of Project Salam will speak along with family members and activist leaders from Arab, Muslim, anti-war, labor, and other groups. Topics include: civil rights, civil liberties, the law, and organizing against war and occupations.
More information coming soon! Please write to info@stopfbi.net with questions.
A short video from our friends in Seattle. Check it out!
FBI Attacks: Who’s Next? from Elliot Stoller on Vimeo.
FBI raids on the homes of human rights activists, labor organizers and socialists around the country began on September 24, 2010 in Illinois and Minnesota. Of the original 14 activists who have been issued subpoenas to appear before a Grand Jury or face possible imprisonment 9 are trade unionists. Eight are parents of young children ranging in age from 18 months to 6 years of age. In December, 2010, 9 Palestine solidarity activists in Chicago were also subpoenaed. The FBI confiscated computers, cell phones, children’s artwork, documents, personal papers and photographs. These violations of citizen privacy have been justified by FBI claims that it is investigating “material links to terrorism.” Most of the targeted activists have been involved in anti-war or international solidarity work, particularly with Colombia and Palestine.
On May 17, 2011 in Los Angeles, sheriffs, working with the FBI, broke down Carlos Montes’ door, arrested him, and ransacked his home. Montes is a veteran Chicano activist known for his decade of leadership of the Chicano movement, including the recent immigrants’ rights mega-marches of 2006. Carlos Montes said outside court, on July 6 where he pled “Not Guilty” to six felony charges “This attack on me is a pretext. They are using it to attack me because of my political activity – denouncing U.S. intervention in Colombia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in Palestine.” The FBI attempted to question Carlos Montes about the Freedom Road Socialist Organization when his home was raided.
Please take action to defend our Constitutional rights and support Carlos Montes and the Midwest 23 facing FBI repression.
Sign the national petition supporting Carlos Montes – stopfbi.net/?petition/?national
Sign the Pledge to Resist FBI and Grand Jury Repression – stopfbi.net/?solidarity-statements
Donate to the legal defense fund – stopfbi.net/?donate
If you are in the Northwest, email Seattle United Against FBI Repression at SeattlestopFBI@gmail.com or phone at 206 713-8056 and we’ll keep you informed of upcoming actions. To get involved in the local support committee nearest you, click here: stopfbi.net/?supporting-organizations/?local-committees You can also stay informed through the National Committee to Stop FBI Repression website: stopFBI.net; info@stopfbi.net
Donate to the AWC
Updated CSFR Flyer
