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