Stop FBI Repression: National Call in Day; CAPR - Chicago Meeting; Regional Conferenc

[ckaihatsu]

Stop FBI Repression: National Call in Day; CAPR - Chicago Meeting; Regional Conference in Chicago


Friends –

On behalf of Chicago’s Committee Against Political Repression, and especially the nine activists who were subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury last week, we want to thank everyone who rallied on Tuesday, January 25th. Here we mobilized 350 people, our largest rally since the week of the raids. 50 cities across the US, the Ukraine, Australia and Canada joined with us. It showed Fitzgerald that the movement will continue to defend the right to dissent, and to oppose US wars and occupations.


Here are three important dates:


Tuesday, February 1st


Committee to Stop FBI Repression
NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY
to Fitzpatrick, Holder and Obama

Over 50 cities, hundreds of groups, and thousands of people protested against FBI and U.S. Grand Jury repression on Tuesday January 25. The protests are a response to ongoing and expanding repression originating from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office in Chicago. On September 24th, the FBI raided anti-war and solidarity activists' homes and subpoenaed fourteen in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Michigan. All fourteen decided to not appear before the Grand Jury in October. The Grand Jury is a secret and closed inquisition, where the U.S. Attorney controls the entire proceedings, hand picks the jurors, there is no judge, and the activists are not allowed a lawyer.

The following month, three Minneapolis women had their subpoenas reactivated and they are still waiting in limbo. Then nine more Palestine solidarity activists, most Arab-Americans, were subpoenaed to appear at the Grand Jury on January 25, 2011, launching renewed protests.

Now we are asking you to call those in charge of the repression aimed against anti-war leaders and the growing Palestine solidarity movement.
We want your help in promoting the national call in day to demand:
-- Call Off the Grand Jury Witch-hunt Against International Solidarity Activists!
-- Support Free Speech!
-- Support the Right to Organize!
-- Stop FBI Repression!
-- International Solidarity Is Not a Crime!

Three calls:
1. Call U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald at 312-353-5300. Then dial 0 (zero) for operator and ask to leave a message with the Duty Clerk.
2. Call U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder 202-353-1555
3. Call President Obama at 202-456-1111

Suggested text: “My name is __________, I am from _______(city), in ______(state). I am calling U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald (Eric Holder, President Obama) to demand he call off the Grand Jury and stop FBI repression against the anti-war and Palestine solidarity movements. I oppose U.S. government political repression and support the right to free speech and the right to assembly of the 23 activists subpoenaed. We will not be criminalized. Tell him to stop this McCarthy-type witch hunt against international solidarity activists!

**Please sign and circulate our new petition at http://www.stopfbi.net/petition

Visit www.StopFBI.net or write [email protected] or call 612-379-3585



Sunday, February 6th


Chicago Committee Against Political Repression meeting

1:00 pm

Kent College of Law

Room TBA




Saturday, February 12th


The Committee to Stop FBI Repression invites you to a


REGIONAL ORGANIZING CONFERENCE TO RESIST FBI AND GRAND JURY REPRESSION


Saturday, February 12th

Noon to 5:00 pm

300 S. Ashland




For more info:


http://www.stopfbi.net/events/committee-stop-fbi-repression/2-12-11/chicago-regional-organizing-conference


If you are willing to help with the tasks of the conference or the fundraiser, please write to: [email protected]

[ellipsis]

A comrade is coming into SF this weekend for the regional conference for the west coast, i am not going but he is bringing a bunch of comrades from the frontlines, i.e. Utah.

[ckaihatsu]

FBI harasses Michigan anti-war activist

By Tom Burke

Kalamazoo, MI - FBI agents continue to harass anti-war and international solidarity activists, this time in Michigan. On Feb 3., longtime Michigan peace activist Dave Staiger received a phone call from the FBI. Special agent Karlie Wood asked to interview Dave in person. Staiger told the agent, “My policy is to contact a lawyer if the FBI or police want to talk to me.” The agent said, “Contacting a lawyer is not necessary,” and that Staiger was not in any trouble. Special Agent Wood then stated that she wanted to talk about matters relating to the Grand Jury subpoenas and FBI investigation in Minneapolis and Chicago.

On Sept. 24, 2010, the FBI raided seven homes in Minneapolis and Chicago, taking boxes of activists’ personal belongings, computers, cell phones and passports. The FBI delivered subpoenas to fourteen activists that month, including two people in Michigan. Then in December, under orders for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office in Chicago, nine more Palestine solidarity activists were subpoenaed for Jan. 25.

Sixty cities and campuses across the country and some overseas held protests Jan. 25. The original 14 and the new nine activists subpoenaed all refuse to speak at Fitzgerald’s Grand Jury. The Grand Jury is a secret court of inquisition, handpicked by Fitzgerald’s office, with no judge. Those called before a Grand Jury have no right to a lawyer in the room with them and no press is allowed to witness the proceedings.

Dave Staiger said he participated in the recent National Call-In Day to Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney General Holder and President Obama, asking them to stop the FBI raids and shut down Fitzgerald’s Grand Jury. This helped him in knowing what to say to the FBI and to not be intimidated.

Staiger states, “This is an attack on free speech and it is undemocratic. It is starting to remind me of the 1950s and the McCarthy era.”

Mick Kelly, of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, has urged everyone in the progressive community to exercise their legal right to not answer questions put to them by FBI agents. “This is a witch hunt against anyone who is standing up against war and injustice. Tell FBI agents you have nothing to say. Period.” says Kelly.

Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]