Call Obama, Holder and Fitzgerald April 12. Stop the [FBI] Grand Jury!

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Call Obama, Holder and Fitzgerald April 12. Stop the Grand Jury!

Call-in Day to Stop the Grand Jury - April 12, 2011 Is this email not displaying correctly?
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Call Obama, Holder and Fitzgerald April 12. Stop the Grand Jury!

NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY
to Fitzgerald, Holder and Obama
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Grand Jury is still on its witch hunt and the FBI is still harassing activists. This must stop.
Please make these 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 _____ 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!”

If your call doesn’t go through, try again later.

Update: More than 1400 activists have signed the Pledge to resist FBI and Grand Jury Repression (via the web or the paper version at local protests), committing to join the national day of protest when anti-war and international solidarity activists are ordered to appear in front of the Chicago Grand Jury or are indicted. If you have not signed, click here. (http://www.stopfbi.net/get-involved/pledge-of-resistance). By signing, you will be on the priority contact list for the emergency action.

We 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!
-- Stop the Criminalization of Arab and Muslim Communities!

Background: Fitzgerald ordered FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists' homes and subpoenaed fourteen activists in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Michigan on September 24, 2010. All 14 refused to speak before the Grand Jury in October. Then, 9 more Palestine solidarity activists, most Arab-Americans, were subpoenaed to appear at the Grand Jury on January 25, 2011, launching renewed protests. There are now 23 who assert their right to not participate in Fitzgerald’s witch-hunt.

The Grand Jury is a secret and closed inquisition, with no judge, and no press. The U.S. Attorney controls the entire proceedings and hand picks the jurors, and the solidarity activists are not allowed a lawyer. Even the date when the Grand Jury ends is a secret.

So please make these calls to those in charge of the repression aimed against anti-war leaders and the growing Palestine solidarity movement.

Email us to let us know your results. Send to [email protected]

In Struggle,
Tom Burke,
for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression
www.stopfbi.net


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Copyright © 2011 Committee to Stop FBI Repression, All rights reserved.

Thanks for your ongoing interest in the fight against FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists!

Our mailing address is:
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
PO Box 14183
Minneapolis, MN 55415

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Congressman David Price letter to Attorney General Eric Holder about FBI raids on anti-war activists

By Staff

Durham, NC - Congressman David Price of North Carolina’s 4th district has written a letter of concern to Attorney General Eric Holder about the FBI raids on anti-war activists. It is the third such letter by members of Congress about the case. Representatives Keith Ellison (Minnesota) and Danny Davis (Illinois) wrote letters earlier. Rep. Price is the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

Joan Walsh, a Durham resident and member of the Triangle Committee to Stop FBI Repression, commented, “The letter is carefully but strongly worded, and coming from a highly-respected Congressman such as Mr. Price, should contribute to the swift termination of this unwarranted infringement on the rights of peaceful, conscientious activists. We wish to thank the Congressman for sending this letter and hope to continue working with him and others to end such abuses.”

In the letter, Rep. Price refers to the fact that the subpoenaed activists have not been informed of the potential charges against them or the specific focus of the investigation. The letter highlights the lack of openness by the Department of Justice and the FBI in this investigation, and urges Attorney General Holder to “resolve the matter in a timely and transparent manner.”

Price also cited the Department of Justice Inspector General report from September 2010, which found that FBI offices had conducted surveillance and spying on anti-war activists who had no links to any federal crimes. Rep. Price told Attorney General Holder that his constituents are concerned that the activists are being targeted for their political views. The letter to Attorney General Holder also expresses Price’s constituents’ concern about the chilling effect of the FBI’s actions on the broader movements for social justice in the United States.

“We urge activists to contact their Congressional representatives now about writing similar letters to President Obama and Attorney General Holder,” said Tom Burke, a coordinator of legislative work with the national Committee to Stop FBI Repression. “Congressman David Price’s letter is just the latest example of the growing movement to stop the grand jury and FBI repression of the anti-war and solidarity movements.”

Further information about work with Senators and Congress members around the September 24 FBI raids can be found at http://www.stopfbi.net/resources/legislators. Activists who want help in obtaining similar letters from their Congressional representatives should contact Richard Berg or Lucia Wilkes.

Full text of the letter, dated April 5, 2011:

The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to convey the concerns of my constituents regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) investigation of several individuals and organizations associated with anti-war activism.

As you are aware, on September 24, 2010, the FBI conducted searches of seven homes and an office building in Minneapolis and Chicago and issued subpoenas to 23 individuals in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. According to firsthand reports, the FBI also visited the homes of individuals in Milwaukee, San Jose, and Durham, North Carolina – which I represent in Congress – to question them in relation to the investigation. Although the FBI has refused to comment publicly about the investigation, media reports have cited documents indicating that the case is focused on potential violations of federal laws prohibiting the provision of material support to terrorist organizations. To my knowledge, however, none of the individuals who received subpoenas or were questioned in the case have been informed of the potential charges against them or the specific focus of the investigation.

Several of my constituents have expressed concerns that the Bureau might be targeting these individuals and organizations because of their political views rather than their direct connection to a federal criminal investigation, citing a Department of Justice Inspector General report which found that FBI field offices have at times conducted law enforcement activities against domestic anti-war activists without evident links to a federal crime. In addition to their concern for the rights of the individuals in this particular case, my constituents are worried about the potential “chilling effect” that such investigations could have on the protected free speech rights of domestic activists.

I am not in a position to judge whether or not these concerns are warranted, and I understand that the Department cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation. However, any information you can provide about the status of this investigation or the timeline for its conclusion, consistent with all applicable laws and regulations, would be greatly appreciated. I am sure you will agree that it is in the Department’s interest to resolve this matter in a timely and transparent manner, in order to counter any perception that the FBI has acted inappropriately.

I appreciate your attention to this issue. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Asher Hildebrand of my staff at (202) 225-1784 if you would like to discuss it further.

Sincerely,

David Price
Member of Congress


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Giant FBI puppet goes on witch hunt at Minneapolis May Day parade

By Mick Kelly

Minneapolis, MN - Members and supporters of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression participated in the Heart of the Beast Annual Mayday Parade and festival, receiving an enthusiastic response. Committee members carried a giant puppet of an FBI agent and dressed as witches, symbolizing the FBI and grand jury witch hunt that is being waged against anti-war and international solidarity activists. The parade is a longstanding community event.

Anh Pham, who helped to organize the Committee’s participation, said, “People cheered for the witches and shouted ‘Boo!’ at the FBI agent puppet. Mothers in the crowd were explaining to their children that the scary ‘agent’ was chasing after the nice peace activist and they were right to be afraid of the puppet. I felt like our message got across. People were really enthusiastic about our puppet and we will probably take him out for other summer festivals.”

Pham continued, “I was also really pleased when I spoke to former city council member from the Green Party, Dean Zimmerman, and U.S. Representative Keith Ellison before the parade and both signed the pledge to support us. Keith also signed a petition to the Minneapolis City Council that asked the city council to ask our representatives to speak out on our behalf. I hope more of our Minnesota congress people follow Keith's lead and write letters to Attorney General Holder or President Obama.”

Activists passed out more than 9000 flyers about the case and more than 150 people signed the pledge against FBI and grand jury repression. The pledge is a commitment to take action if activists are compelled to appear in front of the Chicago grand jury headed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, or in the event of indictments.

On Sept. 24, 2010, the FBI raided the homes of anti-war activists and international solidarity activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. To date, 23 activists have received subpoenas to appear in front of the Chicago grand jury. All of the activists have made it clear that they will not cooperate with this political witch hunt. For its part, the U.S. Attorney’s office has made it clear that it wants to indict the activists.

In cities around the U.S., members of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression participated in May Day events.

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