ckaihatsu
18th February 2014, 20:39
Victories in resistance: Lynne Stewart and CeCe McDonald speak out
By Meredith Aby
http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/panel.jpg
Minneapolis, MN - On Feb. 15 a panel called “Victories in Resistance, Solidarity Against Injustice” was organized by the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) to celebrate newly-won freedom and to reflect on how to do the political prisoner solidarity which builds our movements.
The basement at the Minnehaha Free Space was packed for an emotional discussion that was alternately jubilant and sobering. More than 50 people gathered to hear from Lynne Stewart and CeCe McDonald, both recently released from prison. Also speaking were AWC members Palestinian Sabry Wazwaz and Jess Sundin, one of the Midwest activists targeted by an ongoing FBI and grand jury investigation.
Sundin explained the motivations for the event, “In 2010, the idea that any of us could become a political prisoner became very personal for me and other members of the Anti-War Committee. As many of you know, we were the targets of a two-year undercover investigation, our homes and office were raided by the FBI, and we were ordered to appear before a grand jury in Chicago. When each of us refused to testify there, to serve as witnesses against each other, our movements, or our allies abroad, we made that decision in spite of the very real threat of imprisonment.
“While it was painful, as we made arrangements for who would care for our children if we were taken away, we felt we had no choice. Our testimony could have endangered the very lives of people like Samer Issawi, leaders of the people’s movements we had met on solidarity trips to Palestine and Colombia. And while on the one hand, it’s a decision you make alone, we never stood alone – Lynne sent a solidarity statement to one of our early rallies. Delicious lasagna made by CeCe was served at a community dinner to support us. And thousands of people across the country – and the world – joined us in demanding an end to the grand jury. We had our own victory against that grand jury – out of 23 people called, not one testified. And out of 23 grand jury resisters, not one was jailed for refusing to testify. The threat against us was very real, and very personal. But so was the solidarity.”
The government claims it is investigating anti-war and international solidarity activism as a form of “providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.” Long-time attorney Lynne Stewart was also faced a ‘material support’ charge, for her work defending an Egyptian cleric accused of terrorism.
Lynne Stewart, speaking via Skype, was greeted by audience cheers. First, she thanked supporters for writing her in prison and encouraged people to keep writing other prisoners. She said that letters are important acts of solidarity that keep political prisoners from being isolated and called each one “a poke in the eye against imperialism.”
Stewart, who is battling stage four breast cancer, credited the movement with getting her out before she was ready to die. She said it was through the tireless work of supporters that the U.S. government decided it was more destructive to keep her in prison than to release her. 45,000 people signed the petition demanding Stewart’s compassionate release. She highlighted the work of her husband, Ralph Poynter, for her release including his relentless picketing of the White House during blistering heat in August and said, “Everyone should have a Ralph, and everyone does when we have a movement!”
The audience was moved to see Stewart in her first Midwest appearance since her release from prison.
CeCe McDonald was also warmly greeted by the audience, eager to hear her speak about her experiences just one month after being released from prison. In June 2011, CeCe McDonald fought off a racist, transphobic attack. She was sentenced to 41 months in a men’s prison for second degree manslaughter, despite clear evidence of self-defense. She as an international symbol of the resistance and resilience of trans women of color.
McDonald said that community support also helped her win an early release from prison. She was proud that the movement had sent a loud and clear message that trans women of color were not disposable. She gave special mention to the CeCe McDonald Support Committee, several of whom were present.
McDonald described how the struggle around her case gave her a political education, “I learned about my history, about the history of powerful Black women like Assata Shakur and Angela Davis through this process. It made me open up my eyes and learn to love myself more… It was my duty to prove a point, that they couldn’t turn me into a statistic and it was the people in the community who helped me.”
Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]
This email was sent to [email protected]
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Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA
By Meredith Aby
http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/panel.jpg
Minneapolis, MN - On Feb. 15 a panel called “Victories in Resistance, Solidarity Against Injustice” was organized by the Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) to celebrate newly-won freedom and to reflect on how to do the political prisoner solidarity which builds our movements.
The basement at the Minnehaha Free Space was packed for an emotional discussion that was alternately jubilant and sobering. More than 50 people gathered to hear from Lynne Stewart and CeCe McDonald, both recently released from prison. Also speaking were AWC members Palestinian Sabry Wazwaz and Jess Sundin, one of the Midwest activists targeted by an ongoing FBI and grand jury investigation.
Sundin explained the motivations for the event, “In 2010, the idea that any of us could become a political prisoner became very personal for me and other members of the Anti-War Committee. As many of you know, we were the targets of a two-year undercover investigation, our homes and office were raided by the FBI, and we were ordered to appear before a grand jury in Chicago. When each of us refused to testify there, to serve as witnesses against each other, our movements, or our allies abroad, we made that decision in spite of the very real threat of imprisonment.
“While it was painful, as we made arrangements for who would care for our children if we were taken away, we felt we had no choice. Our testimony could have endangered the very lives of people like Samer Issawi, leaders of the people’s movements we had met on solidarity trips to Palestine and Colombia. And while on the one hand, it’s a decision you make alone, we never stood alone – Lynne sent a solidarity statement to one of our early rallies. Delicious lasagna made by CeCe was served at a community dinner to support us. And thousands of people across the country – and the world – joined us in demanding an end to the grand jury. We had our own victory against that grand jury – out of 23 people called, not one testified. And out of 23 grand jury resisters, not one was jailed for refusing to testify. The threat against us was very real, and very personal. But so was the solidarity.”
The government claims it is investigating anti-war and international solidarity activism as a form of “providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.” Long-time attorney Lynne Stewart was also faced a ‘material support’ charge, for her work defending an Egyptian cleric accused of terrorism.
Lynne Stewart, speaking via Skype, was greeted by audience cheers. First, she thanked supporters for writing her in prison and encouraged people to keep writing other prisoners. She said that letters are important acts of solidarity that keep political prisoners from being isolated and called each one “a poke in the eye against imperialism.”
Stewart, who is battling stage four breast cancer, credited the movement with getting her out before she was ready to die. She said it was through the tireless work of supporters that the U.S. government decided it was more destructive to keep her in prison than to release her. 45,000 people signed the petition demanding Stewart’s compassionate release. She highlighted the work of her husband, Ralph Poynter, for her release including his relentless picketing of the White House during blistering heat in August and said, “Everyone should have a Ralph, and everyone does when we have a movement!”
The audience was moved to see Stewart in her first Midwest appearance since her release from prison.
CeCe McDonald was also warmly greeted by the audience, eager to hear her speak about her experiences just one month after being released from prison. In June 2011, CeCe McDonald fought off a racist, transphobic attack. She was sentenced to 41 months in a men’s prison for second degree manslaughter, despite clear evidence of self-defense. She as an international symbol of the resistance and resilience of trans women of color.
McDonald said that community support also helped her win an early release from prison. She was proud that the movement had sent a loud and clear message that trans women of color were not disposable. She gave special mention to the CeCe McDonald Support Committee, several of whom were present.
McDonald described how the struggle around her case gave her a political education, “I learned about my history, about the history of powerful Black women like Assata Shakur and Angela Davis through this process. It made me open up my eyes and learn to love myself more… It was my duty to prove a point, that they couldn’t turn me into a statistic and it was the people in the community who helped me.”
Read more News and Views from the Peoples Struggle at http://www.fightbacknews.org. You can write to us at [email protected]
This email was sent to [email protected]
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Fight Back! News · P.O. Box 582564 · Minneapolis, MN 55440 · USA