Support Rasmea Odeh in court Oct. 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio

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Support Rasmea in court Oct. 14 + other CSFR news

Updates from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression

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Committee to Stop FBI Repression (stopfbi.net)

CSFR updates and news for autumn 2015

Support Rasmea Odeh in court Oct. 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio

Articles about Rasmea Odeh and the Anti-War 23
“Peace for Colombia, Free Simon Trinidad” news articles

Support Rasmea Odeh in court Oct. 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This is a critical moment in legal process.

Stand with Rasmea and fill the appeals courthouse in Cincinnati! We will organize a support rally in front of the courthouse at 8 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, and then fill the courtroom immediately thereafter, as Rasmea's defense and the prosecution each present their oral arguments to a three-judge panel.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at 8 a.m. EDT (appeal starts at 9 a.m. EDT)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
540 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. 5th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Register here to join us in Cincinnati on October 14. Visit www.justice4rasmea.org and www.StopFBI.net. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Explanation:
The Rasmea Defense Committee contends that Judge Gershwin Drain did not allow for a full and fair trial (http://stopfbi.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=8b7315d854bc40ca9fa6dd227&id=3a4c9ae36a&e=b3b6009f90), and believes that is why Rasmea was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and deportation. We are confident that she has solid arguments on appeal, and wrote in late July that the "defense argues conclusively that the government 'never really addresses the basic constitutional deprivations asserted in Ms. Odeh’s opening appellate brief (http://stopfbi.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=8b7315d854bc40ca9fa6dd227&id=54caa84b18&e=b3b6009f90),' and that Rasmea is 'entitled to present her complete defense to the jury,' which can only happen in a new trial."

After the three appellate judges hear oral arguments on October 14, a decision will be made between two and six months later. If the court agrees with the defense and overturns the conviction and the sentencing, the case gets sent back to the prosecution to possibly re-file charges, whereupon the entire trial process begins anew. But this time, evidence of torture, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc., would be allowed into the courtroom.

If the court upholds the conviction but disagrees with the sentence, the appellate judges send new sentencing guidelines back to Drain for re-sentencing. In the worst possible scenario, her conviction and sentencing would be upheld, meaning that she would have to serve 18 months in prison and then be deported. If this happens, the defense could ask that all of the 6th Circuit appellate court judges, not just the three panelists, review the case, as a last ditch effort to win the appeal.

We are fundraising, organizing public events, and pitching Rasmea's story (http://stopfbi.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8b7315d854bc40ca9fa6dd227&id=672435e9b3&e=b3b6009f90) to media across the country and the world.

This is a critical moment - support Rasmea Odeh in court!
Register here (http://stopfbi.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8b7315d854bc40ca9fa6dd227&id=88b4f046f9&e=b3b6009f90) to join us in Cincinnati on October 14. For more information email [email protected] with any questions.

The national Rasmea Defense Committee is led by United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR), and Coalition to Protect People’s Rights (CPPR); and includes 8th Day Center for Justice, Al-Awda NY: the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)-Chicago, ADC National, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), ANSWER Coalition, Anti-War Committee (AWC)-Chicago, AWC-Minneapolis, Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago Light Brigade, Committee Against Political Repression, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago, CAIR-Michigan, Friends of Sabeel-North America, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, International League of Peoples’ Struggle-U.S., Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Korean American Resource and Cultural Center (KRCC), Latino Organization of the Southwest (LOS), Lifta Society, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI), Middle East Crisis Committee (CT), Milwaukee Palestine Solidarity Coalition, National Boricua Human Rights Network, National Lawyers Guild (NLG), National Students for Justice in Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago, Palestine Solidarity Legal Support, Palestinian Youth Movement-USA Branch, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee, United African Organization, United National Antiwar Coalition, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Voces de la Frontera, Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), and Z Collective.


Articles about Rasmea Odeh and the Anti-War 23

Five years later: Last target of FBI witch-hunt faces jail, deportation
By Chip Gibbons
http://www.defendingdissent.org/now/news/five-years-later-last-target-of-fbi-witchhunt-faces-jail-deportation/

Why Are FBI Agents Trammeling the Rights of Antiwar Activists?
By Patrick G. Eddington
http://www.newsweek.com/why-are-fbi-agents-trammeling-rights-anti-war-activists-376759


“Peace for Colombia, Free Simon Trinidad” news articles

1. Time for President Obama to free Simon Trinidad
By Tom Burke
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Time-for-President-Obama-to-Free-Simon-Trinidad-20150924-0007.html

2. Release Simon Trinidad, Peace in Colombia video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3K8iGeellg

3. Colombia’s RCN national news coverage with video, in Spanish
http://www.noticiasrcn.com/nacional-dialogos-paz/asi-carcel-estadounidense-donde-permanece-simon-trinidad



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Rasmea Odeh appeals, supporters await ruling

http://www.fightbacknews.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article-lead-photo/cincyRas.jpg

By Tom Burke

Cincinnati, OH - Supporters of Rasmea Odeh could be heard chanting from blocks away in downtown Cincinnati, Oct. 14. Bus riders on their way to morning shifts crossed the street to take leaflets, while curious business people were drawn to watch the protesters chant, “Justice for Rasmea! Justice for Rasmea!” and “DOJ, let’s be clear, Rasmea is welcome here!”

The spirited crowd of 120, coming from Chicago, Cincinnati, Minneapolis and a dozen other cities, stretched down the block and onto the steps of the Sixth Court of Appeals. The supporters rallied for an hour, lining up for the slow process of security checks, before packing the courtroom for Rasmea Odeh’s appeal hearing.

Rasmea Odeh is a prominent Palestinian American and women’s activist from Chicago who, after living in the U.S. for 20 years, was convicted of a single count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization last November. She was then sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by deportation.

At the age of 68, Rasmea Odeh is stoic and strong in the face of U.S. government political repression. Many anti-war and international solidarity groups and a growing list of faith and women’s groups support her.

At Odeh’s trial, her attorneys were not allowed to present important evidence for the defense, including that she was tortured, raped and forced to sign a false confession, while imprisoned by the Israeli military. The presiding judge also ruled that the fact she suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was off limits for testimony and her expert witness was denied.

Inside the appeals court, a three judge panel heard Michael Deutsch, defense attorney for Rasmea Odeh. Deutsch argued that Judge Drain’s rulings in Detroit “denied Ms. Odeh a fair trial.”

Deutsch explained that when Rasmea Odeh attempted to speak about her abuse at the hands of the Israeli military, Judge Drain “admonished her and said she couldn’t speak about her torture.”

After U.S. Prosecutor Jonathan Tukel made his arguments to the three judge panel, Judge Rogers said, “If the testimony is relevant then we have the right to let them speak.”

Judge Rogers later said, “If they want to prove whether she was guilty of fraud, then they have to allow the testimony to find truth.”

After the appeal, defense attorney Deutsch said, “You could see the argument and the questions, but you are never sure exactly how it is going to come out. Based on my experience, I think we have a good chance of getting back to the District Court and having a new hearing before the judge.”

Deutsch ended by saying, “It is a good sign that the judges were engaged and interested.” It will likely take between one and five months for a written ruling.

Rasmea Odeh walked out of the court building to loud cheers and chants of “Rasmea, Rasmea, Rasmea!” She spoke about the growing campaign for justice and the importance of opposing political repression. She said to the big crowd in front of the court, “It because of you and your support that I am able to speak out and seek justice. Together we will win!”

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