Solidarity Statement from the Labor/Community Strategy Center of FBI raids

[annm4peace]

Solidarity Statement from the Labor/Community Strategy Center

Presented by Esperanza Martinez, organizer with the Labor Community Strategy Center, at the Press Conference at the Federal Building in Los Angeles on September 28, 2010.

Today we come together as social justice organizers and organizations in Los Angeles to denounce the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office on Friday, September 24, 2010 in the cities of Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. We come together to denounce the attempt by the FBI and the US to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists. We see these raids and subpoenas as part of a historical and growing attack by the state on those committed to fighting for justice inside and outside of the United States.

These types of intimidation tactics are not new to those challenging war, militarization and U.S. intervention across the globe. They date back to the 1920s and the Palmer Raids (rounding up 10,000 people in 33 cities), WWII & the FBI led Counter intelligence program, and the countless repressive tactics in the Third World meant to squelch resistance to U.S. interventionist policies and actions.

These tactics continue to direct attacks on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the government that its actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military.

Here in Los Angeles, just last week, the social justice movement was subjected to a similar tactic, a scary acceleration and intensified attack on close to 50 organizers and activists who may be charged with jail time for demonstrating public opposition, resistance and dissent to policies that incarcerate our youth, take away our jobs, hike up transit and housing costs and continue to give money to the war machine.

We know the costs of war land the heaviest on our communities, immigrant, working class, oppressed nationality, disabled communities. The cost of war in Afghanistan and Iraq means less money to education, less money for public health. The cost of prioritizing police expansion and hence police repression means less money for libraries and parks.

Those challenging the effects of war in our communities at home and abroad are being demonized and criminalized and we need this to stop. These raids & the overall attempted repression of the movement in LA and in the country are trying to send a message to us to SHUT UP and not fight back.

But we are here, we are organized, and we aren’t going anywhere!

We call on President Obama to step in on behalf of those organizers and activists that are being targeted to put an end to the criminalization of dissent and resistance.


************************************************************************************************************************************

Stay informed. Bookmark:
http://stopfbi.net/

People have been subpoenaed to appear at the Federal Grand Jury in Chicago
on the next three Tuesdays, at least: October 5, 12, and 19. At least a dozen people in several cities have received subpoenas, including some whose houses were not raided. Two or three are supposed to testify tomorrow. To my knowledge, all are planning not to speak to the grand jury or answer any questions. At this point, they have that right under
the Fifth Amendment. That may change, if they are granted immunity. Most or all are not going to cooperate in this fishing expedition by the FBI.
It is quite likely that some are going to go to jail for contempt, without any real evidence of guilt of any crime.


Here is what YOU can do:

Call and/or email the President and the Department of Justice. You
should do this whenever you can, but we are especially calling for an
outpouring of support TODAY, the day before the first day of the scheduled
grand jury appearances. Your message for them and others should
concentrate on three main points:
a) End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists!
b) Return all materials seized in the raids!
c) Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists!

Contact information:
i) President Obama: 202-456-1111
email contact form: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
ii) U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder: 202-353-1555
email: [e-mail]
iii) DOJ Inspector General Glenn Fine: 202-514-3435 or 1-800-869-4499
email: [e-mail]

Sign the national petition. Go to:
http://www.iacenter.org/stopfbi/

Donate! This all costs money, for legal defense, signs and banners,
etc. Also, the confiscated computers need to be replaced so that the AWC
and activists can continue their work.

To donate to the national support group, for legal defense, etc.:
http://stopfbi.net/donate/
You can donate online, or send a check to the address listed there.

To donate to the local Anti War Committee (AWC), to replace their
computers and office equipment, and to help their ongoing work:
Donation may be mailed to AWC, 1313 5th St SE, Mpls, MN 55414. For a tax
deduction, you can make the check out to the Anti-War Committee Education
Fund. However you donate, please specify how you would like the funds to
be used. Or donate online at: http://antiwarcommittee.org


Inform yourself and spread the word. Feel free to forward any of my
emails. Go to the websites listed at the end of the news update.

Read more about the Supreme Court case that I believe led to these raids, at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holder_v._Humanitarian_Law_Project
It is quite brief, but it is up to date, and has good links, including links to
one of the search warrants and one of the subpoenas. It also has this
link to the text of the Supreme Court decision:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1498.pdf

For some history of the FBI, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cointelpro
Yes, it is just Wikipedia, but it is quite thorough, with good links. The
FBI has been our enemy for a long time!! The purpuse and the tactics of
COINTELPRO continue today. NEVER talk to the FBI!

For some background on the uses and dangers of grand juries, see:
http://grandjuryresistance.org/

Continue the struggle! If we are intimidated, if we stop acting and
speaking, the FBI will have won.

Please help in any way you can.

[leftstreet]

1. K&R

Excellent resources

Thanks for putting this together