There is a demonstration on Thursday, December 2, in front of the FBI office on 3rd and Spring, noon to 1:00pm to protest grand jury subpoenas given to 3 activists who work variously against war, for justice in Palestine, Colombia, and for socialism.
Below is an excerpt from an article posted on the Electronic Intifada, on the September 24 FBI raids on 14 anti-war and solidarity activists.
"Hatem Abudayyeh was asleep on his parents' couch the morning of 24 September after spending the night with his mother in the emergency room when his wife frantically called him to report that federal agents had raided their home. A Palestinian community leader and solidarity activist, Abudayyeh is also Executive Director of the Arab American Action Network, which provides social services to thousands of families in and around Chicago.
Abudayyeh said. "This attack on the anti-war movement is another example of the administration, whether Obama's or Bush's, trying to criminalize the activities of organizers in the US [working to change] foreign policy in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Colombia."
But the essential goal is the same -- to criminalize anti-war activism and criminalize international solidarity activism in defense of a foreign policy that has gone awry and has caused the deaths of many thousands of American troops and many hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans."
Abudayyeh recognizes that he is hardly the first Palestinian in the US to be targeted for his political views and organizing. "People who are activists in the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim community -- especially since 11 September, but for decades before than -- have dealt with this government repression," he said."
Please join us Thursday, December 2nd to protect our right to stand up for justice.
==============================
Nationally coordinated actions Nov. 29-Dec. 4
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is calling for nationally coordinated actions on November 29 to December 4 to demand an end to FBI raids and Justice Department persecution of peace and international solidarity activists.
www.stopfbi.net
Seattle Actions This Week:
1) Seattle United Against FBI Repression is planning an action outside the FBI office, 1110 3rd Ave. (and Spring) in downtown Seattle from 12 noon to 1 pm this Thursday, Dec. 2. We will issue a People's Subpeona to the FBI to call them to answer for their illegal raids and grand jury, demand the return of stolen materials from activists and organizations, and require them to cease their violation of First Amendment rights. Bring signs!
2) Please also contact your Senators and Congressional Representatives this week. Ask them to tell President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to stop government attacks on peace activists. Specifically ask for all subpoenas be quashed, for the Grand Jury be dissolved, and for all confiscated property to be returned.
Representative Jim McDermott - Seattle Office: 206-553-7170, DC Office: 202-225-3106
Senator Patty Murray - Seattle Office:(206) 553-5545, DC Office: (866) 481-9186 (toll free)
Senator Maria Cantwell - Seattle Office: 206-220-6400, DC Office: 202-224-3441
3) Pass out flyers at local events, including Chris Hedges’ speech at Town Hall at 7:30 pm Thursday evening, Dec. 2. http://www.townhallseattle.
BACKGROUND
On Sept. 24, the FBI raided anti-war & international solidarity activists in Minneapolis & Chicago, then subpoenaed 14 people to appear before a Grand Jury investigating “material support of terrorism.” The 14 activists were ordered to bring info with them on all their political contacts & activities here & around the world. This is an outrageous attack on the right of free speech and association! Naming names of activists they’ve met from places like Colombia and Palestine could jeopardize those activists’ safety at the hands of their oppressive governments. The people subpoenaed have not materially supported terrorism. All “pled the 5th” so the government temporarily suspended their subpoenas.
Now US Attorney Fitzgerald's office says 3 of the activists - Anh Pham, Tracy Molm & Sarah Martin - will soon have their subpoenas reactivated. They’ll face the choice of participating in the witch hunt or going to jail indefinitely for ‘contempt’.
This must be stopped! Join us to demand that our Senators and Representatives pressure President Obama and Attorney General Holder to stop US Attorney Fitzgerald's McCarthyist witch hunt. Demand that they do all they can to keep Anh, Tracy and Sarah out of jail!
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression continues to denounce the FBI raids on activists in the Midwest on Sept. 24 and to demand an end to the grand jury witch-hunt. The warrants and subpoenas clearly violate people’s First Amendment rights to freedom of association — by demanding materials like address books and information regarding “recruitment and indoctrination” to anti-war, solidarity and other political organizations. This kind of sweeping investigation and grand jury witch-hunt is a dangerous precedent for all people of conscience.
A broad-based local defense committee, Seattle United Against FBI Repression, has organized several very successful events in support of our Sister and Brother activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. We understand that they have been targeted because of their advocacy for peace, international solidarity and socialism. We see this as an attack on the entire progressive movement, and therefore an attack that requires a strong response from the entire progressive movement.
Sincerely,
Gerry Condon, President, Greater Seattle Veterans For Peace (VFP 92)
Doug Barnes, National Secretary, Freedom Socialist Party
for Seattle United Against FBI Repression
(206) 499-1220
SeattleStopFBI@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment