Demands freedom for Palestinian American leader

Minneapolis, MN – About 40 people rallied here in the midst of a major snowstorm Nov. 10 to demand the immediate release of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh. Odeh was found guilty of a trumped-up immigration charge in Detroit that same day and Federal Judge Gershwin Drain revoked her bail. She will be jailed until her sentencing on March 15, 2015.

Detroit, MI – The jury in the case of Rasmea Odeh returned a guilty verdict after less than two hours of deliberation this morning, Nov. 10. They accepted the charge against her for “unlawful procurement of citizenship.” In her application for citizenship a decade ago, she failed to disclose that she was a political prisoner in Israel 45 years ago, convicted after soldiers raped and tortured her into a confession.

Detroit, MI – Prosecutor Jonathan Tukel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is asking that the bond for Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh be revoked. This comes on the heels of an unjust guilty verdict in her case. Judge Drain will decide the issue in a hearing at 2:00 p.m. today, Nov. 10.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 10 statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee.

Tallahassee, FL- Over 50 people marched demanding justice in the police killing of Kaldrick Donald in Gretna, Nov. 5. Gretna is a small African American town just west of Tallahassee, where 30% of residents live below the poverty line. City Manager Antonio Jefferson and five full-time police officers rule the town of 1709 people.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee. Rasmea Defense Committee statement

Salt Lake City, UT – Fifteen anti-war activists gathered in front of the William F Bennet Federal Building on Nov. 4 to stand in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea Odeh is an Arab American and women's rights activist being targeted by the FBI for her political activism. The U.S. government is attempting to weaken the Palestinian solidarity and anti-war movements. People protested across the country on the opening day of Rasmea Odeh’s trial in Detroit, including in Salt Lake City.

Tampa, FL – Anti-war activists protested outside the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse on Nov. 4 to demand justice in two cases of political repression. One is the current trial of Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh. The other is the sentencing of Tampa Bay native Sami Osmakac, an Albanian American and Muslim found guilty in an FBI entrapment case.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – At the start of rush hour on Nov. 4, a dozen anti-war organizers and members of the Palestinian community gathered outside the Federal Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale with a huge banner, “Drop The Charges Against Rasmea!”

Gainesville, FL—Twenty-five University of Florida (UF) students and allies rallied on campus in solidarity with Arab American women’s leader Rasmea Odeh. Odeh’s trial began in Detroit on Nov. 4 and is continuing thru the week.

Fight Back News Service is circulating this Nov. 6 statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee. Report on trial day 3: Rasmea takes the stand!

Detroit, MI – Rasmea Odeh’s supporters were in high anticipation as they waited on line for Judge Drain’s court room to open this morning, Nov. 6. Everyone expected the high point of the trial to be when Rasmea Odeh took the stand to testify in her own defense.

Cross examination exposes holes in prosecution of Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 4 statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee.

In court today, Nov. 5, the government presented its case against Rasmea Odeh. As expected, it is based on Israeli military court proceedings against her from 1969 to 1970. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel held up the Israeli conviction, which was achieved only after Rasmea was violently tortured for 25 days.

Durham, NC — Protesters gathered at a busy intersection outside the Durham Public Library, Nov 4, to show solidarity with Rasmea Odeh. The action coincided with the opening of Odeh’s trial in Detroit.

“Organized mass struggle is the only way justice is won” say activists

Detroit, MI – Judge Gershwin Drain oversaw jury selection today in the case of Rasmea Odeh. Odeh is on trial in Detroit for failing to disclose in her application for citizenship that she was tortured by the Israeli military in 1969 until she confessed to a crime she didn’t commit. Over 90 people filled the overflow room set up for her supporters to watch on close circuit television.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 4 statement from the Rasmea Defense Committee.

Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah County Attorney justified the shooting death of 22-year-old Darrien Hunt by white police officers Schauerhamer and Judson. Hunt was confronted by the Saratoga Springs police officers on September 10. He was carrying a toy sword as a prop while cosplaying, dressed as an anime (cartoon) character. Someone who saw him walking on the street called 911 and reported him as suspicious. Within minutes, Hunt was shot dead while being questioned by police.

Detroit, Mi – On Tuesday, Nov. 4, a federal trial will get underway here of longtime women’s rights advocate and Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh. She will face a charge of procuring her citizenship unlawfully by allegedly omitting an answer on her citizenship application 10 years ago. The stakes are high say Odeh’s defenders; she faces revocation of her citizenship, 10 years imprisonment, and eventual deportation.

Chicago, IL- Rasmea Odeh, la muy conocida activista en la comunidad palestina de Chicago, y víctima de persecución por parte del gobierno de EE.UU, se dirige a juicio el 4 de Noviembre