Chicago, IL – 1000 people rallied and marched here March 19 to mark the eighth anniversary of the war in Iraq. A large contingent was organized by the Committee Against Political Repression (CAPR), which included many of the 23 persons subpoenaed to a grand jury for because of their anti-war and international solidarity efforts. Chants and signs carried the message that activism is not a crime. Seven of those subpoenaed are Palestinians. A large group of youth, mostly Arabs, carried a 60-foot long Palestinian flag behind the CAPR banner to show the unity of the Arab and Muslim communities with the fight to resist FBI and grand jury repression.
With missiles from French fighter jets and cruise missiles from U.S. naval forces stationed off the coast of Libya, the large scale foreign intervention aimed at overthrowing the Libyan government began on Saturday March 19 – exactly eight years after the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq began.
Minneapolis, MN – Anti-war events will be held in over 50 cities across the U.S. on March 19, calling for an end to the U.S. war in Afghanistan, an end to the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq and for a redirection of resources from war to human needs.
Chicago, IL – “The Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) is asking you to join us in supporting national anti-war protests. On March 19 there are local rallies, many with International ANSWER Coalition,” says Tom Burke, a spokesperson for the CSFR.
Following a UN Security Council vote on the evening of March 17, an attack on Libya is imminent. The United States, Britain and France are expected to begin air strikes in a matter of days or even hours. All people of conscience should stand firmly against this act of war.
Chicago, IL – The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is undertaking a national effort to sign up thousands of people to a “Pledge to resist FBI, Grand Jury repression.”
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression urging participation in the March 8 national call in day to stop FBI and Grand Jury attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Kalamazoo, MI – FBI agents continue to harass anti-war and international solidarity activists, this time in Michigan. On Feb 3., longtime Michigan peace activist Dave Staiger received a phone call from the FBI. Special agent Karlie Wood asked to interview Dave in person. Staiger told the agent, “My policy is to contact a lawyer if the FBI or police want to talk to me.” The agent said, “Contacting a lawyer is not necessary,” and that Staiger was not in any trouble. Special Agent Wood then stated that she wanted to talk about matters relating to the Grand Jury subpoenas and FBI investigation in Minneapolis and Chicago.
Los Angeles, CA – As massive demonstrations continue in Egypt, activists from around southern California – home to a large Arab-American and Muslim community – rallied here to demand an end to Mubarak's regime. Protesters gathered at the downtown federal building on Feb. 5 and at the Egyptian Consulate on Feb. 6. Hundreds of people came to each event.
Chicago, IL – More than 400 people braved arctic conditions, protesting in front of the Egyptian consulate here, Feb. 4. Demonstrators chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we will see Mubarak fall!” Several speakers called for an end to U.S. aid to Mubarak's regime.
Kalamazoo, MI – Twelve anti-war activists, including a city council member, protested outside the U.S. Federal Building here, Jan. 25. The protest, organized by the newly-formed Kalamazoo Coalition Against Repression, was a part of the national day of actions against government repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Dallas, TX – About 150 people gathered here, Feb. 5, to remember the victims of Egyptian government repression and demand that Hosni Mubarak leave. The protesters came out in spite of the icy roads and heavy pre-Super Bowl traffic. Protesters declared that not only Mubarak but also his vice president, Omar Suleiman, are responsible for the hundreds of murders committed by police and gang members hired by the Mubarak government and that neither one of them could be allowed to oversee Egypt's transition to democracy.
Chicago, IL – Speaking at a rally of 350 supporters Jan. 25, Sarah Smith explained that being subpoenaed hasn't had the effect that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald wanted. The crowd cheered when she said, “I'm not backing down. In fact, I've been made stronger by the support from all of you to be become more politically active.”
Chicago, IL – “Announcements of additional cities joining the Jan. 25 protests are pouring in. We are going to send a clear message that we have a right to speak out and organize. International solidarity is not a crime,” says Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. To date, actions are planned in 43 cities. A complete list of cites participating is available at Stopfbi.net.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement made by Jess Sundin, of the Twin Cities based Anti-War Committee and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, at a Jan. 12 press conference on FBI infiltration of the peace movement. Sundin is one of the original 14 activists who was issued a subpoena during the FBI raids of Sept. 24, 2010. She was also one of the principal organizers of the 30,000 strong anti-war march at the Republican National Convention in 2008.
Minneapolis, MN – At a press conference here, Jan. 12, Jess Sundin of the Twin Cites based Anti-War Committee (AWC) blasted police infiltration of the anti-war and international solidarity movement, stating, “We are here today to express outrage that our democratic rights have been violated by a government operation of spying, infiltration and disruption of our anti-war movement, which was carried out over the course of at least two and half years.”
On Dec. 22, the U.S. House and Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill authorizes $725 billion for next year’s Defense Department budget, including nearly $160 billion of what the Pentagon calls “overseas contingency operations” – Congress’s name for the U.S. wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Minneapolis, MN – Dozens of Twin Cities area anti-war, labor and social justice advocates gathered at the office of the Anti-War Committee, Dec. 21, to fill out paperwork for Freedom of Information Act requests, demanding that the FBI provide copies of files developed on their organizations and themselves.
Chicago, IL – The FBI came unannounced to knock on doors of apartments in here, Dec. 21. FBI agent Robert Parker, under orders from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office, delivered a subpoena to Maureen Murphy. Murphy, like several other individuals served subpoenas, is an organizer with the Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago.
Chicago, IL – The 19th annual People’s Thanksgiving, a fundraiser for Fight Back! newspaper, was held here Dec. 4. It was the largest ever, with over 200 in attendance, and raised an incredible $7000 for the defense of the 17 Midwest anti-war and solidarity activists under attack by the FBI.
