EMERGENCY ACTION: Stop FBI Raids and Harassment

EMERGENCY ACTION: Stop FBI Raids and Harassment
SUPPORT ANTI-WAR AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS
Actions to Take Place at Federal Buildings and FBI Offices Across the U.S.
SAY NO TO INTIMIDATION!

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 27th
at 4:30 PM
at FBI BUILDING
corner of South Elmwood and Niagara (near City Hall), Buffalo

We stand in solidarity with activists across the country who have been targeted by the recent FBI raids. All of us, every activist for justice, every organization that fights for our rights, we all need to be out there together this Monday in front of the FBI HQ in Buffalo.

The International Action Center condemns the
FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists homes on
Friday, September 24 and supports the right of all social
justice activists to defend the rights of workers here at
home and to be in solidarity with our sisters and brothers
around the world resisting occupation and military
dictatorship. The IAC urges full support of the activists
targeted by the FBI and wide distribution of the statement
below issued by activists targeted in the raids.

In solidarity,
Sara Flounders, Co-director, International Action Center

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For Immediate Release
24 September 2010
Contact: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612
Steff Yorek, 612-865-8234

Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and
Solidarity Activists Homes

Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities
across the country.

We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment
of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states
across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses
in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, September
24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas
to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen
activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also
attempted to intimidate activists in California and North
Carolina.

"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up
activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to
intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations,
and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes,"
said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those
handed a subpoena by the FBI. "They are designed to suppress
dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and
to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the
Middle East and Latin America."

This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those
who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the
struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against
U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved
with well-known anti-war groups including many of the
leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National
Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI
agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to
investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges.
This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who
support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and
Latin America.

The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are
refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about
their political views or organizing against war and
occupation. The activists are involved with many groups,
including: the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a
Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the
Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist
Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo
Palmera (a Colombian Political Prisoner).

Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the
activists whose homes was searched, called the raids “An
outrageous fishing expedition.”

We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with
those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government.
Activists have the right not to speak with the FBI and are
encouraged to politely refuse, just say “No”.

Please contact info@colombiasolidarity.org or info@fightbacknews.org
if you would like to provide support to the targeted
activists.