Concerned community members are meeting for a Speakout at Edith Green - Wendell Wyatt Federal Building (1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Downtown Portland, Oregon) on Friday, October 1 · 4:00pm – 6:00pm.
On Friday, September 24, 2010, the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out sweeps across the Midwest. The FBI raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis, and agents handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to eleven activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.
According to Colombia Solidarity activist, Tom Burke:
"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."
Locally, a diverse group of activists in Portland are organizing to fight back. On Friday October 1st, one week after the raids, we will come together to denounce the FBI's harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists. The This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The FBI has indicated that the grand jury is investigating the activists for possible material support of terrorism charges. We ask ourselves, who is next?
It is important to remember that political repression is nothing new, especially to Black and Muslim persons. “Martin Luther King was considered a communist by the FBI and was heavily watched and that sort of repression continues today under the PATRIOT ACT, ” says local political prisoners activist Adam Carpinelli. Portland local Patrice Lumumba Ford currently is serving an 18 year sentence on false conspiracy charges as part of the government's "War on Terror".
We come together to demand the US government:
Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc.
End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.
For local info: Megan Hise, 503-515-5456
For national inquiries: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612
We want peace - Jihad feat. Crooked I, Bellywize, Chali 2na, Ya Boy....
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