For Immediate Release - 12-21-2010
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Expands Witch Hunt
--FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists
The FBI came unannounced to knock on doors at two apartments in Chicago this morning. 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.
This continues the repression unleashed by Fitzgerald on the anti-war movement since September 24th, when fourteen subpoenas were delivered to anti-war, labor, and solidarity activists in coordinated raids involving more than 70 federal agents. Armed FBI agents raided homes, taking computers, phones, passports, documents, notebooks, and even children’s artwork. A total of 23 subpoenas have been served to activists around the country.
Maureen Murphy said, “Along with several others, I am being summoned to appear before the Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 25th, in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. We are being targeted for the work we do to end U.S. funding of the Israeli occupation, ending the war in Afghanistan and ending the occupation of Iraq. What is at stake for all of us is our right to dissent and organize to change harmful US foreign policy." Ms. Murphy is also the Managing Editor of the widely-read website, The Electronic Intifada.
In addition, three women in Minneapolis - Tracy Molm, Anh Pham, and Sara Martin - are threatened with reactivated subpoenas by Fitzgerald’s office and new Grand Jury dates. Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression explained, “It is likely the three individuals, like all the others so far, will continue to refuse to take part in Fitzgerald’s witch hunt. Fitzgerald can then call for putting them in jail as long as he wants.”
For more information: www.stopfbi.net
Contact: Tom Burke, Committee to Stop FBI Repression, 773-844-36
12/21/10
FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists
11/10/10
Palestine Solidarity in the Face of FBI Repression: With Hatem Abudayyeh
Thursday, December 16 - 7:00pm - Union Room 191
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174924415851425
Recently targeted by the FBI and subpoenaed to a Grand Jury in Chicago for challenging U.S. foreign policy in Israel/Palestine, SDS will host Hatem Abudayyeh of the Palestine Solidarity Group. He will speak about Palestine solidarity activism in the United States, as well as the FBI harassment faced by those who speak out against Israel's criminal occupation of Palestine. Abudayyeh is also the Executive Director of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), a community based organization that helps empower Arab Americans and Arab immigrants.
Grassroots Organizing in an Era of Economic Crisis
Thursday, December 2 - 7:00pm - Bolton Hall Room 150
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110369839029970
Milwaukee SDS will host a panel discussion with members of Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP). STOP is a grassroots organization in Chicago building leadership in the fight for human rights to racial and economic justice. The event will feature Wilie Rodgers, board member of STOP and co-founder of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.
STOP currently fights against gentrification and displacement, for better quality housing, against cuts to health care for the poor, against human rights abuses in Chicago's youth detention center, against budget cuts to and attempted closure and privatization of mental health clinics and more.
11/8/10
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Harassment of Anti-war Activists
On September 24th, the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force raided the homes and seized items (such as computers, cell phones, documents, etc.) belonging to anti-war and international solidarity activists in Minneapolis and Chicago in an attempt to find evidence of “material aid to foreign terrorist organizations.” These raids on members of Students for a Democratic Society, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera are part of a trend of repression of those who disagree with the U.S. government’s international policies and the violation of our rights as part of “the war on terror.”
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society believes that attacks on people in this country for their ideas is a gross violation of civil liberties and constitutional rights and must be ended. We call on President Obama and Attorney General Holder to immediately:
• Stop the repression against anti-war and solidarity activists
• Immediately return all confiscated materials (computers, phones, documents, etc.)
• Cancel the Grand Jury against anti-war activists
We urge everyone to call President Obama and Attorney General Holder to voice these demands.
• President Obama: (202)-456-1111
• Attorney General Eric Holder: (202)-353-1555
The Milwaukee chapter of SDS stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the country in the face of FBI repression and recognizes these searches and seizures for what they are, an attempt to silence the voice of the movement against U.S. wars and occupations and to harass and intimidate those who stand in solidarity with people around the globe who resist U.S. imperialism. We recognize that the activists involved have done nothing wrong, and we urge all citizens to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government and to speak out against FBI repression.
10/21/10
U.S. Intervention in Colombia, Oct. 28
10/9/10
10/4/10
FBI Raids Spark Protest in Milwaukee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FBI Raids Spark Protest in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, along with over 30 other cities, to protest Oct. 5th
A protest is planned outside the Federal Building (3rd St. and Wisconsin Ave.) in Milwaukee, WI, on Oct. 5th, 5:45pm, as part of a national day of action against the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office. The raids took place on Friday, September 24, 2010 and targeted antiwar and solidarity activists in the Midwest. Thousands have already come together across the country in protest of the FBI raids.
"Across the country, organizations and individuals are standing together to protest the United States government’s attempt to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists," commented SDS organizer Natasha Morgan.
Morgan, a student activist in Milwaukee, was one of the activists contacted by the FBI, although her home was not searched.
The protest is planned by the Milwaukee Activist Defense Network, a newly-formed network of activists that includes members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Peace Action, MEChA, and many other organizations in Milwaukee.
Tuesday's protest will have three demands: 1) End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists!; 2) Return all materials seized in the raid!; and 3) Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists!
For more information on the FBI raids, please see http://www.stopfbi.net.
Contact:
MilwaukeeSDS@gmail.com
10/3/10
9/24/10
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Repression
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Repression
September 24th, 2010 - This morning, several doors were broken down at homes of well known anti-war activists across the country in a large FBI raid. SWAT teams raided the home of a Minneapolis SDS leader, and the FBI has been intimidating SDS members in Milwaukee, Chicago, Los Angeles, and North Carolina. The FBI is looking for evidence linking activists to "material support of terrorism.” Several activists have had papers, CDs, and cell phones stolen among other items; as well as being issued subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury.
No arrests have been made – make no mistake, this is a fishing expedition by the FBI. 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.
Grace Kelley, an SDS leader from the University of Minnesota, said “SDS at the U of M condemns the terror tactics used by the FBI to silence activists who organize against wars and for peace here in Minneapolis as well as across the nation.”
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”.
Milwaukee SDS opposes U.S. support for the occupations of Palestine, Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We ask for your support in standing against this absurd government intimidation of anti-war activists. SDS will not be intimidated as we continue to call for an immediate end to the U.S. occupations!
For more information contact; Kas Schwerdtfeger, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee SDS: 262.893.2806
http://www.startribune.com/galleries/103733819.html?elr=KArks8Lcac_QE77DyPDiUeLcac_jE77DyPDiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr
http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes
Join SDS for the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
This is a follow up to the March 4th national protest where thousands of students, teachers, and school staff took to the streets and student unions to protest budget cuts and tuition hikes. Education is a right! Join us on October 7th at 12pm in Spaights Plaza at UWM
