OntheWilderSide

Image by Tracy Russo via Flickr

The following demonstrations were called with the purpose of protesting FBI raids on peace activists which appear to be a government action to stifle dissent. Note that over the weekend, NATO did air strikes in Pakistan. It appears that the war machine is taking steps forward. It would be good for the peace movement to try to make a stand to hold them back.

Please consider attending one of these events announced by United for Peace and Justice:

Protest FBI Raids and Harassment of Antiwar Activists

United for Peace and Justice stands in solidarity with the anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI on Friday, September 24.  Homes in Chicago and Mineapolis were raide.  Doors were kicked in during the early morning raids and personal belongings including childrens’ artwork, posters of Martin Luther King, Jr, were taken, as well as cell phones, computers and boxes of paper records.  About a dozen activists from Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury.

The FBI emphasized that no arrests were made, but that evidence was being collected regarding the possible ‘material support’ of terrorism.  The ‘material support’ statute is so broadly written that it can, and does, criminalize international peace-building activities whose only connection to terrorism is to reduce it.

Only one week ago, the Justice Department’s own Inspector General released a report documenting political surveillance by the FBI.  Friday’s raids are the latest violations by a recidivist agency whose abuses have unfortunately recurred throughout its history.

The FBI’s raids threaten the First Amendment, our Peace Movement, and reflect the dangerous expansion of guilt by association pervading the Justice Department’s “counter-terror” prosecutions.  They cannot stand, and the FBI should be held accountable for any abuses.  Activists are encouraged to join demonstrations at FBI and/or Federal buildings in cities around the country:

Monday 9/27:

Minneapolis, MN – 4:30, FBI Office Monday, 111 Washington Ave. S.

Chicago, IL – 4:30 Fedeeral Building, Federal Plaza.

Kalamazoo, MI – 4:30 Federal Building, 410 W Michigan Ave

Salt Lake City, Utah – 9 AM at Federal Building

Durham, NC – 12 noon Federal Building, 323 E Chapel Hill St

Buffalo, NY- 4:30 pm at FBI Building – Corner of So. Elmwood Ave. & Niagara St.
Gainesville, FL – Monday, 4:30 PM at FBI Building

Boston, MA – 4 to 6, JFK Federal Building, Government Center

Tuesday 9/28:

NYC, NY –  4:30 to 6pm Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza,

Newark, NJ – 5 to 6pm Federal Building Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA – 4:30pm Federal Building, 6th & Market,

Washington DC –  4:30 – 5:30 FBI Building, 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

Boston, MA –  5 pm, JFK Federal Building

Detroit, MI –  4:30 pm McNamara Federal Building, Michigan Ave. at Cass

Raleigh, NC –  9 am. Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave

Asheville, NC –  5 pm Federal Building,

Atlanta, GA – Noon, FBI Building

Los Angeles, CA – 5 pm, Downtown Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles St

Tucson, AZ – 5 pm Federal Building

Wednesday 9/29:

Albany, NY -5 to 6 pm Federal Building

Filed under: Action Alert!, Anti-War, News, nonviolence, Peace, politics, progressive politics, US Politics, war Tagged: | chicago, Demonstration, FBI, federal government, Justice Department, Martin Luther King, Minneapolis, Minnesota, new york city, peace demonstration, peace movement, UFPJ, united states, washington dc