We reprint two speeches from the April 19, 2020 webinar “The Prosecution of Julian Assange and the Fight for Free Speech”
Category: Civil Liberties
FBI escalates witch hunt against antiwar activists
In an escalation of their McCarthy-style witch hunt of antiwar and trade-union activists, on May 17 the FBI and Los Angeles County Sheriffs raided the home of veteran Chicano activist Carlos Montes. Sheriff SWAT teams broke down the door of Montes’ house at 5:00 a.m.Sheriff’s deputies rushed into the house with automatic weapons while Montes … Continue reading FBI escalates witch hunt against antiwar activists
Scapegoating of Muslims on the rise
by Christine MarieU.S. activists celebrated the revolts in North Africa, not only for their potential to free millions in the Arab world from U.S.-backed dictators, austerity, and repression but for their potential to roll back Islamophobia inside North America. Photos of the resurgent labor movement demonstrations in Wisconsin revealed that U.S. workers felt a new … Continue reading Scapegoating of Muslims on the rise
Civil-liberties supporters hold conferences against FBI repression
by David BerntCHICAGO—Supporters of the 23 antiwar, international solidarity, and trade-union activists who have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury have continued to organize a broad defense against this government witch hunt. The 23 activists have been subpoenaed to answer questions related to solidarity trips they made to Palestine and Colombia.U.S. Attorney Patrick … Continue reading Civil-liberties supporters hold conferences against FBI repression
Stop the FBI witch hunt!
by David Bernt CHICAGO—On Jan. 25, about 350 activists rallied outside the federal building here against a McCarthy-style federal grand jury and witch hunt. Nine antiwar activists were subpoenaed to testify that day about their international solidarity work. The rally featured Maureen Murphy and Sarah Smith, two of the nine activists subpoenaed. Murphy read a … Continue reading Stop the FBI witch hunt!
Citizens’ Hearing decries U.S. government’s war on Muslims
by Christopher Towne WASHINGTON—A climate of fear grips the Muslim community in the U.S. Countless people are behind bars, victims of sting operations and disgusting distortions of the law. Rep. Peter King of New York will soon hold hearings on Capitol Hill, where Muslim clerics will be forced to appear and testify to their efforts … Continue reading Citizens’ Hearing decries U.S. government’s war on Muslims
Gunfire in Tucson
by George ShriverTUCSON, Ariz. —This state has become a symbol of hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and violence—especially after the signing of the Arizona Senate Bill SB 1070 last April, which in effect authorized racial profiling. That law is now going through a lengthy process of court challenges and appeals. And harsh new laws are being prepared … Continue reading Gunfire in Tucson
How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
by Jim GrilliIn light of the FBI’s recent attack on the civil liberties of antiwar activists in the Midwest, it would be useful to look back to a moment in history in which state-sponsored oppression served as a tool for silencing dissent.During the 1930s and ’40s, working people in the United States made tremendous gains … Continue reading How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
Harassment of WikiLeaks reflects mounting assault on civil liberties
by Jeff Mackler The WikiLeaks release of a quarter-million secret U.S. diplomatic cables in early December, as well as the earlier WikiLeaks revelations on U.S. mass murder of civilians and other heinous policies in Afghanistan and Iraq, confirm the fact that technological progress in the field of communications dramatically reduces the gap between the commission … Continue reading Harassment of WikiLeaks reflects mounting assault on civil liberties
WikiLeaks Did What the Corporate Press Couldn’t or Wouldn’t Do: They Gave the People a True View
by Mumia Abu-Jamal “The U.S. has spent tons of billions of dollars and thousands of lives in defense of one of the most corrupt nations on earth.” If the WikiLeaks saga has shown us anything, it’s that things are seldom what they seem; and allies, in truth, are almost indistinguishable from adversaries. That’s because what … Continue reading WikiLeaks Did What the Corporate Press Couldn’t or Wouldn’t Do: They Gave the People a True View
Defend WikiLeaks!
On December 7, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in London just after he presented himself voluntarily before police and authorities. After a court hearing that lasted around an hour, a district judge denied bail and sent him to Wandsworth prison. While he has since been released on bail, the threat of his incarceration remains. … Continue reading Defend WikiLeaks!
Activists targeted by FBI reject grand jury subpoenas
by David Jones Three of the antiwar, labor, and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI on Sept. 24 will have their subpoenas issued at the time “reactivated,” requiring them to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago. The three, Anh Pham, Tracy Molm & Sarah Martin, all of Minneapolis, were … Continue reading Activists targeted by FBI reject grand jury subpoenas
UNAC Press Release on Wikileaks
Antiwar Movement Expresses Outrage Over New Wikileaks “Iraq War Logs” and pledges to redouble protests with a huge meeting in New York City on November 6th and a program of Activity leading to Massive demonstrations on April 9. The Antiwar movement is outraged by the human rights abuses, death and secrecy outlines in the latest … Continue reading UNAC Press Release on Wikileaks
Defend Free Speech! Stop the FBI Raids!
No FBI Intimidation!a statement from Socialist ActionIn the early hours of Friday, Sept. 24, FBI agents raided the homes of antiwar activists in Minneapolis, Chicago, North Carolina, and Michigan. The targeted activists participate in coalitions against the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and also work in solidarity with the people of Colombia and Palestine. … Continue reading Defend Free Speech! Stop the FBI Raids!
Sign the Statement Against Islamophobia
Say No to Islamophobia!Defend Mosques and Community Centers!The Fight for Peace and Social Justice Requires Defense of All Under Attack! Please sign at:http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?nophobia
Close Guantánamo with Justice Now!
Presented at the July 23-25, 2010 National Anti-War Conference, Albany, New York by the Center for Constitutional Rights Shortly after taking office President Obama signed an executive order promising to close Guantánamo within a year. Not only has he broken his promise by indefinitely delaying the closure of this notorious prison, but he has extended … Continue reading Close Guantánamo with Justice Now!
Lynne Stewart sentenced to ten years in prison
by Jeff Mackler(Jeff Mackler is the West Coast Director of the Lynne Stewart Defense Committee.)The full force of the U.S. criminal “justice” system came down on innocent political prisoner, 30-year veteran human rights attorney and radical political activist Lynne Stewart today, July 15, 2010. In an obviously pre-prepared one hour and twenty minute technical tour … Continue reading Lynne Stewart sentenced to ten years in prison
Innocent Lynne Stewart Faces 30-year Jail Sentence
by Jeff Mackler The full force of the U.S. criminal “justice” system is today aimed at innocent political prisoner, 30-year human rights attorney and radical political activist Lynne Stewart. On July 15 Federal District Court John Koeltl, who in 2005 sentenced Stewart to 28 months in prison following her frame-up trial and jury conviction on … Continue reading Innocent Lynne Stewart Faces 30-year Jail Sentence
Letter From Lynne Stewart
Letter from Lynne StewartDear Sisters and Brothers, Friends and Supporters:Well the moment we all hoped would never come is upon us. Good-bye to a good cup of coffee in the morning, a soft chair, the hugs of grandchildren and the smaller pleasures in life. I must say I am being treated well and that is … Continue reading Letter From Lynne Stewart
Free Lynne Stewart!
Lynne Stewart jailed; loses appeal Appeals court seeks extended sentence
by Jeff MacklerThe following article appears in the December issue of Socialist Action newspaper. The Nov. 16 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, to reject radical New York attorney Lynne Stewart’s appeal of her 2005 frame-up conviction on five counts of aiding and abetting terrorism is a legal and political atrocity. The … Continue reading Lynne Stewart jailed; loses appeal Appeals court seeks extended sentence
Lynne Stewart in Her Own Words
The following is excerpted from an interview that Lynne Stewart did with Pacifica’s Democracy Now just prior to her imprisonment. She explains key features of her case. LYNNE STEWART: I represented Sheikh Omar at trial—that was in 1995—along with Ramsey Clark and Abdeen Jabara. I was lead trial counsel. He was convicted in September of … Continue reading Lynne Stewart in Her Own Words
Lynne Stewart in Jail!
[ by Jeff Mackler ]Lynne Stewart in Jail!Protest Lynne Stewart's incarceration!San Francisco Federal Courthouse, 7th and Mission, SFMonday, November 23, 5:00 pmDear Friends of Lynne Stewart,I just got off the phone with Lynne Stewart a few minutes ago, that is, late Wednesday (early Thursday, November 19, New York time). She bravely told me that she … Continue reading Lynne Stewart in Jail!
The War on Workers at Home & Abroad
Right-Wing D.C. Protest Poses Grave Threat to Workers
Capitalism’s poisons in their myriad forms are injected into the broad worker’s movement usually in small but steady doses. Racism, sexism, xenophobia, anti-immigrant prejudice, anti-Semitism, and homophobia all serve to divide and conquer—to direct the anger and frustration generated by the system’s inherent inequities and brutalities at its victims as opposed to its perpetrators. But … Continue reading Right-Wing D.C. Protest Poses Grave Threat to Workers