FBI WATCH: documents reveal attack on democratic rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists

Just a reminder, my cross-organizing and international solidarity comrades, that they really are out to get us...here's a good resource to look at before they come for you:

(click link below image)

"If An Agent Knocks"
Center for Constitutional Rights

------from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (stopfbi.net)------

Secret FBI documents reveal attack on democratic rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists

Published on Wed, 2011-05-18 11:56

• Document
• Statements

Committee to Stop FBI Repression

Documents Released on May 18th (PDF format):

• CSFR Statement
  
• Operation Order
  
• Interrogation Questions
  
• Surveillance Photos
  
• Seizure and Subpoena
  
• Blank Forms
  
• Single PDF file that includes all six of the above documents
  

Committee to Stop FBI Repression Statement (May 18, 2011)

FBI agents, who raided the home of Mick Kelly and Linden Gawboy, took with them thousands of pages of documents and books, along with computers, cell phones and a passport. By mistake, they also left something behind; the operation plans for the raid, “Interview questions” for anti-war and international solidarity activists, duplicate evidence collection forms, etc. The file of secret FBI documents was accidently mixed in with Gawboy’s files, and was found in a filing cabinet on April 30. We are now releasing them to the public.

The raid at the Kelly/Gawboy home was one of the many coordinated raids at Minneapolis homes and the offices of the Anti-War Committee on September 24, 2010. Two additional homes were raided in Chicago. To date, 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists have received subpoenas to appear in front of a Chicago Grand Jury headed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Taken as a whole, the secret FBI file shows the willful disregard for the rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists – particularly the first amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. The documents make it clear that legal activity in solidarity with the peoples of Colombia and Palestine is being targeted. The documents use McCarthy-era language, which gives one the feel that the 1950s red scare has returned. And finally, the documents show the chilling plans for the armed raid that took place at the home of Kelly and Gawboy on September 24, 2010.

The documents show that public advocacy for the people of Colombia was the genesis of the FBI investigation. The ‘Operations Order’ for the FBI SWAT Team states “The captioned case was initially predicated on the activities of Meredith Aby and Jessica Rae Sundin in support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a U.S. State Department designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), to include their travel to FARC controlled territory.”

While we have no way of knowing if it was speaking tours or educational events on Colombia that got them so riled up, there is something we can state with certainty: There is nothing illegal about traveling to Colombia, or visiting the areas where the FARC is in charge. This is something that journalists, including U.S. journalists, do, and we have yet to hear of their doors being broken down. Upon returning from Colombia, Aby and Sundin spoke at many public events about their experiences.

The FBI interview questions for Meredith Aby ask “1) Have you ever met Lilia [sic] Obando? 2) Where? 3) When? 4) Why?” Liliana Obando is a well-known Colombian trade unionist who spoke in the Twin Cities at an event organized by the Anti-War Committee. She received a visa to travel in the U.S. from the U.S. government.

She spoke about the sickening human rights violations that were being carried out by the Colombian government and its paramilitary allies. While we understand that the Colombian government is the third largest recipient of U.S military aid, and that government officials would prefer that that people here in the U.S. don’t get a chance to hear about human rights abuses committed with their tax dollars, the fact remains: there is nothing criminal in trying to learn the truth. The FBI is attacking the right of anti-war activists to speak out against U.S. foreign policy.

Likewise, the “interview questions” make a big deal about delegations that visited Palestine. The Israeli authorities try to disrupt these trips because people return from them and expose the gross human rights violations that are carried out in the context of the military occupation. But once again – this is a legal activity that activists have every right to engage in.

The documents show how the FBI investigation expanded outwards, starting with Colombia and soon focusing on Palestine. How did the FBI get involved? The most likely explanation is that a undercover police officer going by the name “Karen Sullivan” infiltrated the Anti-War Committee shortly before the 2008 Republican National Convention. Among the first people she met were Meredith Aby and Jess Sundin, who often spoke at public events about what they saw in Colombia.

Karen Sullivan - the professional liar - then gave her reports to the FBI, paving the road to the September 24 raids.

The New McCarthyism

When Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy went on a red-baiting witch hunt in the 1950s, communists, socialists and progressives of all stripes were hounded out of jobs, housing, the entertainment industry and institutions of higher education. More than a few people were jailed for their ideas. The secret FBI documents indicate an investigation is underway that takes its cues from this shameful past.

The FBI documents include 57 interview questions about Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the organization that some of those who were raided or subpoenaed to the Grand Jury are members of. The questions include; “Are you a member?” “How many members are there?’’ “Who are the leaders?” And on and on and on. It is like pages of the calendar have been turned back 60 years.

In the United States there is a constitutional right to association. Like-minded people are allowed to form groups and political parties that promote their views. FRSO members, along with others, were very active in organizing the massive anti-war protests at the Republican National Convention. They participate in the labor movement, community organizing, and the anti-war movement too. And they advocate that capitalism should be abolished and replaced with socialism. Given the bank bailout, continuous wars and the economic crisis it is not unreasonable to see these activities and views as a breath of fresh air.

“Dangerous” raid

In the documents, the “Operations order” for FBI SWAT for “Operation Principal Parts” the raid on the Kelly/Gawboy home has the word “DANGEROUS” in underlined bold type at the top of the page. FBI agents were told to bring assault rifles, machine guns and two extra clips of ammunition for each of their side arms. Two paramedics were to stand by in the event of causalities. Other documents include photos of Kelly and Gawboy, as well as pictures of stairs leading to their front door and the front door itself.

What transpired on September 24 was this. Gawboy was awoken by the FBI pounding on the door. When she stated she wanted to see the search warrant, agents used a battering ram on the door, breaking the hardware and shattering a fish tank in the process. Gawboy was taken down the front steps in her nightgown while the FBI swat team entered her home.

The justification for this armed home invasion is given in the “Operations plan” - “Kelly is believed to be the owner of an unknown number of firearms which may be at his residence...”

Kelly, who learned to shoot while in Boy Scouts, owns guns – just like a lot of Minnesotans. The “Operation Plan” also claims that Kelly “offered to provide weapons training” - an outright lie that originated with the police infiltrator “Karen Sullivan” or a fiction writer at the FBI office.

The bottom line is this: there can be no justification for the raid in the first place, and still less for it to be done by agents smashing doors and wielding machine guns. This is a recipe for people getting hurt or killed. The events of September 24 and the ongoing grand jury are not about “material support of terrorism,” as any normal person would understand it. What is happening is this: anti-war and international solidarity activists are being targeted for practicing our rights to speak out and organize. We have done nothing wrong. Our activism is making this world a better place.

Attachment	Size
1-CSFR statement.pdf	74.42 KB
2-Operation Order.pdf	1.6 MB
3-Interrogation Questions.pdf	2.2 MB
4-Surveillance photos.pdf	3.66 MB
5-Seizure and Subpoena.pdf	2.45 MB
6-Blank forms.pdf	2.56 MB
CSFR May 18 documents ALL.pdf	12.54 MB

Signs of Resistance: SB 1070 and Arpaio.

Phoenix Police Department
Cesar Chavez Plaza
(Across the street from the Wells Fargo Building)
Phoenix, AZ
July 29,2010

("Deport Arpaio" is in yellow)

-------------------This is awesome---------------

Anti-SB 1070 Billboard on Camelback Near Third Street by Brave New Foundation

By Stephen Lemons, Mon., Aug. 9 2010 @ 2:39PM

A public service announcement brought to you by the Brave New Foundation project Cuentame

(Click the link to the article above for the Feathered Bastard's story on this Phoenix billboard at 3rd and Camelback)

We are Everywhere...

This update from David Rovics is for SB 1070 resisters and lovers of peace, folk music, prison abolition, and anarchy. Hopefully, despite the boycott, David will at least come take the streets with us during his tour this fall...

---------------------------------------

Hi folks,

A few relevant announcements...

Anne Feeney is Sick

Dear friend of mine and many of you, Anne Feeney, rabble-rousing performer whom the late Utah Phillips called “the greatest labor singer in North America,” is in the hospital in her home city of Pittsburgh with a large tumor in her chest. She's had to cancel tour plans and has incurred major expenses as a result of this situation. She does have health insurance, but she's already had to pay $6,000 just for co-pays and all that junk. Please go to fellow-travelers-advisory.blogspot.com/ and send her encouragement and money.

Troubador: People's History in Song

I have a new release coming out in the fall -- it should be available through my estore and at shows by October 1st. It will include a booklet with extensive liner notes, lyrics and cool graphics, plus a CD. A no-frills digital version of the project is now online at songwritersnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/08/troubador-peoples-history-in-song.html/. To make it extra easy to share, I've also posted it on my Facebook pages.

My Fall Tour – the USA

My ambitious, three-month tour throughout the continental US is coming together brilliantly, with dozens of gigs all over the country. It's all online at www.davidrovics.com – just scroll down to September, where it begins. (Until then, the tour of Australia and New Zealand continues, and it's going great!) There are plenty of free dates in almost every region of the US, in case you or anyone you know might be inclined to organize a stop on the tour – if so, please contact me! These tours only happen because folks like you think they should, and take the initiative to organize a show. And they only go well if folks like you spread the word amongst your friends and drag them to the show!

Song of the Month

Song of the month from the This Month in History and Song section at www.davidrovics.com is “Cordova.” On August 20th, 1993 the people of the Alaska fishing community of Cordova blockaded Prince William Sound for three days and nights in protest of Exxon's duplicity. They need to do that in Louisiana right now. If you go to www.soundclick.com/davidrovics it'll be the first song that comes up.

Jim Page in the Northeast

Certainly one of the greatest songwriters in the English language as well as a phenomenal fingerstyle guitarist, Seattle's Jim Page, is making a rare foray to the northeastern US in September. He could definitely use more gigs, and now's the time to contact him if you're interested. His website is www.jimpage.net. You won't find Jim's music properly represented on the internet in terms of many free downloads and such, but if you run any kind of venue or house concert series in the northeast I promise you will not be disappointed if you have Jim do a show – he is a jaw-droppingly good songwriter, and very political (though his love songs are also amazing). There are only a few others on the planet who come close to Jim as far as I'm concerned. Have I made myself clear...? If you can't organize a show for him, you will at least want to drive hours to hear him perform – it will be worth it.

Signing off,
David

HumanLeague002: Voices of the People's History.

This is Dennis Gilman's footage of Sal Reza's wrongful arrest last week on YouTube (you really must subscribe to Humanleague002) - a story we were privy to earlier thanks to the Feathered Bastard. Between Dennis and Stephen Lemons, we're getting some good coverage of the People's History out here...




Here is Dennis' other most recent video showing one of the National Day of Non-Compliance actions at the 4th Avenue Jail. Catch that awesome chant! There are hundreds of people out there chasing those deputies back inside! They shut down most of Arpaio's racial profiling plans for the day, too!

SB 1070 Resistance Dancin' in the Streets!

This is long and a few days late (so I know I'm not stealing anyone's audience), but it's such a joyful Feathered Bastard that I still can't resist. There's a tune I've been listening to lately called "The Great Stone Wall" by Jim Page, that reminds me that things haven't always been so dark, so bitter, and so hateful on this planet as it seems to be here and now some days. We're so indoctrinated to the way things are that we fail to understand that things haven't always been this way - and its not the only way for them to be tomorrow, either. Ordinary people really can change the world.

Now, read on about the all night party outside of Sheriff Joe's jail while supporters waited for civil rights organizer Sal Reza to be released after his second arrest last week. And hit Stephen's blog (this week's is too funny) at the Phoenix New Times often for updates on what's happening in this place. Between the protests, parties, patrols, prisoners, people power (check out Guadalupe's resistance, too, folks), and my own personal battles (as well as the theft of my laptop from my home), I can't begin to tell you myself what's going on from day to day. So, I'm going to keep hitting up the New Times until they tell me to stop.

Enjoy the Feathered Bastard now, knowing that no matter what the mainstream media reports and pollsters tell you about popular opinion in Arizona, Sheriff Joe is eating a lot of crow these days - spoonfed by people of every age, color and creed. And PLEASE - regardless of anything else you hear, beg Natalie Merchant and all those superstars heading to the Dodge Theater this month to cancel their engagements - we need their moral support more than their money now more than ever. Tell them to come join the people dancing in the streets.

------------------------------------------

Salvador Reza Released, Prosecutor Admits No Probable Cause for Arrest

By Stephen Lemons, Sat., Jul. 31 2010 @ 1:54PM

As civil rights leader Salvador Reza stood in stripes before a night court judge around 3:30 a.m. this morning at the Fourth Avenue Jail in downtown Phoenix, the county prosecutor made an eye-popping admission.

"This is really my review," he stated cautiously of a statement from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office before him. "I did not see that this rose to the level of probable cause."

Reza's attorney Robert Pastor immediately pounced.

"Your honor," said Pastor, "I just heard the prosecutor tell the court that there's not enough evidence here to suggest that Mr. Reza committed a crime. I ask that the charge be dismissed and he be released immediately."

Of Reza's bogus charge for "obstructing a judicial proceeding," the judge herself seemed skeptical.

"I do not have enough information to find probable cause in this matter, sir," she told the county attorney.

She declined to dismiss the charge, but she released Reza on his own recognizance and set his next court date for August 18.

Reza, leader of the organization Puente, had been arrested late Friday afternoon after watching a band of protesters engage in civil disobedience by blocking Sheriff Joe Arpaio's command post for the MCSO's latest anti-immigrant sweep. The post was located near 35th Avenue and Lower Buckeye, close to the Lower Buckeye Jail. Reza was across the street in an unpaved parking lot.

Reza, after being released Saturday morning

Though Reza was not participating in civil disobedience that day, a pack of aggro sheriff's deputies ran across 35th Avenue and arrested him. Arpaio, MCSO Chief Brian Sands, and MCSO flack Brian Lee have all been videotaped stating that the arrest was because Reza had violated his order of release after he'd been let go on bond the night before for taking part in civil disobedience on July 29. This, as part of a "national day of non-compliance" to SB 1070.

After court was adjourned with Reza's O.R., a crowd of about sixty supporters, who had crammed into a viewing room to watch the proceedings from a TV monitor, erupted into applause. They then filed outside to wait another two hours-plus before Reza and the others arrested that day were set free.

Supporters danced all night waiting for Reza to be let go

The main entrance to the Fourth Avenue Jail had turned into an all-night block party for Reza supporters, with speakers blaring cumbia and protesters dancing in the middle of the street, sometimes in the pouring rain. At one point the crowd of Reza supporters numbered more than 100, and included numerous members of Unitarian Universalist Churches (referred to as "UUs") from across the country, who were in town to protest SB 1070 going into effect.

Sheriff's deputies and detention officers looked on from the roof, and from the corners of the building, but did nothing to stop the crowd. I asked one deputy why he and his compadres were seemingly okay with the revelry.

He simply shrugged and said, "It's a free country."

Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, was present in a parking lot with Reza as sheriff's deputies arrested the longtime anti-Arpaio activist. He said NDLON regarded Reza as a political prisoner, and that in the first two hours of putting up an online petition to "Free Sal Reza," NDLON had garnered 900 signers-on.

"They arrested him for no reason," he told me, as we all awaited Reza's release. "He was doing nothing. They just took him. To me it's clear that it's retaliation, because he's been highly critical of the sheriff. They [Arpaio and his staff] don't like him. They hate him."

Indeed, Reza has led several massive marches aimed directly at ending Arpaio's rule, as well as daily protests outside the Wells Fargo Building in downtown Phoenix, where Arpaio keeps two floors of pricey executive offices. Reza's Wells Fargo campaign ended with the bank asking Arpaio to leave, forcing the county to find another building for the MCSO, which Arpaio will likely move into sometime in 2011.

No one parties like a Unitarian...

When Reza finally emerged from jail Saturday morning, the sun was up, and his fellow activists were overjoyed to see him.

Reza said he was shocked by the arrest, which came without warning, just as he was about to leave for an interview.

"When I saw them coming, I thought they were coming for the people in the street," he explained. "But then they just passed them and went for me."

Regarding who actually ordered his arrest, Reza believes it was MCSO Deputy Chief Brian Sands, one of Arpaio's top henchmen, a man who looks like he would have felt right at home in the KGB.

"It was Sands," Reza contended. "Sands was in command."

MSCO thugs hustled a cuffed Reza to a van, where he remained for hours by himself. At one point, the MCSO opened up the van to display Reza to photographers and journalists like a captured prisoner of war.

"If they can do this to me," he told the reporters present before refusing interviews, "what do you expect they can do to anybody else."

Reza was transported to Fourth Avenue, booked, and forced to change into county stripes. As he was the night before, he was placed in solitary confinement. Reza said he was allowed no phone call, and there was no phone in the cell. He also stated that deputies never read him his Miranda rights.

I asked if he thought the MCSO was trying to break him.

"I think it's going to be a long time before they break me," he laughed. "I was ready to go eighteen days...that's when the court date is."

I wondered if he planned to sue the MCSO, as so many of Arpaio's victims have done, earning massive payouts from county coffers. Reza didn't say yea or nay.

"I just wish the [ U.S. Department of Justice] would get on the ball and do something about it," he replied. "I don't know what else they want...It's very clear."

The DOJ has been investigating Arpaio for more than a year now for civil rights violations. There's also a federal grand jury in Phoenix looking into Arpaio and the MCSO for criminal abuse of power.

Concerning the detention officers, Reza said he actually got along with some this time.

"Some of them are nice," he said. "Some of them, they basically don't like Arpaio."

This sentiment was echoed to some degree by Sarahi Uribe, a Yale graduate and organizer with NDLON, who'd been one of the protesters blocking sheriff's patrol cars from leaving for the sweep. She, too, was released on her own recognizance by the judge.

"One of the clerks or one of the officers inside slapped a message on the window [of the cell] that said, `By the way, what you guys are doing is awesome,' and walked away," Uribe told me.

Still, she was interrogated repeatedly by 287(g) officers in the jail, even though she's an American citizen. This, likely because she's not white and she initially refused to tell them her country of origin.

She also described "disgusting" conditions in the holding cell where she was kept with several other women. Uribe said women were sleeping on a floor littered with feces. Like Reza, she was never Mirandized.

Before he headed out to get some much needed rest, I asked Reza if he had any words for Sheriff Arpaio.

"Yeah," he said. "Come back to civilization."

Fat chance of that. They don't call it "Mari-Kafka County" for nothin'. For those of you reading who loathe Reza because of his politics, keep this in mind: There was no probable cause for his arrest. And if you want Arizona to resemble part of America, rather than a Third World junta, you should denounce his detention just as if you were one of his supporters.

BOYCOTT HATE! Don't patronize this State!!!

Here's another shout out from an active reader, responding to the previous post on Prison Abolitionist from Democracy Now's coverage of the SB 1070 protests. That post was put up there for me by my comrade in the Netherlands, since I've been too busy moving, protesting, cop-watching, agitating our Neo-nazis, getting burglarized, and going to prison these past few days to do much of anything with these blogs myself. That's why I have back-up (thank you, dear friend).

Tonight I have a band to go see at Conspire Phoenix, so, sorry all - check out my links to the blogs above for someone else's local radical coverage - all I can say now is that while there are some awesome people here, there's still an abundance of free-flowing nastiness and hate swaggering around this state. These people should be shamed back into donning white hoods, but instead they're running for political office on platforms that promise to erode both the Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They'll probably get elected, too, unless some more good citizens move here and register to vote before the deadline. It's pretty troubling what's been going on down here.

Thanks for your contribution, Montana. Hope the rest of you are boycotting us, America - that's the only reason this place finally decided to honor Martin Luther King Day. More on that issue later this week...right now I need a break from this ugly place.

--------------------------

Montana has left a new comment on your post "Democracy Now: about July 29th 2010 in Arizona":

"House Bill 2013" and "SB1070"

0 = Arizona
2 = USA/ Our Constitution/ We the People of the United States

We are a country that is ruled by the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, not by the majority of the day. When you do not know the principles in these documents, therein lays the problem in losing when you are challenged in court.

This month of July 2010, our U.S. Federal courts have found the so-called State of Arizona hate-filled legislation, namely "House Bill 2013" and "SB1070", un-constitutional (So much for the intellect of Jan Brewer, "Did you read the bills you signed?"). But we all know that they will go crying to the Supreme Court of the United States, please, please, please go. We will fight you in Arizona, any other state, and yes in Washington DC. We will not tire, we will not be silent and we will persevere, I promise you.

In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme of clans; the Baggers, Birthers and Blowhards (people who love to push their beliefs and hate on others while trying to take away the rights of those they just hate) and that's who they need to extract from their party if they really want to win in November. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, "We Ain't Coming Out".

It's all about politics: Jan Brewer you were never elected to be Governor, but you have no problem trying to get elected on the backs of undocumented workers, you loser (sure, you may win, but the long-term effects to your so-called state is just beginning). Here is a partial list of your hate-filled legislation;

1. S.B. 1070,

2. House Bill 2013

3. No permit concealed weapons law,

4. The famous Birthers law,

5. Banning Ethnic studies law,

6. Could she be behind the Mural in Prescott, Arizona, ordered to be whiten,

7. On deck to pass, no citizenship to babies born to undocumented workers,

8. If she can read she should look up Arizona's House Bill 2779 from two years ago (which was un-constitutional and failed when legally challenged),

9. The boycotted Martin Luther King Day, what idiots don't want another holiday? Yes, you guessed it: Arizona.

Well Arizona, you can keep boycotting new holidays, passing hate filled legislation and the rest of our country will continue to challenge you in court of law and Boycott your so-called state.

Lets face it, no one can really believe anything that comes out of Brewer's mouth, in an interview, this year, in an attempt to gain sympathy, she first said her father had died in Germany fighting the Nazis in World War II (which ended in 1945), but of course we find out the truth that her father was never in Germany and died in California in 1955. But we are supposed to believe everything else she says, right?

As they say in the World Cup: Gooooooooal!

Don't Buy! Don't Work! Don't Comply!

Forward widely!


(This is a mass conspiracy, folks!)





------------A Calendar of Resistance, from No More Deaths--------------

Greetings,

below are the many ways you can participate in opposing SB1070. As most of you already know, the law is to take effect on Thursday, July 29th. There are lots of things happening in Phoenix over the next week or so. Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know, get out, get involved, voice your outrage!

Represent NMD...wear your NMD t-shirts to these actions!

1. Wednesday, July 21: Training on Non-Violence and Civil Disobedience - 6:00pm

LOCATION: Phoenix Quaker Meeting House (1702 E. Glendale, 17th Street and Glendale)

If you are planning to participate in the National Day of Non-Compliance on the 29th and want to know about the realities of CD, you should come to this training! Get the facts, know your rights, be trained.

2. Thursday, July 22: Injuncion Hearing Against SB1070 - 9:00am

LOCATION: Sandra Day O'Conner Courthouse (401 W. Washington)

This is the day that many of the suits against the Law are being heard. Come to protest outside the courthouse all morning! Bring signs, sunscreen and water!

3. Saturday, July 24: Policing the Police Training - 2-4:00pm

LOCATION: Unlimited Potential (6520 S. Central Ave, three blocks south of Southern)

Sheriff Arpaio has promised to hold another racial profiling sweep on July 29th and/or 30th, as soon as SB 1070 goes into effect. We need to have dozens of volunteers out on the street to monitor and document the activities of the sheriff's deputies on those days. Attend one of these trainings and learn how to safely and legally observe the police during this sweep and in your own neighborhood.

4. Saturday, July 24: Diamondbacks Boycott and Protest - 4:30pm

LOCATION: Meet at Tonatierra (7th Street and McKinley)

Join Puente in thier ongoing boycott and protest of the Diamondbacks. Meet at Tonatierra to walk over to the stadium. Bring your signs!

5. Wednesday, July 28: Prayer Vigil - 6:30pm

LOCATION: at the Capital

There will be an interfaith prayer vigil at the Capital on the eve of the law taking effect. All are welcome!

6. Wednesday, July 28: Policing the Police Training - 7-9:00pm

LOCATION: Phoenix Quaker Meeting House (1702 E. Glendale, 17th Street and Glendale)

(in case you missed the one on July 24th)

7. Wednesday, July 28: La Comunidad Resiste Contra SB1070 - 7-11:30pm

LOCATION: Civic Space Park (424 N. Central Ave)

Join hundreds for a gathering and demonstration downtown!

Bring games, blankets, chairs, instruments, art supplies, friends!

Food and music will be provided!

8. EVENTS ON Thursday, July 29:

Day of Non-Compliance!
Don't Buy! Don't Work! Don't Comply!

- Sunrise Interfaith Prayer Service - 6:30am

LOCATION: Trinity Cathedral (Central and Roosevelt)

- Procession to Federal Courthouse - 9:00am

Procession will begin at the Trinity Cathedral on Central and Roosevelt, right after the prayer service.

Actions, speakers, rally to be held at the Courthouse

- Gathering at Cesar Chavez Plaza (ALL DAY)

Folks will be gathering between the Courthouse and Cesar Chavez Plaza (across from the courthouse) all day. Come out with your signs, bring water, and sunscreen!

Add your name to the fight: Repeal SB 1070

Greetings NMD volunteers!

We need your help!

NMD-Phoenix is working with the Repeal Coalition to begin a yard sign campaign opposing SB 1070.

Specifically, we're going to target businesses that will publicly oppose 1070 and place the yard signs in their windows.

We will give/sell yard signs to individuals to place in their yard. Also, churches will take them and give to their members.

Here is where we need NMD volunteers to help:

1. Come to an organizing meeting on Friday night to discuss the logistics of campaign.
- We will meet at my house (Laura's house) located at 1633 E. Willetta Street
- Meet at 5:00pm

2. Volunteers are needed on Saturday morning!
- We will meet at 9:00am to visit businesses and ask for their support, give yard signs, have them sign petition/pledge.
- we will meet at Tonatierra to distribute signs and give you locations to visit

We really need everyone's help in getting the community involved.

If you cannot attend either meeting, but can visit a business, or know of a church that will take the yard signs and display them, let me know!

We've ordered 100 signs to distribute across the valley.

Call me to pick up signs ($3 donation)

HELP! Please let us know in what capacity you can help.

Thanks,
laura

--
Laura Ilardo
No More Deaths-Phoenix
(602)818-5447
www.my.calendars.net/nomoredeaths

Revolutionary Communist Party on the 4th of July.

A few weeks ago I attended the anti-4th of July picnic held in Phoenix by the Revolutionary Communist Party. I think I even posted a little promo to it for them, in case anyone else was interested in seeing what they were up to.

I hadn't heard of them before they took such an interest in AZ's immigration law. While socializing before the rally I found that most people there - primarily new recruits attracted by the "revolutionary" language and their defiance of SB 1070 - were talking about their own feelings regarding fascism, racism, social activism, and their decision to get involved in what only the Revolutionary Communist Party now is calling Arizona's "Freedom Summer". I had already been identifying with the concept of Freedom Summer here myself simply because the original one was the season I was born into, in 1964. I didn't know they were the only ones calling it that by then - to everyone else this is the Summer of Human Rights (or anything but what the RCP brands it).

It did become clear to me as soon as I walked onto the scene that if I had done my homework I would have included my own disclaimer with their announcement, if I posted it at all. Everywhere I looked there were posters with the image of their self-appointed leader, Bob Avakian, most of them done in a stenciled style that seemed to visually set him up to someday be placed alongside Marx and Lenin as one of the "great" communists in history. It created an eerie, cult-like aura to the gathering, and I quickly tuned into the fact that my brain was being exposed to a whole lot of washing. Still, I was quite curious, so I hung out for the main show - the recruiting speech.

I had corresponded a couple of times beforehand with Nina, a young organizer who came out here with a small group of them from California, I believe. They seemed a bit fanatical, but well-intended, so I thought I'd check them out in person. It had become clear to me by then that the radical community here wasn't the least bit interested, however. In fact, they've been very vocally perturbed about their presence and efforts to build more of a following, so I wasn't surprised that I didn't see any friendly faces there from the local left.

The Phoenix Class War Council did a pretty thorough critical analysis of the group (worth reading) and their current campaign a few days after their picnic (itself a propaganda-laden recruiting tool for disillusioned young minds as much as it was a rallying cry for those already converted). I'm sure glad they didn't come after me, too, for giving the RCP any of my space here. I give space to a wide variety of left-leaning groups, and while I find the party line and leadership disturbing, I also found the individual people involved to be sincere and earnest about making a positive difference in the world. They just seem to be under some kind of spell.

The only person I really grilled about the RCP's message and leadership was Nina, because she was clearly well-indoctrinated and believed in what she was doing with them with all her heart. In fact, I think she said she writes much of their paper, which makes her responsible for a lot of propaganda. I questioned her about how any organization can be democratic or even communist if it's run by a self-appointed authoritarian. I thought that mimicked the worst mistakes ever made by communist parties - they were essentially under totalitarian rule. There is no democratic process at work - it's all "follow the leader". This Avakian guy struck me as nothing more than an intellectual, self-promoting, grandstanding dictator who gets idealistic and exhuberant youth to raise his money and push his ideology onto other kids.

That troubled me, seeing how many youth had shown up who had probably never been involved in a movement like this before, and were drawn to their talk of "revolution". Many were young people of color - Latino, Native American, Black, Asian American - I was really kind of impressed with the diversity they attracted. I frankly think that revolution requires open minds and a healthy exchange of ideas, though - not a descent into one man's doctrine and ideology that seeks to be the dominant influence. There doesn't seem to be much room for doubting whether or not he's right. That leads to living in chains of a different kind, not to liberation. And how can you help free others if you can't even free your own mind?

I have to say that I don't remember what Nina's responses to my questions and observations were, because she sounded like the propaganda in the literature so often. I left wishing she would walk away with me, but didn't extend that particular invitation to her, thinking it would just be insulting. She's a bright woman, very passionate about social justice I believe, and is doing what she feels is the right thing to do for the resistance here in Arizona. She also keeps hanging in there despite the resistance she gets from both the right and the left - I kind of respect that, though I disagree with what the ideology she defends. I just think Avakian is exploiting the tragedy here to build himself more of a following, and making good kids do all his dirty work for him - his "cause" is definitely not the same as ours. He appears to be his own cause.

If that's not accurate, then he and his people better look again at their messaging, because Avakian, not the people of Arizona, was very much the center of attention at the picnic, even in his absence. All the books are by him, about his own ideas. His face was everywhere. His people were singing his praises, reciting doctrine and dogma. There was something about the event that made me feel like I'd just walked into the Church of Scientology, in fact. How is that revolutionary?

So, for those of you who thought my posting of their picnic news or an article they did on Nina Simone means I think we should all hop on board their train, think again. Anyone who knows me should know that's one train I'd let pass on by - I'm just not here to derail it because there are still other people inside. They're going to have find their own way home from wherever it leads them. I hope when they decide to so, the rest of the radical community will be here for them with open arms...

I'll be here, anyway, my friends - not for the party, just for the people.

SB 1070 Resistance: Legal Observer Training

Summer of Human Rights

Legal Observer Training

Tuesday July 20^th
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Carol Sobel
National Lawyers Guild

For anyone interested in doing Legal Observing

to support the struggle for Human Rights in AZ

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix (UUCP)
4027 East Lincoln Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
(Three miles east of the AZ 51 freeway / 1 mile west of N. Tatum Boulevard)

Legal Observers needed:

*July 22^nd rally at Sandra Day O’connor Federal Court House 401 W. Washington St. The day of the hearing for the lawsuit against SB1070

*July 29^th National Day of Non-Compliance (also July 28^th and July 30^th)

*Future Rallies and Actions

Infórmate, Prepárate, e Únete!: SB 1070 Tucson Events

Border Action Network Supporters:

SB 1070 is scheduled to come into effect on July 29th. Border Action Network has scheduled the following events in preparation for the implementation of this law. We invite you and whoever you think would be interested to attend!

First on Saturday, July 17th from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 noon, Border Action Network's Policy Director Jaime Farrant will hold an update on the legal situation of SB 1070 and brief us on the most recent news.

Second, on Friday, July 23rd, at 6:00 p.m, an immigration attorney from Tucson, Mo Goldman, will speak about the U.S immigration process and answer relevant questions.

Third, on Saturday, July 31st, at 6:00 p.m., B.A.N. member Griselda Moya-Flores will offer a class on basic traffic laws.

All of these
events will take place at the B.A.N headquarters office at 842 S. 6th Ave (approximately the intersection of 6th Ave and 19th St) in Tucson, AZ.

Thank you so much for support! We hope you can attend and Inform Yourself, Prepare Yourself, and Unite!

With gratitude,

Border Action Network Staff

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apoyantes de Acción Fronteriza:

La ley SB 1070 se va a poner en efecto el 29 de Julio. Acción Fronteriza ha programado tres eventos en preparación para la implementación de la ley. Los invitamos a ustedes y sus familiares y amistades que estén interesados en asistir!

Primero, sábado, 17 de Julio, de las 10:00 de la mañana al mediodía, nuestro Director de la Política Jaime ofrecerá una plática sobre las noticias más recientes de la ley SB 1070.

Segundo, el próximo viernes, 23 de Julio, a las 6:00 de la tarde, abogado de Tucson, Mo Goldman, va a hablar y contestar preguntas sobre el proceso de inmigración en los EEUU.

Finalmente, sábado, 31 de Julio, a las 6 de la tarde, un miembro de nuestra organización, Griselda Moya-Flores va a ofrecer una clase sobre las leyes de tránsito y manejo.

Todos estos eventos van a tener lugar en nuestra oficina en 842 S. 6ta Ave. (la esquina de Ave 6ta y 19th St.) en Tucson, AZ.

Muchísimas gracias por todo su apoyo! Esperamos que puedan asistir y Infórmate, Prepárate, e Únete!

Con agradecimiento,

Acción Fronteriza

SB1070 Resistance: No more business as usual.

Just scavenged this off of the Resistance to SB 1070: No Borders... blog (great blog if you care at all about the Resistance). It's really inspiring. These people were pretty serious about their protest. Watch this whole thing. Then send it to a friend or two who might be joining us on the 28th. We have to undo SB 1070, which means we also have to undo everything that supports it: the vicious racism, the fear, the greed, the charades of "democracy", and the fascism, which isn't even veiled anymore...

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Costa Mesa action against the "Rule of Law"

June 15, 2010 — The City of Costa Mesa passed a resolution labeling itself a "Rule of Law City" against the undocumented immigrants! Costa Mesa has declared war on our community! The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has provided the city an ICE agent in their local jail to deport anyone without the "proper documentation". How can we help the police if we don't trust them? Our families will be torn apart and we cannot let that happen! The city has no jurisdiction on laws related to immigration, but yet the City Council has made of its city a smaller version of Arizona with the same harmful consequences on the people of Costa Mesa! *** This protest was organized by the people of Costa Mesa

Conscientious Objections to Hunger.

It isn't just Orlando, by the way, where hungry people and their allies are getting harassed and criminalized - that just happened to be the first time the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Food Not Bombs' food-sharing activities are not protected under the First Amendment's free speech clause. FNB has been getting hassled all over the country for hosting free meals in open public places - like parks, where people share

Flagstaff Food Not Bombs being hassled.

food with each other all the time. They even let their kids eat things like hot dogs and hamburgers that were cooked up on grills erected by the city so people can...well, so people can cook and share food with each other. No health inspectors go around checking food temperatures when they see families engaging in that kind of behavior (that's what's really dangerous - all that meat that hasn't been properly refrigerated for hours or cooked thoroughly enough). Cops don't go after picnickers.

So, I guess if you're sharing food with the poor or homeless, it's not considered a picnic. For Food Not Bombs, their activity is seen by some communities as a health hazard, or violates laws that are specially created to ban such mischief from public view. After all, what if the children began to notice all the hungry and homeless people attracted to the food like flies? What if they even wanted to help them, and those radicals serving up free meals in the park started talking about poverty, exploitation, oppression, racism, and other evils of American capitalism? The kids might see banners that say things like "Food Not Bombs", and might question the war in Afghanistan and all our other our misplaced priorities. That's why FNB is always getting hassled - for them, sharing food is about changing the world, not getting to heaven. It's not about charity. To supporters of Food Not Bombs, their nutritious, vegetarian meals are about about peace and justice, human rights, and respect for all life. They aren't just volunteers, they're activists. They put most American charities (and churches) to shame.

Now, even if they weren't of my own philosophical persuasion, I think Food Not Bombs should be allowed to share food just as freely as people at an NRA barbecue or a Fox News company picnic - people who go to those things are usually kind of hungry because they expect to be fed - and even if it's invitation-only, I'd be really surprised if anyone explicitly requires attendees to have the resources to eat elsewhere before they let them eat there. I'm sure no one ever called the cops on them for cooking and eating at the grills and picnic tables dotting the place. In fact, in a lot of cities (just about all of them) the police routinely show up before the families and office parties do to chase away the riff-raff loitering around looking poor and hungry, so the picnickers won't be "uncomfortable" about stuffing their faces and hoarding their food.

Food Not Bombs, in contrast, makes explicit efforts to welcome strangers to their table, especially if it looks like they might not be getting their FDA-recommended dietary needs met. They treat people who look hungry and homeless with respect and dignity. In the process, they make the rest of us squirm about our own privilege. How is that not a political message that should be protected by the First Amendment? The Klu Klux Klan and neo-nazis are protected by the First Amendment! Racists can rally around a platform of hate and distribute all sorts of literature that damages young minds, but Food Not Bombs can't share a meal with people in the park?

What is the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals thinking? Doesn't the name "Food Not Bombs" mean anything? How hard is it to grasp that it's a political message? I hope Orlando FNB takes it to the US Supreme Court. If those folks say they don't get it either, we'll end up with a lot more really good people sitting in jail for doing the right thing - and we'll pay to put them there and feed them, ironically. Food-Not-Bombers all over the country - all over the world, actually - are doing just that: refusing to collaborate with those who perpetrate poverty, hunger, and homelessness on their dinner guests. It's a deeply moral and courageous act to keep on feeding people without making them pay for it when it's considered to be a crime. It's a conscientious objection to the exploitation, greed, and oppression of capitalism. It's an active, honest, open refusal to be a pawn of the ruling class war, or to engage in the violence of poverty. That's kind of revolutionary; no wonder the government is so scared.

Interestingly, just this month the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty published "A Place at the Table: Prohibitions on Sharing Food with People Experiencing Homelessness." Too bad the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals judges didn't read it before ruling; I'm not really sure they care. If hunger or homelessness or poverty are issues you care about, however, download the report and read it. Then support your local Food Not Bombs. If you don't have one around, here's the handbook - figure out how to salvage good food being thrown away and start your own. Your local anarchists will probably be glad to help - this is their kind of thing.

Smash EDO: Activists found not guilty for decommissioning weapons factory.

This awesome story comes out of the UK, and was forwarded by the Freedom Archives' Anti-imperialist list-serve. Check out their link at the bottom.

In the US these folks would be tried as terrorists and coerced into plea deals that send them to prison...in fact, the US did send our Plowshares activists to prison when they hammered in the top of a missle silo (among other things)...

---------------------------------

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11367.shtml
Chloe Marsh, The Electronic Intifada, 7 July 2010


Seven anti-war activists on trial for entering a Brighton weapons factory and "decommissioning" it were found unanimously "not guilty" last week.

On 16 January 2009, in the midst of Israel's relentless bombing of Gaza, six of the defendants broke into the premises of EDO MBM, a supplier of weapons components. According to one of the defendants, Elijah Smith, they "set out to smash it up to the best of our abilities." Two activists who supported them outside the factory gates were also put on trial for "conspiracy to cause criminal damage"

It was an entirely accountable action which was always intended to end in a trial and each decommissioner had pre-recorded a video in which they stated the reasons for their participation -- to help dismantle the war machine from the factory floor.

Once inside the building, the six barricaded themselves in and set to work; equipment used to make weapon components was trashed and computers, filing cabinets and office furnishings were thrown out of the windows. Once they were done they calmly waited for the police to arrest them. All of the defendants have argued that what they did was not only morally necessary but crucially, that it was legal. UK law allows the commission of damage of property to prevent greater crimes.

Two of the accused, Simon Levin and Chris Osmond, have extensive experience of working in Palestine with the International Solidarity Movement. Chris Osmond told the court that "the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza at that time meant it was imperative to act." He cited the words of Rachel Corrie, the US activist who was killed in 2003 by an Israeli soldier operating a bulldozer in Gaza, as an inspiration. The court heard a passage of Corrie's diary in which she wrote: "I'm witnessing this chronic insidious genocide and I'm really scared. This has to stop; I think it is a good idea idea for all of us to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop."

During the trial the court heard not only from the defendants themselves but from Sharyn Lock, a human rights volunteer who was in Gaza during the winter 2008-09 attacks. She was inside al-Quds hospital in Gaza City when it was attacked with white phosphorus. She concluded her evidence by saying that she had no doubt that those who armed the Israeli Air Force "had the blood of children on their hands." The jury saw footage of the air attacks on the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) compound where civilians were sheltering and have been given an edited version of the Goldstone report.

Recently-elected member of parliament for the local area, Caroline Lucas also gave evidence supporting the activists, saying that the democratic process "had been exhausted" as far as the factory was concerned.

On 17 January 2009 the bombs had already fallen relentlessly on Gaza for three weeks. Massive, passionate demonstrations and pickets had been held in many cities around the country and the world in protest against Israel's war crimes, but to no avail. A growing sense of helplessness was grabbing hold of the movement as the Palestinian body count stood at more than 1,400 and counting. Three hundred of the dead were children. It was in this context that the "citizens' decommissioning" of EDO MBM/ITT took place.

The arms manufacturer EDO/ITT has been based in Brighton since 1946. Acquired along with the rest of EDO Corporation by the multinational arms conglomerate ITT in December 2007, the company's primary business is the manufacture of weapons systems such as bomb release mechanisms and bomb racks. Crucially, this includes the manufacture of the VER-2 Zero Retention Force Arming Unit for the Israeli Air Force's F16 war planes.

Over the years EDO has consistently denied supplying Israel, and despite more than fifty court cases campaigners have not been able to properly expose the links between the factory and the IAF. However the serious nature of the charges against the eight activists (the factory sustained nearly £200,000 -- or $301,600 -- of damage and may not have recommenced production for weeks) means that for the first time courts are taking seriously the argument that EDO's business is fundamentally illegal.

Paul Hills, the managing director of EDO MBM, spent his five days on the witness stand at the beginning of the trial being confronted with all the evidence gathered by campaigners over the years exposing a complex network of collaboration between British, American and Israeli arms companies and the way in which their deals are clouded in secrecy. The activists on trial were able to present Hills, for the first time, with a dossier of evidence showing how EDO MBM uses a front company in the US to indirectly supply components for F-16 aircraft to Israel. Under UK law the supply of weapons components that might be used in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip is actually a crime.

After hearing Hills' explanations of his company's business practices, Judge George Bathurst-Norman said that despite Hill's denials of dealing with Israel, it was clear that there was enough evidence to justify a genuinely-held belief that they did. He also offered the opinion that End User Certificates required for arms export licenses were "not worth the paper they are written on" as they can be easily manipulated.

There is a history of juries in British courts finding anti-war activists not guilty when they attack machinery used in war crimes. In 1996 four women from Trident Ploughshares decommissioned a Hawk jet that was about to be shipped to Indonesia -- they were found not guilty. In 2008 the Raytheon 9, who damaged a factory in Derry supplying weapons to Israel during the 2006 Lebanon war, were acquitted by a jury and only two weeks ago a group of nine women carrying out a similar action at Raytheon during the Gaza attacks were also found not guilty by an unanimous jury.

The not guilty verdicts handed down by a jury of randomly selected members of the public, will make it clear to companies like EDO that not only is there a growing number of people who are willing to risk their own liberty to stand up for the people of Gaza and to challenge Israel's war crimes through whatever means possible, but that public opinion in the UK is hardening against Israel.

Chloe Marsh is a long-term peace campaigner and activist. She has been involved in campaigning against the arms trade for many years and opposing the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and she's also worked with the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine. Smash EDO has been campaigning for the closure of EDO MBM/ITT for six years. To get involved, visit: www.smashedo.org.uk


Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org

SB 1070: We will resist this police state.

Call to Action for Human Rights!

Join us in Arizona July 23-30, 2010!

Summer of Human Rights
Alto Arizona

National Week Against Criminalization!

Stop SB1070! Stop 287g! Stop Arpaio!

From Selma to Phoenix, From Civil Rights to Human Rights, and the Rights of Mother Earth!

Resistance has sparked across the state of Arizona and the country to defeat SB1070 and all racist policies that further criminalize our people and separate families. Knowing that if SB1070 is not stopped now similar laws will spread throughout the country:

We demand that the Obama Administration take decisive action and not comply with Arizona’s SB1070. It can only terrorize our communities if the federal government cooperates with it.

We demand that all ICE ACCESS programs such as 287(g), Secure Communities, and the CAP programs be suspended.

We demand Arizona institutions such as Cities, Towns, Police Jurisdictions, Universities, Colleges, K-12 Schools, School Districts and Businesses to publically state that they will not comply and will not cooperate with SB1070.

We call on people from around the country to come to Phoenix and stand in solidarity with the communities of Arizona to stop the implementation of SB1070!

We call that all those in that cannot come to Arizona, have solidarity actions in their home communities.

July 29th 2010

Don’t Work! Don’t buy! Don’t comply!

If individuals or groups are planning Non-violent civil disobedience or direct action against the racist laws targeting migrant communities in Arizona, below are suggestions on how to best direct your energy.

Suggested Areas include:

• ICE Headquarters

• Wells Fargo building/Joe Arpaio's office

• Detention Centers

• Jails

• Arizona State Capitol

• Areas related to Russell Pearce, Joe Arpaio and Jan Brewer

• Boycott Targets:
o Diamondbacks
o Fiesta Bowl

• School Districts who have not publically stated that they will not comply

• Police Jurisdictions who have not publically stated that they will not comply

• Cities and towns who have not publically stated that they will not comply

In recognition of the past and on going organizing and resistance happening in Arizona we ask that groups or individuals coming to please respect the following guidelines.

Guidelines:

• Participants will not inflict harm/injury to persons

• Participants will not inflict harm/damage to property

• We encourage people to think about how their actions can communicate to a broad audience and invite people to learn more about what is going on

• We encourage people to use creative and positive tactics

• Participants will not carry drugs/weapons

• Participants to not carry ID on July 29th and moving forward.

• Participants will come as self-organized action teams and affinity groups.

Please contact: actionforhumanrights@gmail.com.

G20 activists and SB 1070 protests: be careful out there.

Guess Canada's not as laid back as they claim to be - this might as well have been in Maricopa County. Listen and learn, folks. And be careful out there - the people can be even scarier than the cops. My politics helped get me assaulted in my home and have my car vandalized after that candlelight vigil in May. From the ADC to the nativists and everyday racists, these are not nice folks we're pissing off.

See you in the streets.

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Activist surrenders to face G20 charges

July 06, 2010

Antonia Zerbisias

Social justice activist Jaggi Singh surrendered to Toronto police early Tuesday morning to comply with a warrant following June’s G20 protests.

The Montreal-based community organizer faces several counts of criminal conspiracy, including alleged conspiracies to commit mischief to property, assault police, and obstruct justice.

Singh, 39, joins 16 other people known to be in detention 10 days after 1,090 were arrested during the G20 weekend.

Just a few hours before he voluntary walked into custody in the company of his lawyer, Singh told the Star that he could not comment on the charges because he had not yet seen what evidence police have against him.

But he did dismiss the notion of any criminal conspiracy.

“I helped people find housing and get transportation to come to a demonstration. That’s my conspiracy,” he said. “But give the police enough money and resources and they’ll transform protesters and organizers into criminals.’’

Currently a fulltime staffer of the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at Concordia University, Singh has also worked with activist organizations Solidarity Across Borders and Anti-Capitalist Convergence.

Because he was not picked up from the streets like hundreds of other citizens were, he feels that he is speaking from a “position of relative privilege.”

“I don’t even know everybody else (arrested), but I want to at least strike a note of caution that there should be an extreme amount of vigilance, vis-à-vis what the Crown and the police are putting out, especially given the misinformation the police put out in the aftermath of the G20,” he said.

According to a statement by No One is Illegal, which represents refugee claimants and is one of the community organizations with which Singh is affiliated, “He is currently in custody along with other G20 political prisoners who are awaiting bail hearings.

“Jaggi’s situation is still unclear. We hope he’ll be released immediately. He could remain in custody for some time.”

It would not be the first time.

Singh’s Wiki entry reads like a long rap sheet of incarcerations during summit protests. Charges are always dropped or he is later acquitted.

“I’m notorious for this whether I like it or not – and I don’t like it,” he laughed.

Singh first came to national prominence during the1997 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Vancouver, where he was arrested even before the summit began. A subsequent formal inquiry into RCMP actions found that he “was arrested on a warrant based on a spurious charge; the manner of his arrest was inappropriate in the circumstances; the timing of the arrest was calculated to prevent him from attending protests on ... the bail conditions sought were overly restrictive.”

Singh insists that such pre-emptive police moves are designed to stifle dissent – and that what happened at the G20 in Toronto was no different. Pre-dawn police raids into private homes, during which protest organizers were dragged from their beds, are just one example he named.

“You charge people for what they do, not what they look like or what they might do, right?’’ he said.

“I have sort of been through this story before in other ways, facing charges, been taken off the streets. It’s the escalation of the legal apparatus against protesters and it’s a criminalization of protest basically.’’

At least 14 G20-related prisoners are expected to appear in court Tuesday.

It’s not known if Singh will be one of them.

Voices of Resistance: SB 1070 Speak Out!

Speak Out!

Start Time:	Monday, July 12, 2010 at 9:00pm
End Time:	Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:00am
Location:	Firehouse
Street:	1015 N 1st St.
City/Town:	Phoenix, AZ
	View Map

Speak Your Mind, Your Heart, Your Soul.

There will be an open mic available for anyone to share their thoughts, perspectives, hopes and fears. In the form of short poems, stories or songs. This is a safe place for everyone to use their creative expression in whatever form they find easiest to convey the impact 1070 has on all of us who live in the community.

This event is for you. Treat it as if it is your own by bringing thoughts and ideas to share with others, as well as an open ear.

Djentrification will be there with the soundtrack.
Andrew Ecker will be there with drums.

Bring drums if you have them, dance to the beat if you like it, create your own if you don't......

Calling all artists: Tucson Resistance Against SB 1070

from the awesome Tucson coalition of the people on the front lines all these years:
----------------------- "Communities Uniting to Resist"-------------

YA BASTA! - ENOUGH!

Day of ART RESISTANCE Against SB1070

Friday, July 9th
4 to 7 pm
State Building
400 West Congress
Downtown Tucson
(there is shade)

Calling all artists: Banner makers, spoken word poets, chalk artists. Be creative, or come and admire, but be there to protest Gov. Brewer's and the Arizona legislature's racist attack on Arizonans.

Also Friday, July 16th - musicians, and Friday July 23rd - come make noise.

AND...

Come out Thursday, July 29th all day protest on the day SB1070 should be taking effect - UNLESS we stop it!

Sponsored by Communities Uniting to Resist:

Derechos Humanos Coalition
No More deaths
Tucson Samaritans
UA Against SB1070
Salt of the Earth labor College
Tucson May 1st Coalition
TYLO
We Reject Racism Campaign
International Action Center of Tucson
Tierra Y Libertad
Jobs with justice
Jewish voice for peace/AZ
Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras Restoration Project
Alliance for Global Justice
Tucson YWCA
Calpolli Teoxicalli
We Reject Racism Campaign
Tucson Club/Communist Party USA
Green Valley Samaritans