February 23, 2009

UPDATES:

Free the Uighurs: Earlier this month, UFPJ joined a national call in day effort asking the Obama administration to clear the way for the immediate release of the 17 Chinese Uighurs detained at Guantanamo. Even the Bush administration admitted they had no reason to detain the men, and last fall a federal judge ordered their release into the U.S. Last week, an appeals court overruled that order, saying the judiciary does not have the power to release the men into the U.S. The court says the decision rests with the Obama administration. It is now up to Obama to act on that ruling and to free the men. More info: www.100dayscampaign.org

RNC Activists: The police crackdown on protestors in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention last summer resulted in the mass arrests of hundreds. Over 40% of the charges have been dropped due to lack of evidence, and as cases are going to trial, the activists are prevailing. We were especially interested in the trial of David McKay, because the case against him rested on the testimony of police informant Brandon Darby (a lot of UFPJ activists worked with and trusted Brandon). McKay's trial ended in a mistrial on Feb. 2 when the jury could not reach a verdict.  The jury was hesitant to trust the government informant, believing that Darby may have  entrapped McKay by urging him to make Molotov cocktails during the RNC (McKay admitted to making the explosives, but said it was Darby's idea and that he did not intend to use them).  A new trial is set for March, but McKay, who has been in jail since Sept. 3 has been released on bail. More details here.

TAKE ACTION:  Activists are not terrorists!

Eight organizers from Minnesota are being tried for “conspiracy to incite a riot” and “conspiracy to destroy property.” Charged as “terrorists” by the state of Minnesota for participating in logistical organizing aimed at supporting resistance to the Republican National Convention (RNC), the RNC 8 face over a decade in prison. If they are found guilty, this case will serve as a precedent for prosecuting those who organize in their communities to resist the systems of greed and exploitation that threaten us all. All eight have court dates over the next two weeks. We need your support. Join the demand that the charges be dropped by signing this petition:

53 activists have been labeled ‘terrorists’ in Maryland State Police files, and police have admitted to infiltrating peace, anti-death penalty and other activist groups. Maryland Senators Cardin and Mikulski have promised Congressional hearings and to ask for a thorough investigation into domestic spying by police agencies. But they have asked for our help in collecting stories from activists around the country who have been subject to police spying. So please send your stories to sue.udry at defendingdissent.org. More details here.

Why Anti-War Activists Defend Immigrant Rights and Civil Liberties

Under the guise of the "war on terrorism," the Bush administration is using the tragic events of September 11th to impose the domestic and international agenda of powerful, right-wing forces. While his policies threaten the civil liberties of all, people of color are bearing the brunt of the domestic impact of Bush’s war policies. From secret detentions and deportations of immigrants, to increased racial profiling, to cuts in public services alongside massive increases in military spending, the war is expanding the scope and depth of racial injustice within the US.

Moreover, Bush’s strategy for winning popular support for his war policies relies upon portraying people of color within the U.S., Iraq, and elsewhere as security threats, and their lives and rights as less valuable than that of others. In other words, racism and Bush’s war policies go hand in hand.

At the same time, polls show that anti-war sentiment and opposition to racial profiling is greatest among people of color. And historically, communities of color have played a central role in challenging U.S. war policies.

To build the broad-based, powerful peace and justice movement we need, it's critical that anti-war activists incorporate work against the domestic impact of Bush's empire-building agenda into their work and work closely with communities of color taking on this agenda. A major piece of that involves standing up for immigrant rights.