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Comment by Joe Balkis on July 9, 2012 at 0:26

Anti-NATO protesters held on terrorism charges, extreme bail Call States Attorney Anita Alvarez: 773-674-6209 Demand all charges be dropped against anti-NATO protesters! “Release them all now!” Eight people continue to be held in jail in Chicago, arrested before or during the protests against the NATO summit, according to information provided by the National Lawyers Guild. They face felony charges and even terrorism charges, while the NATO generals responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands have left town to return to their occupation of Afghanistan and plotting for their next war. Of those still being held, five of them have been charged under a State of Illinois law passed after 9/11 that has never been used. The NATO 5 were all targeted by undercover police officers exposed by the National Lawyers Guild. The agents went by the nicknames “Mo” and “Gloves”. The NATO 5 were arrested without any evidence of their involvement in violence, other than the statements of undercover provocateurs. The first arrests took place in an unlawful police raid of a home on Wednesday night, May 16th, in which the police kicked in doors without presenting a warrant, beat up people, shackled protesters hand and foot, and then “disappeared” 11 people for up to 40 hours. The National Lawyers Guild and Occupy Chicago activists faced repeated denials by the CPD in their attempts to locate those arrested. The remaining two were arrested several days later. Again, no evidence has been presented other than the statements of the undercover police. Both men were held longer than the 48 hours required by law before being given access to use of a telephone or to speak with an attorney. The other four still being held were involved in a protest action at the point which the police turned violent, causing over 70 injuries from baton blows, including many serious head injuries. Over 24 had to be treated at area hospitals for broken bones, knocked out teeth, concussions, and wounds requiring stitches or staples. On top of the arrests and charges, the protesters are being held with outrageous bails: $1.5 million for the first three facing terrorism charges; $750,000 and $500,000 for the second two charged under the same state terrorism law; and as high as $250,000 for the remaining men. Bail for one Chicago youth, Raziel Azuara is set at $150,000.  It is the Chicago Police Department that is responsible for the violence; and the CPD and the States Attorney are violating the law and the Constitution. Charges of terrorism, pre-emptive raids and prosecution, charges based on entrapment, and violence against protesters are all standard procedure when the US government declares a National Special Security Event as they did with the NATO summit. These tactics were employed at the Republican National Convention in 2008, resulting in the cases of the RNC 8; the 23 anti-war activists raided by the FBI and subpoenaed to a grand jury for investigation of support for foreign terrorists; and the current trial of Carlos Montes in Los Angeles.  Now in Chicago they’ve added the element of excessive bail, as if the protesters were part of the 1%, rather than the 99%. We must speak out against this repression. We know the charges against the anti-NATO protesters are false. All these prisoners should be free.

Comment by Joe Balkis on July 7, 2012 at 17:30

the Carlos Montes Victory Gathering next Sunday, July 15th at 4Pm at 2838 W Cermak 

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 27, 2012 at 5:06

Thursday, June 28: Call witch-hunters Jonas (312-353-5300 x 68027) and Fitzgerald (312-353-5300 x 0). Tell them “Hands off anti-war and international solidarity activists.”

Thursday, June 28: Call witch-hunters Jonas and Fitzgerald. Tell them “Hands off anti-war and international solidarity activists.” 1. Call Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas at 312-353-5300 x 68027 2. For Patrick Fitzgerald, call 312-353-5300, then dial 0 (zero) for operator and ask to leave a message with the Duty Clerk. Suggested text: “My name is __________, I am from _______(city), in ______(state). I am calling Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas [and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald] to demand he call off the investigation of, and stop FBI repression against, the anti-war and international solidarity movements. I oppose U.S. government political repression and support the right to free speech and the right to assembly of the 23 activists subpoenaed. We will not be criminalized. Tell him to stop this McCarthy-type witch-hunt against international solidarity activists!" 3. Email info@stopfbi.net to let us know you called (and what city you called from). Coming off the victory in the case of veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes, the Committee to Stop FBI repression is ramping up our campaign to stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists. During the past 5 weeks, FBI agents have shown up at the homes of anti-war activists in North Carolina and Salt Lake City, where they tried to ask questions about Colombia solidarity work and upcoming protests.

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 27, 2012 at 5:04

Earlier this year, The Northern Illinois Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas confirmed that the “investigation is continuing” into the case of the 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists hit with FBI raids and grand jury repression in 2010. Barry Jonas, currently in charge, is known for his leading role in prosecuting the leaders of the Holy Land Foundation. Jonas and Fitzgerald are part of the team that ordered FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists' homes. They subpoenaed 23 from Chicago, Minneapolis and Michigan in 2010. All of those subpoenaed refused to speak before the grand jury. The grand jury is a secret and closed inquisition, with no judge and no media. The U.S. Attorney controls the entire proceedings and hand picks the jurors. The anti-war activists would not be allowed a lawyer. Now we are asking you to call those in charge of the repression aimed against anti-war leaders and the growing international solidarity movement. On Thursday, June 28, please call Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Jonas and Patrick Fitzgerald. Also, sign and circulate the Pledge To Resist FBI Repression: **Pledge To Resist at http://www.stopfbi.net/get-involved/pledge-of-resistance

follow on Twitter  | forward to a friend Copyright © 2012 Committee to Stop FBI Repression, All rights reserved. Thanks for your ongoing interest in the fight against FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists! Our mailing address is: Committee to Stop FBI Repression PO Box 14183 Minneapolis, MN 55414

Comment by Joe Balkis on June 6, 2012 at 16:23

Victory Against Repression: Carlos Montes Court Case Ends in Victory!

By Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the LA Committee to Stop FBI Repression.
Los Angeles, CA - On June 5, 2012 Carlos Montes’ criminal court prosecution ended in a victory for Carlos and the movement.
Carlos Montes’ home was raided on May 17, 2011, by the combined forces of the LA County Sheriff’s Swat Team and the FBI, by crashing his door down at 5:00 a.m., with automatic assault rifles drawn, almost killing him. He was charged with 6 serious felonies with a possible jail time of up to 18 years.
With local and national support, via solidarity protests, call-in campaigns to President Obama and U.S. Attorney General Holder, local rallies and protests, and an offensive legal strategy, two felonies were dropped - this was a first partial victory. However the District Attorney still stated that they wanted Montes to do at least 5 years in state prison for the 4 felony charges remaining.
The local and national Committees to Stop FBI Repression launched a petition drive and a “Call the D.A.” campaign, with phone banking and a robo call by Carlos to over 4 000 supporters, urging folks to call District Attorney Steve Cooley. The D.A.’s office was flooded with calls and letters.
Montes’ attorney made several motions to get charges dropped on various grounds, but the Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected them. Preparations were made for a trial, knowing well the state judicial system is not ‘fair and impartial.’ Montes and his attorney Jorge Gonzalez got widespread support and media coverage including in the Democracy Now TV show, La Opinion and the Guardian UK newspaper.
The local D.A. on the case then sought for a resolution and proposed to drop three additional felonies, if Carlos pled “no contest” to one count of perjury. This proposal included no jail time, three years of probation and community service. Under advice from supporters, friends and his attorney Montes moved forward with this proposal.
This is a victory for Carlos Montes and the movement against police political repression. A trial had the danger of him being convicted of four felonies with jail time and the additional old felony - a total of 5 felonies. At this point Carlos is out of jail, will continue to organize against repression, for public education, against U.S.-led wars and for immigrant rights. He is already planning to attend the protest at the Republican National Convention on August 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.
Next steps: The local committee with supporters and rank-and-file members of SEIU 721 will hold a victory party to thank everyone who worked on this campaign and to help pay off legal expenses. It is set for Saturday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. Details will follow.
Carlos wants to thank all the people, organizations, unions and community people who worked and supported him in this struggle against police/political repression.
The struggle continues to defend the 23 other anti-war and international solidarity activists who are STILL under an FBI investigation for showing solidarity with the oppressed people of the world, especially the Palestinian and Colombian people. Stay updated via: www.stopfbi.net!

Comment by Joe Balkis on May 16, 2012 at 21:51

OPPOSING WAR IS NOT A CRIME!

Drop the charges against Carlos Montes!

www.StopFBI.net

Action for Carlos Montes TODAY, Wednesday, May 16th at 4:30PM at the Federal Plaza (Adams and Dearborn)

Join us, raise your voice to demand the charges against Carlos Montes be dropped. We will have signs, but bring your own if you can.

Carlos Montes has dedicated his life to opposing war and racism. Carlos Montes has led anti-war protests in Los Angeles from the days of the Chicano Moratorium against the Vietnam War, up to today, forming Latinos Against War to oppose U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Carlos Montes is a hero.

Along with 23 other anti-war and international solidarity activists, Carlos Montes' home was raided by the FBI, his papers stolen, belongings ransacked, and now he is going on trial for his decades of activism. Carlos Montes is a well-known Chicano leader and long-time anti-war, labor and immigrant rights activist in Los Angeles. This attack on Carlos Montes is an attack on our movements for peace, justice, and equality. This is an attack on all that is good and progressive.

We are also asking you to call District Attorney Steve Cooley in Los Angeles and demand he drop the charges against Carlos Montes now. Call Steve Cooley at 213-974-3512, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific time, Monday thru Friday. Say, “Drop the charges against Carlos Montes now!”

Please also help by taking a minute to share a couple things with your networks on Facebook, Twitter etc. Please use the hashtag #handsoffcarlos and link to stopfbi.net.
This is powerful YouTube video about Carlos which includes a number to call the LA District Attorney http://youtu.be/LIYixWlA0nY This is a link to the new petition supporting Carlos Montes and sending your message directly to the LA District Attorney; http://www.stopfbi.net/petition/national
Sample Tweet: Powerful new video on Carlos Montes' life long fight for justice. http://youtu.be/LIYixWlA0nY #handsoffcarlos http://www.stopfbi.net. Please RT
Sample Facebook Post: Powerful new video on Carlos Montes life long fight for justice. http://youtu.be/LIYixWlA0nY. Watch the video and sign the petition. http://www.stopfbi.net/petition/national #handsoffcarlos

Comment by Joe Balkis on May 9, 2012 at 17:06

Chicago, IL - On May 6 over 100 people attended a panel at the Labor Notes conference called Solidarity Forever: The Labor Movement, Political Repression and the Fight for Civil Liberties. The panel focused on the repression against Carlos Montes and the Anti-War 23 and explained why it’s important for the labor movement to take a stand against political repression.
The panel was facilitated by Richard Berg, a long-time rank and file Teamster and labor movement leader in Chicago.
Carl Rosen of the United Electrical (UE) union spoke about his union’s history of being attacked viciously during the political repression in the 1940s and 50s, and their commitment to standing up for civil liberties because of that history. UE is one of only two of eleven left-led unions that survived the McCarthy era, when the union’s leaders faced subpoenas to “Un-American Activities” - hearings, jailings, firings, blacklisting, union decertification and all manner of repression. Because of this history, Rosen said that the UE now passes a resolution at all of their national meetings, rededicating themselves to the struggle to defend civil liberties.
Hatem Abudayyeh spoke about the FBI raid on his home on Sept. 24, 2010 and the subpoenaing of 23 people to a grand jury witch hunt due to their international solidarity work, particularly support for Palestinian self-determination. None of the Anti-War 23 have cooperated with the grand jury, at risk of being jailed for contempt for their refusal to participate in the grand jury.
Long-time labor activist Paul Krehbiel from Los Angeles spoke about the repression against Carlos Montes, who is being targeted because of his decades of activism. Montes faces trial May 15 on four bogus felony charges, after his home was raided and ransacked by Los Angeles Sheriffs and the FBI last May. Krehbiel has attended most of Montes’ pre-trial hearings and protests, so he detailed many of the outrages so far. Krehbiel also spoke of Montes’ long history of union organizing and participation in labor struggles, in addition to his more well-known activism in the Chicano movement and anti-war movement.
Cherrene Horazuk of AFSCME 3800 spoke about why labor activists must defend their right to travel to other countries to be able to hear firsthand about the impacts of U.S. foreign policy and corporate-sponsored repression against trade unionists and others. She also talked about the historic role labor has played in defending and winning struggles for freedom of speech and association and how labor must take a stand when these rights are under attack.
Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) ended the panel by emphasizing the urgency to support Carlos Montes as his trial approaches on May 15. CSFR is asking people to call Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley at 213-974-3512 with the message, “Drop the charges against Carlos Montes,” and also to sign the online petition [http://www.stopfbi.net/petition/national] that sends your message to Cooley and several others.
Labor Notes is a biennial conference for rank-and-file union activists to form analysis and make plans for building stronger working class fight backs and to fight to transform unions that are corrupt or don’t organize workers to fight back. This year’s Labor Notes conference took place May 4-6 in Chicago and was attended by over 1500 people, with dozens of workshops and panels

Comment by Joe Balkis on May 3, 2012 at 21:40

National Call-in Day to Los Angeles District Attorney Drop the Charges Against Carlos Montes! Stop the FBI frame up! Call off the trial now! Call L.A. District Attorney Steve Cooley at 213-974-3512 Sample text: “Hello, my name is _________ and I am calling from __________. I want District Attorney Steve Cooley to drop all charges against Carlos Montes. He is being framed by the FBI because of his political activism for peace, justice, and equality. Drop the charges now!” Be firm and insist that your message get to D.A. Cooley. Contact us and let us know how your calls went: info@stopFBI.net

Comment by Joe Balkis on April 29, 2012 at 16:25

CAPR sign making for NATO march Sunday 29th 5:30 p.m. ***note location change***

Hello all,
We have four agenda items for the meeting this Sunday April 29th at 5:30, 643 West 31st street, First Trinity Church. If you have thoughts, suggestions or additions, please write me directly at jburger40@gmail.com.
1.) Proposal to endorse the March on the Democratic Convention 2.) Reports from the Carlos Montes Call in (which is today, please call) 3.) Discussion about workshop for People's summit on political repression 4.) Sign making for the NATO march. We will be joining up with the National Committee to Stop FBI Repression. Our contingent will have clowns and marching bands and free food and big screen tvs and stadium seating..... You get the point, it will be the coolest. Thanks, J Burger

NATO = war by the 1% G8 = poverty for the 99%

Comment by Joe Balkis on April 22, 2012 at 4:15

Stop the FBI Frame-up of Carlos Montes Court Hearing and Call-in Day Thursday, April 26

On April 26 Call: -- President Obama at 202-456-1111 -- Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-514-2001 Demand: “Drop the charges now! Stop the FBI Frame-up of Carlos Montes!”

Contact us and let us know how your calls went: info@stopFBI.net
The FBI and LA sheriffs want to frame Carlos Montes. At his next court hearing on Thursday, April 26 in Los Angeles, Carlos’ attorney will argue a legal motion to drop the charges on the grounds of "discriminatory enforcement of the law.” This means they are only prosecuting Carlos because of his solidarity and anti-war work. Also on Thursday, a trial date may be set!
At the last court hearing, one old document from the California Department of Justice showed that the old charges from 1969 against Carlos Montes were sentenced as a misdemeanor.
We will also continue to pursue via discovery how the FBI is driving the persecution of Carlos Montes, because of his decades of organizing against war and his solidarity work with the struggle of the Palestinian and Colombian people and his ongoing work in the Chicano/a community, promoting public education and fighting for immigrant rights. The prosecution of Carlos Montes by the LA County District Attorney continues, despite evidence that should cause it to be thrown out of court.

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