Chicago, IL – Members and supporters of the Committee Against Political Repression gathered here July 15 to celebrate the legal victory scored by Carlos Montes in June. Montes faced many years in prison for his political activism, with trumped up legal charges thrown at him by the Los Angeles District Attorney. He is one of the anti-war and international solidarity activists under attack by the FBI.

With food, drink and music, the hall in the mainly Chicano/Mexicano community of La Villita was filled with the sounds of a party. The mood in the room was indeed jubilant when Montes appeared via Skype.

“I want to thank all of you in Chicago for the protests at the Federal Building, the statements of support from the community organizations, the teach-ins, the phone calls, the petition signatures gathered and the fundraising,” Montes said. “This is your victory as well as mine.”

Present at the event were a number of Latino activists, including Maria Pizarro, who was a victim of political repression as a young woman. Montes gave her a special greeting. As a Chilean, she was captured by the military junta of General Augusto Pinochet on Sept. 11, 1973. She was released as a result of an international campaign. She has been an active part of Montes’ defense effort.

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