Oakland, CA – A crowd of 150 West Coast anti-war leaders and international solidarity activists met here, Feb. 12, at the Humanist Hall to help build a movement against the current wave of political repression emanating from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office in Chicago.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Bail Out the People Movement.

Madison, WI – Feb. 17, 12:30 p.m.: The State Capitol Building here is the second largest in the country and it is packed full today. Tens of thousands are protesting inside and out. The energy is intense and not a corner of the Capitol is quiet. 2000 students from UW-Madison marched to the capitol at 11:00 a.m. and 500 high school students just rushed up State Street to join the protest. Firefighter, police, sheet metal, iron workers, airplane pilot unions and more are all present.

All Out to Support Unions and Save Our Education!

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on the massive struggle in Wisconsin against attacks on public workers.

Davenport, IA – On Feb. 14, Twin Cities-based activist Scott DeMuth was taken into custody by the authorities in Davenport, Iowa. This stems from his conviction for a misdemeanor charge of ‘conspiracy to commit animal enterprise terrorism’ under the Animal Enterprise Protection Act. Scott is being transferred to the Polk County Jail, near Des Moines, Iowa, where he will be processed. The authorities will then determine where he will serve out his sentence.

_Huge protests in Madison _

Madison, WI – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed to take away union collective bargaining rights for more than 175,000 public employees. Walker has made his state the center of a vicious, far-reaching union busting move. But the people of Wisconsin are rising up. They are fighting back.

Chicago, IL – Fight Back News Service urges our readers to check out the following videos from the Feb. 12 midwest conference against the FBI and Grand Jury repression that was held in Chicago. The conference and benefit brought together about 200 activists from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri.

Chapel Hill, NC – A conference to address the recent FBI raids on anti-war and international solidarity activists’ homes and offices will take place Feb. 19 from 9:45 am until 5:00 pm at the UNC Law School on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided for a suggested $5 donation. Childcare will be available free of charge.

Milwaukee, WI – More attacks on students and workers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are underway, this time from newly-elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is planning to cripple state workers with new legislation that will virtually eliminate collective bargaining rights for public sector unions. Claiming that he has the votes in the state house and senate, Gov. Walker's budget bill will be voted on Thursday, Feb. 17.

Chicago, IL – More than 400 people braved arctic conditions, protesting in front of the Egyptian consulate here, Feb. 4. Demonstrators chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we will see Mubarak fall!” Several speakers called for an end to U.S. aid to Mubarak's regime.

Kalamazoo, MI – Twelve anti-war activists, including a city council member, protested outside the U.S. Federal Building here, Jan. 25. The protest, organized by the newly-formed Kalamazoo Coalition Against Repression, was a part of the national day of actions against government repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Dallas, TX – About 150 people gathered here, Feb. 5, to remember the victims of Egyptian government repression and demand that Hosni Mubarak leave. The protesters came out in spite of the icy roads and heavy pre-Super Bowl traffic. Protesters declared that not only Mubarak but also his vice president, Omar Suleiman, are responsible for the hundreds of murders committed by police and gang members hired by the Mubarak government and that neither one of them could be allowed to oversee Egypt's transition to democracy.

Lima, Peru – After 15 years in prison in Peru, on Jan. 24 U.S. progressive activist Lori Berenson finally won her freedom. Berenson had been jailed in Peru since November 1995. She was initially released from prison last May, only to be rejailed three months later as Peruvian judges went back and forth about whether to continue to imprison her.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement adopted by the General Executive Board of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. In part the statement deals with a 2009 incident at Rock Island, Illinois. The FBI attempted to disrupt the struggle that was being waged by workers at Quad City Die Casting, by slandering trade unionists who were mobilizing support for their effort.

Khalil Maqdesi, member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) expressed support, Jan. 27, “for the people of Egypt and their struggle for democracy and social justice, as centrally important for all Arab people.”

San José, CA – On Jan. 25, 75 people rallied in front of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and then marched through downtown San José and by the federal building. The march and rally was organized by the South Bay Committee Against Political Repression. The rally was one of many that took place across the U.S., in response to the FBI and Grand Jury witch hunt that has been unleashed on anti-war and Palestine solitary activists.

_Activists “Will Not Participate in” Grand Jury _

Chicago, IL – Speaking at a rally of 350 supporters Jan. 25, Sarah Smith explained that being subpoenaed hasn't had the effect that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald wanted. The crowd cheered when she said, “I'm not backing down. In fact, I've been made stronger by the support from all of you to be become more politically active.”

Kiev, Ukraine – 35 protesters gathered at the U.S. Embassy here, Jan. 25, to oppose the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists in the United States. The demonstration coincided with the day that nine Palestine solidarity activists were called to appear in front of the Grand Jury in Chicago, Illinois.

Milwaukee, WI – Two dozen people protested outside the Federal Building here, joining the Jan. 25 National Day of Action called by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. The protests coincide with the day that Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called nine Palestine solitary activists to a grand jury that is aimed at anti-war and international solidarity organizers.