Trenton, NJ – People gathered here to rally and hold a press conference, March 29, on the need for uncompensated write-down of overpriced mortgages contracted during the housing bubble, the period after 1997. The event marked a court hearing aimed at elimination of ‘robo-signing,’ foreclosures undertaken by banks that cannot prove ownership of the mortgage.

Launch more attacks on the poor

St. Paul, MN – Minnesotans packed a hearing room at the Minnesota State Capitol March 23 to speak out against the Republican-sponsored House Health and Human Services Finance bill. The bill, HF 927, cuts many services and programs for low income people, the ill, the elderly and disabled. It also includes provisions that make it so that people on public assistance can only withdraw $20 in cash per month.

St. Paul, MN – About 500 Muslims, mainly from the Twin Cities Somali community, rallied at the state capitol here, March 18, to protest the anti-Islam congressional hearing presided over by New York Republican Representative Peter King.

Chicago, IL – “The Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) is asking you to join us in supporting national anti-war protests. On March 19 there are local rallies, many with International ANSWER Coalition,” says Tom Burke, a spokesperson for the CSFR.

St. Paul, MN – Minnesota Republicans are pushing legislation that would make it a crime for people on public assistance to have more $20 in cash in their pockets any given month. This represents a change from their initial proposal, which banned them from having any money at all.

Madison, WI – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led a student contingent in the March 12 Madison, Wisconsin rally of 150,000. SDS chapters from Wisconsin, Illinois and Maryland marched in support of workers. Milwaukee students showed solidarity with their teachers and other campus workers, joining their buses to Madison and holding a giant banner demanding “No cuts to education!”

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression urging participation in the March 8 national call in day to stop FBI and Grand Jury attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following article from Workers World.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following article from Workers World.

_Motion will be made to subpoena ‘Karen Sullivan’ – undercover FBI infiltrator in Twin Cities in anti-war movement _

Minneapolis, MN – At a March 4 press conference outside the Federal Building, lawyers who filed the first lawsuit resulting from police violence at the 2008 Republican National Convention announced their plan to move forward with litigation in the case of Mick Kelly. In a widely publicized incident, police, standing only feet away, shot Kelly in his stomach with a high velocity marking projectile at the demonstration organized by the Anti-War Committee on the fourth day of the RNC, September 4, 2008.

Madison, WI – At 7:40 p.m. this evening, Feb. 27, a spokesperson for the Teaching Assistants’ Association told assembled protesters occupying the Wisconsin state capitol building that police will not make arrests tonight. A 4:00 p.m. deadline had been set by police for demonstrators to leave and the building was closed off.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

_150,000 workers and students say no to union busting _

Madison, WI – 150,000 strong, union members and students flooded the state capitol on Feb. 26, the strongest showing yet to oppose Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's all out assault on public sector unions.

Los Angeles, CA – The Council on American-Islamic Relations of the Greater Los Angeles Area (CAIR) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the FBI on Feb. 22. The lawsuit points out that the FBI sent an undercover agent, Craig Monteilh, to infiltrate local mosques in Southern California, to promote acts of violence and spy on thousands on worshippers.

St. Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee stood in the hall outside the hearing room of the state House Health and Human Services Finance Committee, Feb. 23, holding signs reading, “No cuts to poor and working people,” and “Tax the rich.” As the representatives walked into the hearing room, the protesters insisted they take fliers with the WRC statement on the Governor Mark Dayton’s budget proposal.

Conference unites over 100 activists from across the South

Chapel Hill, NC – Over 100 activists from across the South gathered at the University of North Carolina School of Law Feb. 19 for a conference against FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists. The conference was one of four regional conferences organized by the national Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR). Activists came from as far as Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia.

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.

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.

Kalamazoo, MI – FBI agents continue to harass anti-war and international solidarity activists, this time in Michigan. On Feb 3., longtime Michigan peace activist Dave Staiger received a phone call from the FBI. Special agent Karlie Wood asked to interview Dave in person. Staiger told the agent, “My policy is to contact a lawyer if the FBI or police want to talk to me.” The agent said, “Contacting a lawyer is not necessary,” and that Staiger was not in any trouble. Special Agent Wood then stated that she wanted to talk about matters relating to the Grand Jury subpoenas and FBI investigation in Minneapolis and Chicago.