Chicago, IL – The 23rd annual People’s Thanksgiving, a celebration of the past year of struggle in Chicago, was held here Nov. 22. While honoring important organizations in the movement, the gathering of over 100 people also was a major fundraiser for the beloved Palestinian activist, Rasmea Odeh. Over $7500 was raised for her defense fund.

Muhammad Sankari of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, which has been one of the main organizations in the defense campaign for Odeh, accepted their award. He said, “We will fight every hour of every day until Rasmea is where she belongs, back in our community, back amongst those she has inspired and dedicated her entire life to.”

Other organizations recognized included the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2335 for their walk out against the Lear company to oppose the two tier wage structure; the Caucus of Rank & File Educators (CORE) which is the elected leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union; and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression (CAARPR).

Frank Chapman of the Alliance, in a major address, spoke about the “historic struggle, to empower the people to hold the police accountable for the crimes they commit in our communities.” He also linked the struggle against the police to the struggle against political repression. “On behalf of our Alliance I salute you for allowing us the opportunity to express our unconditional solidarity with all those who are fighting for justice for Rasmea Odeh. This is the good fight if there ever was one and let me state it clearly: This is the kind of fight for which our organization was created, the struggle for Rasmea’s freedom is without a doubt a struggle against racist and political repression.”

“Since I was in a courtroom myself facing a death penalty in 1961 I have seen many a courtroom battle, numerous racist frame-up trials and convictions spanning five decades, but I have never seen the government engage in such cowardly and shameless prosecution and persecution, as in this case of Rasmea Odeh.”

“The government said Rasmea lied on her citizenship application, by not acknowledging that she was convicted by a military tribunal in Israel, some 40 years ago. This was clearly the accusation made. Then, when the matter was brought before the bar in one ruling after another, the judge denied the defense the right to challenge the evidence. In other words, Rasmea was not allowed to prove her innocence by challenging the accusation. She was denied a fundamental democratic right.”

“This racist frame-up is clear to us and it is our job to build a mass movement that will make it clear to the American people and everyone who wants justice.”

“At this very hour the people of Ferguson and Missouri are under the threat of martial law because Governor Nixon has declared a state of emergency. He knows there will be protests because the killer of Michael Brown, Darren Wilson, will most likely not be indicted. So the state of Missouri is telling the protesters that you will be violently repressed.”

Within two days, Chapman’s words were proven true when the grand jury in Missouri refused to return an indictment.

The dinner also raised over $1000 to support Fight Back!, which sponsored the event. Fight Back! is published by Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

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