Minneapolis Protests War, Grand Jury Witch Hunt
Minneapolis, MN – Over 150 people lined the sidewalks here Oct. 16 with protest signs and banners calling for an end to the war Oct. 16, the ninth anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
News and Views from the People's Struggle
Minneapolis, MN – Over 150 people lined the sidewalks here Oct. 16 with protest signs and banners calling for an end to the war Oct. 16, the ninth anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Minneapolis, MN – A growing number of trade unions are taking a stand against the recent FBI raids and grand jury witch hunt against anti-war, international solidarity and labor activists. Ten of the 14 people subpoenaed are trade unionists who have been active members of AFSCME, SEIU, Teamsters, and Education MN. They’ve been on the front lines and picket lines supporting their sisters and brothers during strikes, contract campaigns and workplace struggles. They have been vocal supporters of workers’ rights around the globe and they’re now under attack for speaking out against U.S. foreign policy. But in the spirit of “an injury to one is an injury to all,” the labor movement is coming to their defense.
_Activists raided by the FBI speak out _
Chicago, IL – Over 1000 rallied and marched here at a regional anti-war demonstration Oct. 16. Protesters called for an end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, an end to U.S. foreign aid to Israel and an end to FBI repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota legislature met in a ‘special session’ here, Oct. 18, to deal with flood relief for the southern part of the state. The legislators also had to face a determined delegation of people who were outraged about the federal government’s attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists. On Sept. 24, a series of raids, subpoenas and attempted interrogations began against activists around the country.
Duluth, MN – On Oct. 14, delegates to the 17,000-member Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body unanimously adopted a resolution of support for Midwest anti-war activists facing FBI and Department of Justice harassment. The resolution calls for a congressional inquiry into government spying and grand jury investigations of U.S. social movements and will be hand-delivered to U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken by Duluth Central Labor Body President Dan O’Neill.
Minneapolis, MN – FBI agents continued their campaign against anti-war activists in the Twin Cities on Oct. 8. Jennie Eisert, a member of the Anti-War Committee said, “FBI agents came to my work and wanted to talk to me about activists in the anti-war movement. I was called away from my desk and when I refused to talk to them, they tried to turn me against my friends and fellow activists.”
Minneapolis, MN – FBI agents in Minneapolis went to several homes, Oct. 6 and 7, continuing their campaign of harassment and repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Tuscaloosa, AL – A dozen people gathered in front of the downtown Federal Building on Tuesday Oct. 5 to protest the FBI raids and repression of peace activists. The protest was part of a national day of action against the first day of scheduled grand jury proceedings for the targeted peace activists. The University of Alabama chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the protest. Students were joined by faculty as well as members of the local community.
Milwaukee, WI – Sixty people rallied in downtown Milwaukee on Tuesday Oct. 5 against the FBI repression of anti-war activists. Several of the anti-war activists targeted in the FBI's Sept. 24 raids were due to appear before a grand jury on Tuesday. The rally was organized by the newly-formed Milwaukee Area Defense Network (MADN), a network of progressive and anti-war activists. MADN has held two rallies so far to protest the FBI repression against anti-war activists.
Durham, NC – About 30 people gathered at the Durham Federal Courthouse this morning to speak out against the grand jury proceedings being used by the FBI against anti-war activists. The protest was one of many across the country that brought out hundreds of people to denounce the latest wave of FBI repression on the anti-war movement.