Saint Paul, MN – Three activists and their attorneys won a $50,000 settlement today in a lawsuit that challenged an August 30, 2008 police raid on a Saint Paul home in advance of that year's Republican National Convention (RNC). The plaintiffs in the case – Sarah Coffey, Erin Stalnaker and Kris Hermes – are giving most of the award to the [Committee to Stop FBI Repression](http://www.stopfbi.net), the Institute for Anarchist Studies and the formation of a national legal defense fund for political activists.
Los Angeles, CA – On May 20, a lively crowd of over 100 supporters gathered in front of the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles to denounce the recent home invasion and arrest of Carlos Montes. Montes is a veteran Chicano activist and member of the Los Angeles Committee to Stop FBI Repression. The crowd represented a diverse range of local activist groups and movements – including LAUSD teachers and parent activists, members of the immigrant rights movement, anti-cutback activists from the University of California, organizers against police brutality and representatives from international solidarity movements.
Minneapolis, MN – People crowded into the Anti-War Committee office May 18 when the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) revealed a [cache of FBI papers](http://www.stopfbi.net/2011/5/18/secret-fbi-documents-reveal-attack-democratic-rights-anti-war-and-international-solidarity) left behind after a raid on an apartment in September 2010. The documents include interrogation questions for agents to use on activists and details of the weaponry used for the Sept. 24, 2010 raid. Since that day, 23 people – all involved in peace and international solidarity movements – were subpoenaed to a grand jury in Chicago. All have refused to testify.
Bank returns money, government involvement alleged
On Friday, May 6th, the bank accounts of Hatem and Naima Abudayyeh of Chicago were frozen. The bank manager at the TCF (Twin Cities Federal) branch could not explain what had happened but stated that the Bank Security Act prevented him from releasing any assets.
Call-in campaign to Office of Foreign Assets Control announced
Chicago, IL – More information trickled out to the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) and Chicago’s Coalition for People’s Rights (CPR), May 9, about the previous week’s freezing of the Abudayyeh family’s bank accounts. The family and supporters learned that entity behind the freeze is the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Update: Since the publication of this article, activists have learned that the U.S. Treasury Department, not the U.S. Attorney's office, is responsible for the account freezings. See this story for more details.
Minneapolis, MN – Members and supporters of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression participated in the Heart of the Beast Annual Mayday Parade and festival, receiving an enthusiastic response. Committee members carried a giant puppet of an FBI agent and dressed as witches, symbolizing the FBI and grand jury witch hunt that is being waged against anti-war and international solidarity activists. The parade is a longstanding community event.
Chicago, IL – In building for May Day 2011 events, Tom Burke with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) says, “Anti-war and international solidarity activists are joining events across the country celebrating International Workers’ Day. We are gathering signatures to the ‘Pledge To Resist,’ supporting activists who face government repression today. We plan to reach hundreds, maybe thousands of people this weekend and ask them to take a stand against political repression.”
![Over 80 people attended the Atlanta people's assembly, "Law as a weapon of war"](https://i.snap.as/sjCsleXi.jpg "Over 80 people attended the Atlanta people's assembly, \\"Law as a weapon of war\\" \(Fight Back! News/Kosta Harlan\)")
