Washington D.C. – Protesters from eight U.S. states gathered here at the start of a new trial for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera, Aug. 20. The protesters chanted, “Free Ricardo Palmera! Stop Plan Colombia!” and “The people of Colombia are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” The activists then proceeded into the Washington D.C. Federal Court building.

Prosecution witness demolished by defense

Washington D.C. – The defense lawyers for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera asked Judge Lamberth for a mistrial at 4:50 p.m. in a dramatic end to the day, Sept. 4. Palmera’s U.S. attorneys argued that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are on trial instead of Ricardo Palmera. The latest witness, Daniel Beltran, was giving speeches against the FARC and not answering questions about Ricardo Palmera. Judge Lamberth said, “The motion is denied,” and he will draft a reply and present it on the morning of Sept. 5.

Washington, D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera won another victory against the Bush administration and U.S. policy in court today. Judge Royce Lamberth was forced to declare a mistrial.

Fight Back News Service is distributing the following flyer from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera.

Fight Back News Service is distributing the following press release from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera.

Washington, D.C. – The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera, along with students and other activists from around the country protested here Dec. 3 against the sentencing of Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera. Ricardo Palmera was convinced of ‘conspiracy to kidnap’ in July. The other false charges the government attempted to pin on him met with a hung jury.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera. We urge all our readers to support this campaign.

Washington D.C. – Professor Palmera appeared calm and confident as he entered the courtroom in an orange prison jumpsuit, Jan. 28. He listened with interest as U.S. prosecutor Ken Kohl repeatedly called him a ‘terrorist’ as he argued that Palmera should receive a life sentence.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera.

Washington D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera will testify in his own defense here in Federal Court the second week of April. Members of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera will be attending the trial April 8 and urge other supporters to join them.

Hear Podcast of Kati Ketz on today’s testimony

Washington D.C. – Fight Back! interviews Kati Ketz, who attended the trial of Ricardo Palmera here, April 8. Ketz is a member of Students for a Democratic Society in Asheville, North Carolina. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera urges all progressive people to attend the trial.

Washington, D.C. – In stunning defeat for the Bush administration, the attempt to frame Colombian rebel Ricardo Palmera on drug trafficking charges ended with a hung jury in Federal Court here, April 21. With the jurors unable to agree, Judge Royce Lambert declared a mistrial.

Following a State Department request, the U.S. prosecutor asked that all drug charges against Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera be dropped. This follows two mistrials where American juries failed to convict Colombian rebel, Palmera. The Bush Administration spent millions of taxpayer dollars on two lengthy trials where the deck was stacked against Palmera. Professor Palmera is an important negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Washington, D.C. – Decenas de miles de personas se manifestaron el 29 de septiembre para rechazar el impulso de guerra y la ola de violencia en contra de los Arabes y los musulmanes que esta ha desencadenado.

Washington D.C. – Over 500 students, trade unionists and solidarity activists gathered here, March 4 – 6, for the National Venezuela Solidarity Conference. They founded the Venezuela Solidarity Network and united the forces struggling against U.S. intervention in Venezuela. The conference was a huge success. Attendees gathered in support of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, lead by President Hugo Chavez.

Washington, D.C. – June 5, over 60 Minnesotans marched in the largest national protest against the U.S. and NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia. March organizers estimate that 10,000 people marched in Washington, D.C., from the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial to the Pentagon. The demonstration coincided with similar protests in San Fran-cisco, London, Prague, Aviano Air Base, Italy, Amsterdam, Mexico, Brussels, and Melbourne, Australia. This march is a sign of a growing anti-war movement in the country.

The U.S. Bolivarian Circles and the Colombia Action Network are organizing a joint contingent for the September 24th, 2005, March on Washington to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.  We will announce our rallying point at a later date, but we promise to be visible on the streets in front of the White House!

Washington, DC - 300,000 rallied and marched here, Sept. 24, to oppose the continuing U.S. war and occupation in Iraq, a turnout stunning even the organizers. In the largest anti-war protest in Washington D.C. since the Vietnam era, marchers at the White House chanted, “No blood for oil! U.S. out of Iraq!” Many took pictures of friends or family holding anti-war signs in front of the empty White House.

Washington, D.C. – 1,000 people descended on the Supreme Court, February 28, demanding a new trial for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Protestors blocked traffic and clogged the streets in a civil disobedience action. Police arrested 185 people. The Washington D.C. demonstration coincided with a protest in San Francisco where 166 people were arrested for jamming the streets around the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Washington DC – Sonia, a Colombian revolutionary and political prisoner of the U.S. government, was found guilty in a U.S. Federal Court here, Feb. 20. Sonia’s trial is part of a Bush administration plan to criminalize Colombian freedom fighters.