Anti-war movement unites against DOJ repression

Hundreds of people rallied in Minneapolis, Chicago, Duluth and other Midwest cities on Monday to denounce FBI and Department of Justice intimidation of anti-war and Left organizers. At the Duluth Federal Building, World War II combat veteran and longtime activist Andy Anderson read a NAWC statement of solidarity with activists who were targeted in weekend raids in Minneapolis and Chicago (see below); and Rev. John Pegg of Witness for Peace explained how accusations of terrorist ties have been used to discredit peaceful social movements both in Colombia and, increasingly, in the US. NAWC steering committee member Joel Kilgour called on Senators Franken and Klobuchar to intervene with the DOJ on behalf of the Midwest anti-war movement; and for the Duluth police to refuse to cooperate with any federal investigation of local activists. For media coverage of the event, see the Northland News Center and the Duluth News-Tribune.

The weekend raids represent a disturbing trend, initiated under Bush and continued under the Obama Administration, to discredit and criminalize anti-war and justice movements under the guise of combating terror. Key to this strategy, as it was during COINTELPRO and the Palmer Raids, is to divide our movements. While the DOJ under both Bush and Obama have made a habit of surveilling and harassing groups like School of the Americas Watch, the Catholic Worker, PETA and Greenpeace, it has targeted anarchist and socialist organizers with very public smear campaigns designed precisely to push the anti-war movement to the margins.

We must not be intimidated or divided. Whatever political differences we may have -- Republicans, Democrats, Greens, anarchists, socialists, libertarians, pacifists -- we will stand together and fight the erosion of our basic rights to organize, assemble and think freely. Our best next move is to continue our activism, undaunted and undivided.

September 26, 2010
Northland Anti-War Coalition Statement on FBI raids

On Friday, September 24, FBI agents raided four homes of anti-war and social justice activists in Minneapolis, the offices of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee (AWC), two homes in Chicago, and others in Michigan and North Carolina. All of the activists targeted have been involved in legal, open political work against U.S. wars and for solidarity with the people of Palestine and Latin America. None have yet been charged with any crime. Reports indicate that this raid was more than a year in the making, and it follows on the heels of a U.S. Justice Department investigation revealing that the FBI has been illegally spying on activists in the peace and social justice movements for several years. Activists had their computers, cell phones, other personal effects, and even their children's art work carted away for probing by the Feds.

These raids appear to target activists for their political affiliations and ideas. The fact that an organization very similar to the Northland Anti-War Coalition, in the same state, had its offices raided should give all Northland activists pause. Whether or not we personally agree with the politics of those under investigation, all activists are potential targets, and we must stand in solidarity with those who are victimized, lest we be next.

The FBI says it is looking for ties between the targeted activists and so-called Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Many local residents in various organizations, secular and religious, have visited the Middle East and Latin America and met with groups that have perspectives at odds with U.S. authorities'. Equating peace and justice solidarity with support for terrorism is false and sets a chilling precedent, betraying the democratic principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The Northland Anti-War Coalition rejects the criminalization of solidarity, anti-war and social justice activism.

We reject the notion that the United States Government has a right to arbitrarily label foreign organizations "Terrorist" based not on their tactics, but on whether or not their aims conform to U.S. foreign policy.

We demand that the FBI return everything taken from the raided homes and office and that the Obama Administration issue an apology to the targeted activists.

We refuse to be intimidated by the FBI's actions. We call on all people of conscience in the Twin Ports area to join us in a protest for money for jobs and schools, not for war on October 11, 5 p.m. in front of the Historic Old Central High School and 6:15 p.m. in front of City Hall.

FBI targets Midwest anti-war movement!

This morning, the FBI raided at least four Minneapolis homes and the offices of the Anti-War Committee, purportedly to investigate "activities concerning the material support of terrorism." The targeted activists include organizers with Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Anti-War Committee -- which only weeks before had announced its intention to march on the 2012 DNC. No one was arrested, but agents seized computers, political literature and financial records.

Take Action:

__ Emergency Rally __

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
4:30 pm

DULUTH FEDERAL BUILDING

__ Contact __

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
202-353-1555 or AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

Senator Amy Klobuchar
(toll free) 888-224-9043

Senator Al Franken
(Duluth office) 218-722-2390

**Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
**Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc.
**End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

The raids come days after revelations of FBI surveillance of anti-RNC activists in Iowa in 2008 and expansive spying operations targeting environmental and anti-war activists -- including the Duluth Catholic Worker -- during the Bush years.

The raids are part of a year-long investigation of the anti-war movement. At least 13 organizers in Minneapolis, Chicago and elsewhere have been subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. The FBI appears to be targeting the Midwest anti-war movement -- not for any illegal action, but because of the political beliefs and associations of some of its organizers.

No activity up north... so don't be paranoid. But as always, know your rights.

photo: Twin Cities Indymedia

Duluth Antiwar Protest - OCTOBER 11

PROTEST THE ONGOING WARS! Bring the Troops & War Dollars Home NOW! Money for Jobs & Education - Not War & Occupation!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 5-7PM

-Part 1: A "Books Not Bombs" picket from 5-6pm in front of the Old Duluth Central High School at Lake Ave. & 2nd Street. After which we'll march to City Hall.

-Part 2: From 6:15 - 7pm we'll hold a rally on the steps of City Hall. There'll be an antiwar poetry reading, and a skit titled "War Pigs" which will feature war profiteers & Uncle Sam attempting to auction off City Hall and gut social programs to pay for their unjust wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You're invited to join us in a protest against the ongoing wars, and the costs that our local communities are paying for it. While so many are loosing their homes and jobs, and government programs are being cut to the bone, Wall Street and Washington continue to wage these bloody, unjust and unjustified wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are holding this protest on the steps of City Hall on the same evening as a City Council meeting to highlight just how much our communities are paying for this war - in terms of lives and dollars. Enough is enough! Join us in raising our voices for peace! Everyone is welcome, and encouraged to attend!

> Sponsored by the Northland Anti-War Coalition and endorsed by UMD Students for Peace, CSS Center for Just Living, Lake Superior Greens, Socialist Action, Grandmothers for Peace and others TBA.

September Meeting Notes

NAWC Meeting Minutes, September 12, 2010
Present: Adam R., Steve W., Vern, Ellie, Emily H., Joel K., Carl S., Andy A., Robert J.

October 6, 7, 11
This week is part of a national week of local actions called by the United National Antiwar Conference. Student groups at CSS and UMD are possibly planning to hold anti-war actions on October 6, and CSS students are planning to do an action in support of the National Day to Defend Public Education on the 7th. NAWC will endorse and help build whatever October 6 actions the students come up with. Veterans for Peace is showing a video against militarizing space on the evening of October 7 at the Labor Temple.

The theme of the anti-war protest on October 11 is money for jobs and civil services, not for war. There will be a Books Not Bombs picket starting at 5 pm in front of the Historic Old Central High School on Second Street. At 6:00, the group will march with chants to City Hall. A "War Pigs" skit will start at 6:30 and will feature the auctioning of city hall to pay for the war. The rally will wrap up at 6:50 with announcements and a call for financial contributions by an MC, and people will be asked to go to the City Council meeting and express support for the council taking a stand against military spending.

Joel agreed to recruit people in advance to speak before the council and meet with councilors before hand, with the goal of eventually having a resolution or referendum put before council. He will also bring the big war spending banner and possibly print a professional-looking banner for the podium at CSS. Adam agreed to re-work the graphics on the flier and recruit people as actors and prop-makers for the skit.

Upcoming projects
Remember Fallujah week will be in November. We agreed to discuss plans for it at the next NAWC meeting. Bob K. is putting together presentations on the cost of war to be given to non-conventional audiences, which will start after October 11.

MoveOn
Vern is involved in creating a local chapter of the group MoveOn to better utilize their resources here.

Steering Committee
Joel has yet to send out a proposal for the steering committee, which he will do next week. He is looking for volunteers to serve on a nominating committee.

Immigrant Rights Resolution
Duluth's Immigrant Rights Coalition has formulated a resolution opposing Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law and a copycat bill in Minnesota. NAWC endorsed the resolution.

Announcements
Camp Class Struggle, Socialist Action's annual political camp out and social party, will take place September 18 and 19 on the Kurki Farm in Highbridge, WI. The carpool will leave at 2 PM Saturday from Superior and get back at various times on Sunday.

The CSS Peace and Justice Lecture Series theme this year is Terrorism and Human Rights. NAWC is co-hosting the final event with Colleen Rowley on March 22, and we have been invited to table at all of the events. She will be here two days and also available to speak on the campuses. For a full schedule of the series, see http://www.css.edu/About/Spotlight/Lectures/Alworth-Center-for-Peace-and-Justice-Lectures.html.

There will be a 1-hour meeting with Rep. Oberstar some time in October. Contact Joel for more info.

FBI spied on activist groups; Duluth Catholic Worker mentioned in report

The Justice Department's office of the inspector general issued a report yesterday criticizing FBI surveillance of anti-war, animal rights and environmental groups under the Bush Administration. The report reveals that from 2001 to 2006, the FBI spied on PETA, Greenpeace, the Thomas Merton Center, individual Quakers and members of the Catholic Worker movement; and it accuses FBI director Robert Mueller of lying (ahem, providing inaccurate information) to Congress about the agency's surveillance of a Pittsburgh anti-war rally. The report further decries a Hoover-like politicization of FBI field reports, including irrelevant details of what agents describe as the "communistic" ideology of the Catholic Worker.

Guess who shows up on page 151 of the report? Our own Duluth Catholic Worker, surveilled along with other activists during a protest at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha in 2003.

Remarkably, the IG downplays the FBI's numerous violations of the 1st Amendment as an "ill-conceived project on a slow work day," and suggests that some civil disobedience actions carried out by both Greenpeace and the Catholic Worker do indeed fit the definition of "domestic terrorism."

In other words: Bush may be gone, but the Constitution hasn't made a comeback.

Charges against 3 of RNC8 dropped!

Great news today from St Paul via Friends of the RNC8:

The RNC 8 received some surprising news Thursday afternoon - charges against Luce Guillen-Givins, Monica Bicking and Eryn Trimmer have been dropped!

The fact that charges have been dismissed against these three members of what Ramsey County has for two years labeled a “criminal enterprise” exposes the political motivations behind this case. Although today’s news is an amazing development, charges against four of the eight defendants still remain and must continue to be fought with renewed strength.

Thanks to everyone who has struggled alongside the 8 and the RNC 8 Defense Committee to help get these charges dropped - and please join us as we continue to seek justice for Max, Rob, Garrett and Nathanael. We’ll post more information and analysis on this development soon - stay tuned.

Still, one person facing prosecution for the "crime" of feeding and housing activists is one too many. By moving forward with the case, Ramsey County is keeping all political organizers in in its sights.

Trial for the four remaining defendants begins October 25. Mark your calendar and consider making the trip to St Paul to show some Northland solidarity. Carpool details coming soon.

Training for Change is coming to Duluth!

Training for Change, one of the world's foremost activist training programs, is bringing its Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) to Duluth this November.

TSAT is an intensive weekend training designed to build and hone the skills of movement facilitators, educators, and activist trainers -- all within an anti-oppression framework. TSAT open to experienced organizers, up-and-coming activists, teachers, community leaders and anyone else who wants to take their skills to a new level.

The training will take place from Friday, November 12, at 6PM until Sunday, November 14th, 6PM. Food and lodging (for folks coming from out of town) is included and registration is limited. Cost of the workshop is on a sliding scale and scholarships are available. Visit www.trainingforchange.org to register, or keep reading for more details on the training.

Why This Workshop?

Training and facilitation skills are a key element to successful organizing and movement building. People who have these skills support the groups they work with by developing new leaders, transferring skills and knowledge between generations, creating more participation within their
groups, introducing new and transformative concepts, supporting meetings and decision making, resolving conflict and providing training for successful, creative and disciplined actions.

Yet, few people who play the role of educator, trainer or facilitator in their work are offered an opportunity to learn a framework for training that supports their experience or a chance to hone their skills among other trainers. Few organizations commit the time to helping their leaders
learn the craft of training.

With this in mind, The Training for Social Action Trainers (TSAT) is designed to give people the opportunity to develop a stronger sense of the training tools, approaches and choices that will work for them to be most powerful and useful in their role.

As a participant you will:

• --Gain greater awareness about yourself and your strengths as a facilitator;
• --Get a chance to take risks, experiment and refine skills in a safe and supportive environment;
• --Get the stimulation of fresh approaches and increased options;
• --Receive personal guidance from experienced trainers in a small group setting ;
• --Learn new tools that are easily adapted, principles of workshop design, skills for working with diversity and a better understanding of how to use experiential education methods effectively.

Registration:

You can register online for this workshop at www.trainingforchange.org or if you're having difficulty registering online, just contact us at nico@trainingforchange.org and we will email you a registration form.

Delegation from Rania, Iraq visits Duluth

by the Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Project

The Duluth-Rania Friendship Exchange Project is pleased to announce the arrival of a delegation to Duluth from the Kurdish north or Iraq.

Five delegates from the city of Rania will arrive in Duluth on September 25. They will tour our city, meet with local politicians, visit a variety of schools, learn about our medical system, human services, waste management and local construction projects.

There are two public events planned to which all are invited to meet our new friends. Please join us and spread the word:

Nicaragua report-back 9/19

by Witness for Peace-Upper Midwest

"Another World IS Possible: Fair Trade and Sustainability"
Sunday, September 19th
12 noon
Peace Church Fellowship Hall
(1111 N 11th Ave E, Duluth)

Eight people from Duluth traveled to Nicaragua last June on a Witness for Peace delegation, "Another World IS Possible: Fair Trade and Sustainability."

They will share their experiences on September 19th in the Fellowship Hall, at noon, following the worship service, with a light lunch and slide presentation.

Hear what we learned about the impact of globalization on families and their communities, and how they have responded with cooperative projects and sustainable development.

Pastors for Peace founder Lucius Walker dies

by the Cuba Solidarity Committee

Rev. Lucius Walker, longtime agitator and organizer for civil rights and peace, died on September 7 at his home in New Jersey. Walker was the founder of Pastors for Peace, an organization which visited Duluth most recently on July 6 as part of its 21st caravan to Cuba.

NAWC's Cuba Solidarity Committee offers its condolences to Walker's family and co-conspirators for peace. Below is a short video about this year's Pastors for Peace caravan to Cuba, featuring Walker: