September 27, 2010

Chicago Area CodePINK strongly condemns the FBI raids on the homes of  peace activists and international solidarity activists in Minneapolis and Chicago on Friday, September 24. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have been targeted in these baseless raids. We pledge our full and complete support of those targeted.

We are appalled that FBI agents in Chicago spent 12 hours confiscating personal belongings, including those of the activists' children, cells phones, computers, and paperwork going as far back as the ‘70s. These activists are our friends and neighbors and have done nothing wrong. The warrants are being used as a way to intimidate and silence not only those targeted, but the entire peace movement and  those that speak out against the U.S. policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Columbia. .

Our movement will not be intimidated, nor will our work stop. Quite the opposite; we are more resolute than ever to continue our work. We will continue to be strongly committed to building a movement to resist oppression at home and abroad, We will be take to the streets, stand up in the courts, inform the public, and continue to organize. We will not be silenced.

Take action, speak out, let your voice be heard.

We are urging you to call U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 or  email at  AskDOJ@usdoj.gov and demand that the FBI:

-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.

Those targeted have a group of dedicated attorneys that will fight for their rights and stand up for their civil liberties. We can help by contributing to the legal defense fund set up for the Chicago victims of the raids. Checks can be made out to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ(WAUCC) with Committee Against Political Repression identified in the memo line (CAPR). Checks can be mailed to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago, IL 60657.