Progressive Calendar 10.11.10 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: David Shove (shove001tc.umn.edu) | |
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:17:32 -0700 (PDT) |
P R O G R E S S I V E C A L E N D A R 10.11.10 1. Rank choice vote 10.11 9am 2. Peace walk 10.11 6pm RiverFalls WI 3. Pray for peace 10.11 6:30pm 4. Uhcan-mn 10.11 7:30pm 5. Knox/antiwar 10.12 11:30am 6. Save North High 10.12 4:30pm 7. StopFBI 10.12 4:30pm 8. Rovics/Black Dog 10.12 5pm 9. Collective power 10.12 5:30pm 10. Bomb harvest/f 10.12 7pm 11. Sami/Iraq 10.12 7pm 12. Dave Bicking - FBI raids: updates and events 13. Cavlan campaign - Cavlan earns natl Muslim women's group endorsement 14. Rich Broderick - (as Denny Hecker) Put Tom Emmer in the driver's seat 15. AFSCME Council 5 - On judicial & police intimidation of union members --------1 of 15-------- From: TruthToTell <andydriscoll [at] truthtotell.org> Subject: Rank choice vote 10.11 9am TruthToTell Mon Oct 11 @9AM: RANKED CHOICE VOTING: Another Plurality Governor - KFAI FM 90.3/106.7/Online @KFAI.org Stand by for another minority governor. Short of a landslide for one of the three major-party candidates for governor, the winner will take office in January having been elected by a minority - or a plurality - of those voting in the November 2nd election. This will be third governor in a row taking office with a majority of ballots cast for someone else. Hardly a mandate to govern, and yet, with the unusual level of power vested in Minnesota's governor, Jesse Ventura and Tim Pawlenty wielded the authority only a majority of voters should have elected. This year, three parties square off again and almost assuredly, Minnesota will have yet another minority governor. Mark Dayton(DFL), Tom Emmer (GOP) and Tom Horner (IP) are vying for the office and all the polls thus far point to a winner garnering less than a majority of the vote. Does this mean we should do away with third (or fourth or fifth) parties? Certainly not. Multi-party elections are far more reflective of the electorate than trying to squeeze all others into narrow definitions of two parties. Horner's competitive position proves this. Perhaps predictably, the one entity just about unanimously opposed to such a change is the party most recently the beneficiary of the current plurality system - the Republicans. But DFLers, Independence Party members and Greens, among others, support ranked choice voting for statewide and local partisan elections. This week, TruthToTell talks to prominent supporters and a detractor of RCV to lay out the pros and cons. Your humble servant has never concealed his support for the RCV remedy to achieve a majority victor in all races, so we don't pretend to be entirely objective in Monday's presentation of the issue. Still, the state's most prominent opponent of RCV will join us by telephone. Join TTT's ANDY DRISCOLL and LYNNELL MICKELSEN for this important conversation less than a month before the November election. GUESTS: ELIZABETH GLIDDEN - Minneapolis City Councilmember, Ward 8 TIM PENNY - 2002 Independence Party Candidate for Governor; former 1st District DFL Congressman; President/CEO, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation WY SPANO - Director, Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership, University of Minnesota Duluth JEANNE MASSEY - President, FairVote/Minnesota ANDY CILEK - President, Minnesota Voters Alliance --------2 of 15-------- From: Nancy Holden <d.n.holden [at] comcast.net> Subject: Peace walk 10.11 6pm RiverFalls WI River Falls Peace and Justice Walkers. We meet every Monday from 6-7 pm on the UWRF campus at Cascade Ave. and 2nd Street, immediately across from "Journey" House. We walk through the downtown of River Falls. Contact: d.n.holden [at] comcast.net. Douglas H Holden 1004 Morgan Road River Falls, Wisconsin 54022 --------3 of 15-------- From: Erin Parrish <erin [at] mnwomen.org> Subject: Pray for peace 10.11 6:30pm October 11: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates 11th Day Prayer for Peace: How Shall we Begin to Prepare Ourselves to Vote in the General Election? 6:30 PM at Presentation of Our Lady Chapel, 1890 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. [Possible prayer: Dear god, why have you forsaken us by giving us so many scoundrels to vote for? We believe you are good, so we're thinking this might be a sign of Alzheimers. After all, you are older than time... -ed] --------4 of 15-------- From: Joel Albers <joel [at] uhcan-mn.org> Subject: Uhcan-mn 10.11 7:30pm Next UHCAN-MN mtg is monday Oct 11, 7:30pm, Walker Church, 3104 16th ave S., mpls (near Bloomingtom ave and lake Street). items include: 1.our position on the federal legislation, messaging 2.three UHCAN-MN health Screenings/outreach, oct,nov 3.Renee L's help w/ uhcan-mn website 4.Fed funding to start MN Health Care Co-op 5.networking w/ many other groups at Walker other items ? Bioneers conference, networking w/ other groups come for the coffee, tea, snacks, stay for the conversation - joel --------5 of 15-------- From: Rowley Clan <rowleyclan [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Knox/antiwar 10.12 11:30am 11:30 am, Tuesday, October 12, Dr. Michael Knox will be at MAP luncheon at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, giving a presentation on his dream, past, present and future. You are urged to attend, and to invite others to attend this meeting as well. Five years ago, Dr. Michael Knox of the University of S. Florida in Tampa embarked on a quest to develop the idea for a Memorial to Peace in our Nation's Capitol, Washington DC. www.uspeacememorial.org Four years ago, in the summer of 2006, he asked Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP, www.mapm.org) to help build the base of small donors which are the essence of his project. MAP came through. Here is how Dr. Knox frames his project (his full bio, and a list of the founding members thus far can be found at www.uspeacememorial.org:) US Peace Memorial: Ending Wars by Changing Culture Michael D. Knox, PhD, Chair, US Peace Memorial Foundation War is a dominant aspect of US culture. The military honors its heroes and reinforces warrior behavior with medals, promotions, ceremonies, and monuments. There are few indicators that American society values those who work for peace. This has resulted in a country that routinely recognizes contributions to war, but often holds in derision those who call for nonviolence and peaceful alternatives to war. A national grassroots effort is underway to create a cultural shift toward peace. The US Peace Memorial Foundation is documenting the broad range of modern peace activism, as well as recognizing individual and organizational role models for US peace leadership. Efforts of the foundation include the creation of a national monument (US Peace Memorial) in Washington DC <http://www.uspeacememorial.org/article> www.uspeacememorial.org/article, publication of the US Peace Registry <http://www.uspeacememorial.org/registry> www.uspeacememorial.org/registry, and awarding an annual Peace Prize <http://www.uspeacememorial.org/peaceprize> www.uspeacememorial.org/peaceprize. These efforts will help preserve the nation's long history of patriotic citizens who have promoted peace and opposed war, reinforce antiwar actions, increase comfort levels, and lead to greater citizen involvement in interventions for peace. The goal is to change our culture by decreasing the social barriers that citizens must overcome before they publicly express antiwar sentiment. The Foundations efforts should inspire more Americans to speak out for peace and to work to end the hatred, ignorance, greed, and intolerance that lead to war. The Internal Revenue Service has determined that the US Peace Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. A receipt will be provided. --------6 of 15-------- From: "PEJAM" <pejaminnesota [at] gmail.com> Subject: Save North High 10.12 4:30pm TUESDAY, 4:30pm: Rally Against North High Closing @ School Board Meeting Tell the Minneapolis Board of Education STOP THE CLOSING OF NORTH HIGH! Rally at the Board of Education Meeting Tuesday, Oct. 12 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. 807 Broadway Ave NE, Mpls. Then join us inside the Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. to voice our demands. Facts of the situation: Friday Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent, Bernadeia Johnson, announced her plan to close down North High School. Already the Minneapolis School Board has closed down more schools in North Minneapolis than any other neighborhood, including five elementary and middle schools since 2007. The Board is set to vote on the proposed closure of North on November 9 th The plan to close North is linked to the Board's recent decision to create two new privately managed, non-union "Minneapolis College Prep" charter schools. Public schools are the bedrock of a community and this will all but eliminate public education in North Minneapolis! Therefore we call on the Minneapolis Board of Education to: Vote down the proposal to close North High School. Reverse the decision to open two "Minneapolis College Prep" charter high schools. Re-establish a "home zone" for North High to boost enrollment. In partnership with parents, teachers, and students, develop an aggressive, fully-funded plan to boost enrollment at North High. Immediately open a dialogue with North teachers proposing an innovative "self-managed" school model. To get more involved, join us at the next meeting of the SAVE NORTH HIGH COALITION Saturday, October 16 th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Zion Baptist Church 621 Elwood Ave N, Minneapolis, MN CONTACTS and MORE INFO: North High Alumni Association 612.715.2527 Friends of North Foundation marcusgo6@ gmail.com Public Education Justice Alliance of MN (PEJAM) 952.465.5307 For updates: PEJAM.org _____Text of leaflet being distributed to build for Tuesday protest_____ Stop the Privatization of Public Education! Save North High School! District Neglect of North Minneapolis District officials point toward declining enrollment at North High and district-wide as their reason for closing the school. Less than 270 students are now enrolled in North. But declining enrollment is a direct result of District neglect and underfunding. It is clear the District pursued an intentional policy of pushing North's numbers down to make it more politically palatable to phase out public education in the center of Minneapolis's largest African American community. For example, every other high school in Minneapolis has a "home zone," meaning that neighborhood students are automatically enrolled in their neighborhood school unless they specifically choose another school. This policy was taken away at North last year, denying the school potentially hundreds of students. The Board's planned neglect of North was also shown in their decision last summer to sponsor two new privately managed, non-union "Minneapolis College Prep" charter schools. The first is set to open in North next fall with a 700 student capacity. But studies show privately managed, unaccountable charters have increased segregation in Minnesota, while failing to improve over-all test scores. Privatizing Public Education On a national scale, a powerful set of business and political interests are pushing a profit-driven policy of privatization. Corporate funding has poured into privately managed charters, many of them explicitly for-profit schools, as well as political lobbying to ensure government support for expanding charters at the expense of public schools. Across the country urban, low-income, and predominantly Black and Latino communities have faced the most sweeping school closures and privatization. Low test scores, which say more about a student's zip-code than about their intelligence, are used as an excuse replace public schools with charters. But every serious study shows charters' test scores average no better than public schools despite their ability to cherry-pick the best performing students. Charters failure to perform is linked to rapid teacher burnout and turnover. Charters are non-union, meaning they typically overwork teachers and don't pay living wages or benefits. The best teachers refuse to work under these conditions. Privatization and charters are no solution to the problems facing North schools. Real answers can only come by expanding the resources and democratic community control of our public schools. Contact the SAVE NORTH HIGH COALITION North High Alumni Association 612.715.2527 Friends of North Foundation marcusgo6 [at] gmail.com Public Education Justice Alliance of MN 952.465.5307 For updates check PEJAM.org [Another example of the class war at work. The bastards at the top of the hog pile are unrelenting sociopaths, wrecking havoc wherever they go. Their puppets are beneath contempt. -ed --------7 of 15-------- From: kimd <kimdefranco [at] yahoo.com> Subject: StopFBI 10.12 4:30pm Our next MN action is on the day that the next wave of activists - most of the Minneapolis folks - are "scheduled" to appear before the Grand Jury in Chicago, after the FBI raids that happened on Sept. 24. For this action, we are mixing it up a bit, location and target-wise. Tuesday, October 12 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 or so Minneapolis Federal Building 300 S 4th St, Downtown Minneapolis The day the 2nd wave of our activists were ordered before a grand jury in Chicago, after the FBI raids on Sept. 24, 2010 Join us as we tell the U.S. Attorney to get our message to the thugs in Washington, D.C. [TIW -ed]: **End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists! **Return all materials seized in the raid! **Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists! For more info and to access an archive of fliers for this and other actions and support opportunities: http://groups.google.com/group/stopfbi-mn?hl=en For more info http://www.antiwarcommittee.org/ www.StopFBI.net [The ruling class makes money off war, and so is for it. Also, it feels and is more secure in war-dominated authoritarian anti-democratic anti-people times. So being anti-war is in effect to be anti-ruling class. The FBI is there to serve the ruling class. Therefore it attacks antiwar activists. How dare they challenge the hog trough of the rich! If millions must die to make the rich richer, well, that's the American Dream. If the world has to be destroyed to save it, briefly, for the rich, well, so be it. Ditto if we all have to die. Just who do we think we are, to mess with glorious schemes of the rich? Since they have all the rights, that leaves us with none. -ed] --------8 of 15-------- From: Eric Angell <eric-angell [at] riseup.net> Subject: Rovics/Black Dog 10.12 5pm "David Rovics: Live from the Black Dog Cafe" Host Amy Goodman has called David Rovics "the musical voice of Democracy Now"; however, reaching into the history of peoples' movements, Rovics might more aptly be called the musical voice of Howard Zinn. On his current "Troubador" tour, Rovics sings about social struggle and the power of action while weaving in his experiences with grassroots activism around the world. (Sept. 2010) SPNN 15 viewers: "Our World In Depth" cablecasts on St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) Channel 15 on Tuesdays at 5pm, midnight and Wednesday mornings at 10am, after DemocracyNow! Households with basic cable may watch. Tues, 10/12 @ 5pm & midnight + Wed, 10/13, 10am "David Rovics: Live from the Black Dog Cafe" --------9 of 15-------- From: Jodi Williams <jodi [at] headwatersfoundation.org> Subject: Collective power 10.12 5:30pm Don't miss Oct 12 Movement Building on the Collective Power of Voting! RSVP today for Movement Building Tuesday, October 12 / 5:30 - 7 p.m. Riverview Cafe & Wine Bar (3747 42nd Avenue S, Minneapolis) Voting That Counts Empowering Communities Through Collective Action Though we live in a democratic society, many often feel that their voices and votes aren't heard and don't count. Join Keesha Gaskins, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Minnesota and dispel this belief by learning how disenfranchised or "frontline" communities can make the most of their vote by using it to build community power. Free and open to the public. Food and drink are available for purchase on site. Reserve your seat by contacting Jodi [at] HeadwatersFoundation.org or Find us on Facebook Join us at the Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar for Movement Building the 2nd Tuesday of each month from September to April as we transform emerging ideas into mainstream values. Headwaters Foundation is a catalyst for social, racial, economic and environmental justice. Through grantmaking, donor education and capacity building support to grassroots organizations, our goal is to foster just and sustainable communities. 2801 21st Avenue S, Suite 132 B Minneapolis, MN 55407 www.headwatersfoundation.org [Let us hope this is not just one more Dem scam to trick the voters once again - promise them everything and give them mothing... -ed] --------10 of 15------- From: Intermedia Arts <julie [at] intermediaarts.org> Subject: Bomb harvest/f 10.12 7pm Critically Acclaimed Films "Bomb Harvest" and "Bombies" to Screen at Intermedia Arts as part of Legacies of War Exhibition Tuesdays, October 12 & 19, 2010 7PM at Intermedia Arts Co-Presented by Lao Assistance Center, Pangea World Theater and Intermedia Arts Nearly a half-century has passed since the United States conducted a covert bombing of the Laos nation making it the most densely bombed country in history. As dangerous today as when they were dropped, modern day Laos is littered with un-detonated reminders of war. On Tuesday, October 12 and Tuesday, October 19, critically-acclaimed films Bombies and Bomb Harvest will screen at Intermedia Arts as part of the Legacies of War nationally touring exhibition. These films show what it looks like to live in the aftermath of a war, and detail the efforts of those brave enough to clean up the tragedy left behind. WHEN/WHERE: Bomb Harvest October 12, 2010 |$5 suggested donation 7PM at Intermedia Arts Laos: The most bombed country, per capita, on the planet. A bomb disposal specialist has to train a new young "big bomb" team to deal with bombs left from the US "Secret War", but meanwhile, the local children are out hunting for bomb scrap metal. Post screening discussion with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and community members. Intermedia Arts is located at 2822 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Legacies of War is presented in conjunction with the Refugee Nation National Traveling Performance. Part of Intermedia Arts' Catalyst Series. --------11 of 15-------- From: Women Against Military Madness <wamm [at] mtn.org> Subject: Sami/Iraq 10.12 7pm Sami Rasouli: Eyewitness Report from Iraq Tuesday, October 12, 7:00 p.m. St. Joan Arc Church, 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis. Sami Rasouli will bring us up to date on events in Iraq. He will talk about how the Iraqi people feel about the 50,000 troops, thousands of contractors, and 4,500 special operations forces remaining in Iraq. He will also talk about what is happening relative to forming a government in Iraq, Fallujah today, peak oil and why he thinks the U.S. will continue to occupy Iraq until 2025. Two women who are traveling to Minnesota with Sami have also expressed an interest in speaking to our community about what life is like for the average Iraqi today and the plight of Iraqi women. Sponsored by: the Twin Cities Peace Campaign and WAMM. FFI: Call 612-522-1861 or 612-827-5364. --------12 of 15-------- Date: Sat, 09 Oct 2010 17:06:47 -0500 From: Dave Bicking <dave [at] colorstudy.com> Subject: FBI Raids: Updates and Events Dear Greens, There are new developments in the cases of the activists who have been raided and subpoenaed by the FBI. All 14 who have been subpoenaed are refusing to testify at the Grand Jury. Several more people have been "visited" - harrassed actually - by the FBI in the last three days. And one more elected official has come out against the raids, which mostly highlights the shameful silence by everyone else, more than two weeks after the raids. More details on the news updates, after this list of action steps and events: 1) IMPORTANT RALLY! Tuesday, October 12, 4:30pm, at the Mpls Federal Building, 300 S. 4th St. in downtown Mpls. Please come! Growing crowds are important to keep pressure on the Feds who will soon be making important decisions regarding the next steps they take against activists who refuse to testify. The 12th is the second date when activists have been scheduled to testify at the Grand Jury in Chicago. They will be there to say why they are not cooperating. 2-3 past 4) Bannering/Protest: US Out of Afghanistan! Saturday, October 16, 1pm, at the intersection of Lake St. & Hiawatha in south Mpls. Nine years of war and occupation must end now! This protest has been organized by many of the people who have been raided and subpoenaed. The organizing started well before the raids. We must not be deterred by the FBI. 5) The local Support Committee continues to meet and work. The attendance at the first two meetings has been very encouraging! It will continue to meet on most Thursdays, 7pm, at Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave. S., Mpls. The next meeting is Thursday, October 21. We need volunteers for many tasks! 6) Leafletting, postering, and literature distribution to build a movement against the FBI repression. We need people to bring leaflets to other events (we reached a lot of people at the Biden rally, for instance). Take leaflets to your local coffee shops and libraries, and replenish or update as needed. Post on community bulletin boards. We will have continuously updated leaflets about the case and upcoming events. They can be picked up at Mayday Bookstore, 301 Cedar Ave. on the West Bank. Generally open 12:30pm til 7pm on weekdays, 12:30pm til 6pm on Saturdays, and sometimes Sunday afternoons. Call 612-333-4719 to check. Or, you may find it easier to pick up leaflets at my house: 3211 22nd Ave. S., Mpls. I live on the lower level, the door on the right. My entry way is always unlocked and you can pick them up any time day or night; just come in and see them on the shelf to your left. My house is conveniently located just two blocks south of Lake St., a block west of the LRT. Good bus service also, and the parking is free! Let's get the word out! 7) New information on donating. Additional address to send a check: Committee to Stop FBI Repression, P.O. Box 14183, Mpls, MN 55414. See my previous email for information on donating to the national organization or to our local Anti-War Committee. ** Continue with the other actions from my last email (October 4). See that email for details and contact information on the following: 8) Keep calling Obama and Attorney General Holder. 9) Call our local elected officials and candidates: US Senators and Representative Ellison, Mayor Rybak, and Mpls City Council. State Rep Karen Clark (61A) has come out against the raids, and I hear she may introduce a resolution in the Legislature against the FBI actions. Help her by calling your State Rep and Senator. Info at: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/ And call Rep. Clark to thank her: 651-296-0294. She spoke at our last rally. 10) Sign the national petition at: http://www.iacenter.org/stopfbi 11) Help the Anti-War Committee re-build their contact database. If you were on their mailing list, or would like to be, go to http://www.antiwarcommittee.org/?q=node/552 12) Contact me or the Anti-War Committee if you would like to offer personal "material support" to those who have been targeted by the FBI. 13) Stay informed. Bookmark: http://stopfbi.net/ (national), and http://www.antiwarcommittee.org/ (local) 14) Show the FBI you won't be intimidated! Continue the work that these raids are intended to suppress! Work for peace and justice, including international solidarity. ---- Now that you have done all that, here is a news update: Fourteen people have now received subpoenas to the Chicago Grand Jury. A few were supposed to appear last Tuesday, The remainder are scheduled for this Tuesday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 19. At least nine are from Minneapolis, and at least three of these do not live at the homes that were raided. All fourteen are determined not to testify at the grand jury. We have yet to see what the government's response will be. They could end the grand jury investigation, they could proceed without their testimony, or they could take further steps to compel testimony. There is a real possibility that our friends could go to jail for an indefinite time. My previous emails have talked about the unfairness and dangers of grand juries. If you would like to know more, I highly recommend attending one or both of the educational events tomorrow (numbers 2 & 3 above). In addition to the many reasons I have talked about earlier, there is another very important reason for these activists not to testify. Meredith Aby expressed it very well at Tuesday's rally. Most or all of those subpoenaed have traveled to Colombia or the Middle East. Meredith talked about meeting with people in Colombia who told her of the repression, the assassinations, and disappearances at the hands of the Colombian government and the associated death squads. This is all financed and supported by the U.S. government. Just as an example, year after year more union organizers are killed in Colombia than in the rest of the world combined. She met with ordinary folks, teachers, union organizers, village leaders, mothers of the disappeared, and more. It was dangerous for these people to even meet with U.S. activists. They asked for their stories to be told to the American people, so that people would know and understand what the U.S. was doing with their taxes. And that is what Meredith and others did when they returned to the U.S. They held report- back events, wrote articles, and spoke about the U.S. policies. They also developed an even deeper personal commitment to the struggle from these experiences abroad. That is exactly what the U.S. government does not want, to the point that these good activists are targeted by raids, subpoenas, and possible prosecution and jail time. Returning to the issue of testifying at the grand jury: The folks in Colombia told Meredith and others that, as much as they wanted to tell their stories, it was important that she never tell anyone their names, or even what village they live in. Given the nature of the investigation, it is certain that the grand jury prosecutors would ask about Meredith's foreign contacts: Who did she meet with, what did they say, where do they live, what is their involvement in resistance against the Colombian government, etc. The U.S. has no qualms about sharing that information with the Colombian government and paramilitaries. Refusing to testify at the grand jury is very important to protect fellow activists from persecution, but for the people in Colombia, it could be a matter of life and death. Meredith called her refusal a matter of "sacred trust." Here is a section of a statement regarding the refusal to testify: > The grand jury subpoenas are part of the fishing expedition targeting > these committed activists and organizers. The use of grand juries to > conduct sweeping investigations dates back to the Nixon administration´s > attack on the social movements in the 1970s. The grand jury is neither > fair nor even handed, no matter who is in charge. > > A grand jury is a panel of jurors who hear evidence from a prosecutor and > decide whether or not to charge someone with a crime. The grand jury can > subpoena pretty much anyone they want and ask about anything, and people > can be jailed for contempt if they do not answer questions. The jurors are > hand-picked by prosecutors with no screen for bias. All evidence is > presented by a prosecutor in a cloak of secrecy. The prosecutor has no > responsibility to present evidence that favors those being investigated. > Grand jury witnesses have no right to have a lawyer in the room to object > to how the prosecutor is conducting the proceedings. > > The grand jury has been used as a tool of political repression against > many movements for social change in this country. From the pre-civil war > abolitionist movement to the Civil Rights movements, the movement against > the war in Vietnam, the American Indian Movement, the Central America > solidarity movement, the Puerto Rican Independence movement, animal rights > and environmental movements, there have have been many targets of > political repression and grand jury inquisition. > > We believe we have been targeted because of what we believe, what we say > and who we know. The grand jury process is an attempt to violate the > inalienable rights under the constitution and international law to freedom > of political speech, association and the right to advocate for change. > > One does not even need to be opposed to U.S. foreign policy to recognize > that the government is working here to establish a dangerous precedent in > targeting us. This case endangers the right of every person in the U.S. to > organize for and express their views. > > We fear the the government may be seeking to use the recent Supreme Court > decision in Holder vs Humanitarian Law to attack conduct that clearly > falls under the realm of freedom of speech and that we never imagined > could be construed as "material support for terrorism." > > Those with Grand Jury dates for October 5 and those whose subpoenas are > pending have declared that we intend to exercise our right not to > participate in this fishing expedition. The next legal step is in the > hands of the Department of Justice. They could cancel the grand jury. They > could carry on, but leave us alone. They could send subpoenas again giving > us the option to talk or go to jail. We don´t know when they will take the > next step, or what it will be. We do know what our next steps will be. > > We will not be silent. We will not allow the harassment of activists to > quiet our opposition to immoral policies. We will continue to speak out > against the unjust investigation, the unjust law, and the unjust foreign > policies of the US government. Our communities are strong, and are already > showing amazing solidarity around the country with 60 demonstrations last > week, many statements of solidarity and a very successful call in day > yesterday. We will need that support to continue to push back against this > attack. As I mentioned in the beginning, there has been further FBI harrassment in the last few days. There have been no more raids or subpoenas, but people have been "visited" by FBI agents asking questions. Visited is too polite a word; these visits are meant to cause fear and real harm, not just to gather information. A very frequent technique in the past has been for the FBI to "visit" people at their workplace. For many people, depending on their employer and how open they can be about their politics, this has directly led to people being fired. The FBI has not changed; here is a statement about the recent encounters: > For Immediate Release: October 8, 2010 > > FBI Harrasment of Anti-War Activists Continues In the Twin Cities. > > FBI agents continued their campaign against anti-war activists in the Twin > Cities this week. 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." She continued, "They said that Jess Sundin, Meredith Aby and > Mick Kelly had manipulated me and others in the anti-war movement. The > only ones trying to manipulate me are these FBI agents." Eisert > concluded, "It is insulting that federal agents would try to make me talk > to them by attacking the personal and political relationships that I've > had with Jess and the others for more than ten years. To do this while I'm > at work is harassment, plain and simple. These attempts to divide us will > not work personally and it will not work in the movement." > > Jess Sundin said, "The FBI is clearly trying to carry out a smear campaign > in order to divide the movement." She added, "If that's their aim, it's > going to blow up in their faces. We are people's neighbors, co-workers and > friends . A few lies by FBI agents cannot undo the years that we have > invested in our community. Instead, it will make people all the more sure > that this investigation is nothing more than a fishing expedition." Two > other individuals in Minneapolis were also targeted by the FBI for visits > this week. Local activists have continued to remind the community that > they are not required to speak to FBI agents. They added that the FBI has > tried using smear campaigns to damage movements in the past, exposing > these tactics to the light of day is the best defense. FFI: Jess Sundin > 612-272-2209 Remember, NEVER talk to the FBI. Please continue to support our movements by supporting the people who have been targeted for their work! -Dave Bicking 612-276-1213 --------13 of 15-------- Date: Sun, 10 Oct 2010 18:57:11 -0500 (GMT-05:00) From: greenpartymike <ollamhfaery [at] earthlink.net> Subject: Cavlan For Congress Campaign Earns National Muslim Women's Group Endorsement For Immediate Release -- Cavlan For Congress Campaign Earns National Muslim Women's Group Endorsement NATIONAL MUSLIM WOMEN'S GROUP ENDORSES MICHAEL CAVLAN FOR CONGRESS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MUSLIM AMERICAN WOMEN (NAMAW) PUBLICLY STANDS BEHIND CAVLAN October 11, 2010 MINNEAPOLIS - The Campaign Committe to Elect Michael Cavlan to Congress is proud to announce that the National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) has endorsed Independent Congressional Candidate Mike Cavlan for the US House of Representatives for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. NAMAW contacted the campaign writing: "We know that Ellison is your opponent and that he is Muslim and the first Muslim elected to Congress. He hasn't done Muslims a bit of good. The Somali community that elected him complains that he doesn't even talk about what is happening in Somalia. They get no representation at all from this guy. Being Muslim doesn't matter. He hasn't been a good representative for Muslims and I don't think he really wants to be known as the Muslim Congressman. It is our pleasure to endorse you." Cavlan said, "While the FBI have been targeting the Muslim community as well as the local Peace and Justice community, the silence of those elected to office has been duly noted". Cavlan further promises to "Defend the Constitution and Bill of Rights from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That includes those elected officials in power during the Bush years as well as the current Obama Administration. I give my word to the people of the 5th District of Minnesota, as well as the nation, that I will fight for you all, instead of the monied special interests which currently corrupt the Nations capitol." Cavlan also states "I suspect that another reason that NAMAW also supports our campaign because of our positions on US Foreign policy and its support of nations that are human rights abusers. As well as the actions of the United States government in slaughtering countless innocent Muslims and other civilians. Unlike my opponent, I will oppose this with more than meaningless rhetoric." Cavlan has also been endorsed by American hero Ralph Nader, peace activist Cindy Sheehan, former Presidential candidate Representative Cynthia McKinney of Georgia, former US Senate candidate Brother Ray Tricomo as well as the Kalpulli Turtle Island Organization which is committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable nation. --------14 of 15-------- from: Rich Broderick, "Ground Zero," Twin Cities Daily Planet, www.tcdailyplanet.net Why We Need Tom Emmer in Minnesota's Driver Seat, by Denny Hecker Dear Citizens of Minnesota (and you little ladies, too!): Sure, I may be someplace right now that's going to keep me from voting this November, but with all the time I suddenly have on my hands, I've been giving plenty of thought to the Governor's race. My conclusion? Tom Emmer's our best choice to become the state's next Sales Associate of the Quadrennium. They say a great politician - like a great pitchman - is somebody who's a reflection of his supporters. And I'll be honest, I first started taking notice of Tom when I learned about all those DWIs popping up around him and his campaign staff. As you know, I've displayed a fondness for getting loaded and then climbing in behind the wheel of a car, but Emmer and his pals - well, they make me look like a piker. Not only Tom, but both his now former campaign chairs, have been picked up for DWIs! And you know the saying: DWIs and mice are a lot alike. For everyone that gets caught, there's 10 more that you don't know about. Why, you almost get the impression that if you work for Tom you're required to get shit-faced before leaving the parking lot! Then there's the bully-boy behavior. Turns out even a lot of Tom's own colleagues in the GOP caucus can't stand him because behind his bluff, hale-fellow-well-met façade - so similar to the bluff, hale-fellow- well-met façade I cultivated when I was King of Minnesota's auto dealers - he's a big time bully. Then there's Tom's economic plans for the state. I can't tell you how much they remind me of the creative bookkeeping tricks I used to keep my dealerships going. Until I got caught! Of course, if your reckless behavior bankrupts a car dealership you'll likely get sued - or end up in jail. But bankrupt Minnesota while you're Governor of the state? You'll maybe end up being a contender for Vice President of the United States. Just ask Tim Pawlenty! To finish up, there are a lot of reasons I like Tom. But after spending a little time recently in some court-ordered counseling sessions, I finally have the words to sum up my support. So here goes. I'd vote for Tom Emmer - if I could! - because he epitomizes the kind of white male privilege and sense of entitlement that made this country the greatest in the world. And I don't know about you, but I get the impression that, like me, he banks on that privileged status to allow him to operate with impunity, no matter what he says or does. Hey - it worked for me. At least until it didn't anymore! Sincerely, Denny Hecker --------15 of 15-------- AFSCME Council 5 Resolution on Judicial & Police Intimidation of Union Members Posted on October 3, 2010 by Committee to Stop FBI Repression stopfbi.net [Note: The following resolution was adopted unanimously by the AFSCME Council 5 Convention on October 1, 2010. AFSCME is the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. AFSCME Council 5 represents 46,000 workers in the state of Minnesota.] Whereas: The homes of three members of AFSCME Local 3800 and the Local 3800 organizer, Jess Sundin, Steff Yorek, Anh Pham and Tracy Molm were raided by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 7:00AM on September 24, 2010; and, Whereas: Tracy Molm, Jess Sundin, Anh Pham and Steff Yorek were issued subpoenas to appear before a grand jury in Chicago in October, and, Whereas: AFSCME Local 3800 is an affiliate of ASFCME Council 5, and Whereas: These members have not been arrested or charged with any crime, and Whereas: These four members in good standing are well-known and respected activists in our union, and Whereas: FBI spokespersons have stated that the raids were prompted by the activities of these four members, and other individuals subject to the same raids, in seeking peace and justice for workers and other oppressed peoples throughout the world, and, Whereas: These persons are entitled to a presumption of innocence under the United States Constitution, and, Whereas: Every American has the constitutional right to advocate and organize for change in the foreign policy of the United States, and, Whereas: AFSCME Council 5 takes note of the very recent report by the Department of Justice Inspector General that soundly criticized the FBI for improperly targeting domestic peace and antiwar groups for investigation, and, Whereas: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has frequently gone on record in defense of trade unionists and others to educate, agitate and organize for the legitimate goals of peace, justice and solidarity with all working people, and, Whereas: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has repeatedly demanded that Congress and the White House (quote) "disavow and reverse any practices or policies which threaten trade union rights or civil liberties," as well as (quote) "opposing attacks on traditional constitutional guarantees" including in Resolution No. 156 of the 25th AFSCME International Convention in 1984 submitted by delegate Peter Benner, and in Resolution No. 79, adopted by the 35th AFSCME convention in 2002 which stated that "AFSCME, a union built out of the combined struggle of the civil rights and labor movements, take leadership in opposing granting wider powers to the FBI to infiltrate community groups and unions in the name of preventing further terrorist attacks," (end quote) and, Therefore Be It Resolved: That AFSCME Council 5 goes on record as expressing its grave concern that the recent FBI raids are reminiscent of the Palmer Raids of the 1920's, the McCarthy hearings of the 1950's, and the FBI's harassment of the civil rights movement, and our grave concern that these raids be the beginning of a new and dangerous assault on the First Amendment rights of every union fighter, international solidarity activist or anti-war campaigner and, Further Be It Resolved: That AFSCME Council 5 finds that no acceptable justification or evidence has been presented for these raids and subpoenas and that we have no reason to believe any will be forthcoming, and, Further Be It Resolved: That we notify the Minnesota Congressional Delegation that Council 5 opposes these arbitrary and capricious raids, and, Be It Finally Resolved: that in light of the Inspector General's recent report, AFSCME Council 5 calls upon President Obama to order an immediate investigation into the circumstances, motivation and propriety of the judicial and police intimidation of our members and others. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - David Shove shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu rhymes with clove Progressive Calendar over 2225 subscribers as of 12.19.02 please send all messages in plain text no attachments vote third party for president for congress for governor now and forever Socialism YES Capitalism NO To GO DIRECTLY to an item, eg --------8 of x-------- do a find on --8 Research almost any topic raised here at: CounterPunch http://counterpunch.org Dissident Voice http://dissidentvoice.org Common Dreams http://commondreams.org Once you're there, do a search on your topic, eg obama drones
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