Workers Resistance

Author: Fight Back

  • Minneapolis protest demands: Drop the charges against Rasmea Odeh

    Minneapolis, MN – Chanting “Justice for Rasmea, drop the charges now,” about 35 protesters gathered in front of the Federal Building here, Nov. 13, to stand in solidarity with the widely respected Chicago Palestinian community leader Rasmea Odeh. The protest, which coincided with Odeh’s arraignment in Detroit’s federal court, was one of the solidarity actions held around the U.S. Odeh is facing a possible ten year sentence and deportation on a trumped up immigration charge.

    Meredith Aby of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “Today we stand with Rasmea Odeh, and against those who would silence and imprison her. This attack is another example of the continuing repression of Palestinians and people who stand in solidarity with them. Homeland Security, the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s office are carrying out enforcement of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We ask all those who have stood with us against the government attack on our organizing, to stand with us today to support Rasmea.” Aby is one of the anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI in 2010.

    Anti-war activist Jess Sundin also spoke to protesters, urging them build the defense campaign for Rasmea Odeh in the coming months.

  • Attorney: Why is Rasmea Odeh targeted now?

    Chicago, IL – Michael Deutsch of the National Lawyers Guild and the People’s Law Office spoke Nov. 12 about the case of Rasmea Yousef Odeh, a 65-year-old, Palestinian American, women’s rights activist who was recently indicted and tomorrow faces arraignment Nov. 13 in U.S. District Court in Detroit. The immigration charge against Odeh could result in ten years in prison and deportation for violations in her application for citizenship.

    Deutsch said the situation, “appears to be the Department of Homeland Security behaving in a discriminatory fashion, targeting Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians for selective prosecution.”

    He recounted the history since 9/11 of the singling out of these communities by the U.S. government, especially in Chicago, including the case of Dr. Muhammad Salah, who the U.S. Attorney prosecuted for aiding people living under Israeli occupation. Salah’s trial featured Israeli agents testifying in secret with evidence obtained through torture.

    Deutsch described the case of the 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided and who were subpoenaed by the U.S. Attorney in 2010 for their efforts in support of Palestinians. The U.S. Attorney refuses to end this investigation. “The investigation of Rasmea Odeh seems to grow out of the case of the 23, because her colleague at the Arab American Action Network, Hatem Abudayyeh, was one of those raided and subpoenaed.”

    From these experiences, Deutsch stated, “We know that the U.S. government works closely with Israeli officials, and therefore it is a certainty that the U.S. government knew of Odeh’s legal history at the time she emigrated and at the time she applied for citizenship. Why then is she being charged now after 20 years of model citizenship and good deeds in service of her community?”

    Deutsch also cited a report by the ACLU from August of this year, “Muslims Need Not Apply,” which exposes the “Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program” of the Immigration Services. “This program targets Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern and South Asian immigrants to deny them their requests for citizenship,” explained Deutsch.

    These examples together were the basis of his statements of concern about discriminatory, selective prosecution.

    Hatem Abudayyeh – a co-worker of Rasmea Odeh for almost ten years and who also represented the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Committee Against Political Repression – reminded everyone that Odeh was born in the same exact year that her people were pushed out of Palestine in 1948 and, because of that experience, she has dedicated her whole life to social justice. She is a mentor to dozens of activists and organizers across the country and leads a women’s rights organization of over 600 members.

    Abudayyeh also said that Odeh is receiving massive support from all across the world, including almost 100 organizations in the U.S. that have written letters or signed onto statements condemning the indictment.

    “We are taking a charter bus and a car caravan to be with Rasmea tomorrow at her arraignment in Detroit. Hundreds from Michigan will meet us there. And hundreds more in Gainesville, Philadelphia, D.C., New York, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City and other towns across the U.S. will be rallying in support of Rasmea and to demand that U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade drop the charges now.”

    Margaret Jackson, interim Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee, spoke against the racism of the U.S. government for this political attack on a Palestinian woman and stated, “As a person of color, I can tell you I’ve experienced racism in this society.” To show her support of the human rights work that Rasmea has done in Chicago, she declared, “I’m proud to stand with Rasmea Odeh.”

  • Rasmea Odeh support rally to take place in Detroit

    Detroit, MI – The Committee to Stop FBI Repression and United States Palestinian Community Network will gather in Detroit to support Rasmea Odeh, a 65-year-old women’s rights activist who faces 10 years in prison and deportation on trumped-up immigration charges.

    Rasmea Odeh is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, on Nov.13, for arraignment at 1 pm, and organizers are planning a support rally in front of the courthouse at noon. Odeh was arrested on Oct. 22 at her home in Evergreen Park, a suburb of Chicago, and charged with Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization, for allegedly untruthfully answering questions on her immigration application to the U.S. The court hearing is taking place in Detroit because it is her original city of U.S. residence.

    A statement by rally organizers says, “The charge brought against her is another example of the escalation of federal law enforcement repression against Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims in this country.”

    Odeh is a well-known and respected activist in the Palestinian American community of Chicago who has been honored for her social services and women’s empowerment work by the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Scores of organizations across the U.S. rallied to her cause after the arrest, and the media in the Arab world have also covered the news.

    Supporters, including members of civil rights groups, faith-based institutions and Arab and Muslim organizations, as well as women’s rights activists and civil liberties attorneys, are preparing to gather in Detroit, pack the courtroom and rally in her support. Solidarity activities are also being organized in Oakland, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C. and New York.

    “There has been a massive outpouring of love and support for Rasmea across the U.S. and the world,” says Rasmea’s friend and colleague Hatem Abudayyeh. “There is no justification for this political attack on a 65-year-old woman who has dedicated her life to progress and social justice. We will stand with her to fight these charges.”

  • Filipino communists step up typhoon relief efforts, condemns Aquino regime’s slow response

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 11 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    Carry out all-out mobilization for relief support to disaster victims

    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) calls on the entire Filipino people, including those overseas, to mobilize and generate the maximum possible emergency funds and supplies for the victims of the recent super typhoon Yoland (international name Haiyan).

    An estimated nine million people, or 10% of the entire Filipino population, suffered the wrath of the storm considered to be the strongest in recorded history, which barreled through 36 provinces. Majority of the victims of the storm are small peasants, farm workers, fisherfolk, mountain people, workers and other poor people who are the most vulnerable to the storm.

    Wide swathes of land were engulfed by the surging seas resulting in massive destruction of public infrastructure, homes, property and agricultural land. It is feared that the number of deaths may run up to several thousand people.

    The revolutionary forces under the CPP commiserate with the entire Filipino people, especially those who lost friends and family members and who are suffering from the grave impact.

    The CPP calls on all progressive and democratic forces to immediately organize the collection of funds and supplies for relief and rehabilitation work and ensure their immediate transport of these to the affected areas. Main attention is justifiably centered on extending assistance to Tacloban and the Eastern Visayas provinces. There should also be sufficient attention given to other areas in Central Visayas, Panay, Negros, Masbate, Mindoro and Palawan as well as in Bicol, Southern Tagalog and Eastern and Northern Mindanao.

    THe national mobilization of resources is necessary to sufficiently extend assistance to all areas devastated by the storm. There must be appropriate national coordination and cooperation in order to appropriately distribute help and supplies. Priority should be given to those requiring immediate medical attention, the children and the elderly.

    The CPP calls for the formation of organizations of disaster victims in order to facilitate the distribution of emergency supplies and prevent the situation from leading to widespread chaos. The people need these organizations of disaster victims in order to extend information about their situation and needs.

    The commands of the New People’s Army (NPA) units operating in the devastated areas have immediately changed their mode of operation and have carried out search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

    Within the guerrilla front areas, barrio (village) committees, provisional revolutionary government units, and revolutionary mass organizations have immediately been mobilized to carry out efforts to assist the people and organize rehabilitation efforts to help the people resume production and other aspects of their normal lives.

    In line with policy, the concerned NPA commands, including the NPA Mt. Amandewin Command (NPA-Leyte Island), and leading committees of the CPP can issue appropriate ceasefire orders to their respective units, putting NPA units on defensive mode but ever vigilant to enemy offensive operations. These can seek to facilitate the entry of organizations and agencies extending relief and emergency supply and ensure the safety of relief workers. The people should vigorously oppose continued suppression activities being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines under Oplan Bayanihan, especially in areas ravaged by the storm.

    The Filipino people are angered over the Aquino regime’s slow and terribly inadequate response to the disaster. They critize Aquino for blaming the people for being unprepared. In the hours immediately after the storm, the Aquino government was practically absent in

    Tacloban and other parts of the country. They further criticize Aquino for making use of the disaster to make a pitch for the much-detested President’s Social Fund and Disbursement Acceleration Program when, in fact, it has allotted only a minuscule for calamity response.

    On the other hand, the CPP extends the people’s gratitude and commendation to various local and international media agencies which have made use of their resources to provide crucial information service to disaster victims. The Filipino people welcome local and foreign volunteer civilian organizations and agencies whose contributions have been invaluable.

    The CPP calls on all international civilian agencies to extend maximum possible support to the victims of the disaster. The CPP denounces the Aquino and US governments for taking advantage of the disaster to again deploy more US warships and armed US soldiers in various areas in violation of Philippine sovereignty. The CPP urges foreign governments who wish to extend aid and direct help to course their assistance through their civilian agencies or organizations.

  • Campaign to ‘Drop the charges against Rasmea Odeh’ grows

    Minneapolis, MN – The struggle against the unjust indictment against veteran Palestinian American activist Rasmea Odeh is rapidly growing. Odeh, a respected leader in Chicago’s Arab and Muslim community, will have an arraignment hearing on a trumped-up immigration charge in Detroit on Nov. 13. She faces up to ten years in prison and deportation. A rally in support of Odeh will take place in front of the Detroit U.S. District Court building (231 W Lafayette Boulevard) at noon on Nov. 13. Mobilizations to attend the rally and hearing are underway in Chicago and Michigan.

    Coinciding with the Detroit hearing and rally, actions in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh will take place across the U.S. Cities planning solidarity actions include Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Milwaukee, Oakland and Philadelphia.

    A statement from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression points out, “The charges against her are a political attack on her as an individual and on Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities across the U.S. as a whole. The U.S. government is now carrying out enforcement of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. They are attacking Rasmea as they attacked the Holy Land Foundation, as they attacked the 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists in 2010 and as they attacked Carlos Montes.”

  • Communist Party of Philippines launches mobilization to assist super typhoon victims

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 9 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    CPP calls for mass mobilization, international support for relief operations

    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today extended its sympathies to the millions of people affected by super typhoon Yolanda which ravaged provinces in Eastern and Central Visayas, in Panay, Negros, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan, and other islands, as well as in areas in Eastern and South Eastern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and provinces in Southern Luzon.

    At the same time, the CPP called for mass mobilization across the country and abroad, to generate emergency supply and funds for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts. The CPP called on “people in the areas least affected by the storm to extend maximum possible help to the people who are most in need of emergency assistance.”

    Yesterday, tropical storm Yolanda (international name Haiyan) barreled across the Philippines, leaving a wide swath of destruction. Yolanda is considered to be among the strongest typhoons ever to hit land, and one of the most powerful of storms over the past 30 years.

    The CPP said that among the areas which were devastated by the strong winds are revolutionary base areas which are within the scope of authority of the provisional revolutionary government, and in the areas of operation of the New People’s Army and other revolutionary mass organizations.

    The CPP also pointed out that many of the areas ravaged by the typhoon were those recently hit by powerful earthquakes where people were most vulnerable to the strong winds and rains.

    “These areas are among the most impoverished in the entire country, where the majority are poor peasants, unemployed farm workers, small fisherfolk and indigenous peoples,” said the CPP. “They have long been abandoned by the reactionary government and will not be among its priorities for assistance.”

    The CPP said it is still awaiting detailed reports from its local committees, as well as mass organizations and NPA units in the areas.

  • More than 800 protest racist ‘Redskins’ football team name

    Minneapolis, MN – Over 800 people gathered here, Nov. 7, to demand the Washington Redskins change their racist name. Marching from the Minneapolis American Indian Center on Franklin Avenue south of downtown to the Vikings stadium, the protesters rallied in front of the Metrodome chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, little red Sambo’s got to go!”

    Joining people from around the country to condemn the “R-word,” protesters recalled similar demonstrations in Minneapolis – in 1991 when the Twins played the Atlanta Braves in the World Series and the 1992 Super Bowl when the Washington team played the Buffalo Bills.

    The rally, led by American Indian Movement (AIM) co-founder Clyde Bellecourt, also featured the voices of many youth speaking out as well as local congress member Betty McCollum, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, former Viking Pro-Bowl standout Joey Browner and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. Speaking to the crowd of hundreds weathering the cold, Bellecourt highlighted the historic work of AIM to revive Native culture and tradition in addition and their past protests of racist sports mascots. He noted the international media attention and efforts that have included condemnation of the name from city councils of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Washington D.C.

    The diverse composition of the protest highlighted the widespread demand from all segments of society to challenge Washington team owner Dan Snyder’s refusal to change the team’s name. Organizations including AIM and the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media committed themselves to continue the fight until the demands of the masses were met and the racist name is changed.

  • Filipino communists urge collective effort to deal with massive Typhoon

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Nov. 7 statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

    CPP calls on forces to collectively confront incoming storm Haiyan

    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today called on all revolutionary forces, especially barrio revolutionary committees in areas within scope of the most likely path of the incoming super-typhoon, to immediately put into place plans to collectively confront the possibly disastrous impact of the strong winds, rains, floods, landslides and mudflows in order to minimize the loss of lives and immediately undertake rehabilitation efforts.

    According to international weather monitoring agencies, tropical storm Haiyan (local name Yolanda) is set to impact any part of the Philippine archipelago from Bicol to Northern Mindanao on Friday afternoon with winds reaching more than 215 kph.

    “All revolutionary government committees down to the Barrio Revolutionary Committees, local branches of the CPP, basic units of the New People’s Army and revolutionary mass organizations in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Negros Island, Southern Mindanao, North Eastern Mindanao, North Central Mindanao and adjacent regions should immediately undertake efforts to prepare for the impact of typhoon Haiyan,” said the CPP.

    “BRCs in populated areas in geologically hazardous areas, including those at the foot of mining areas and logged over mountains, must prepare to mobilize for organized mass evacuation, putting into place measures to collectively monitor the exact path of the typhoon in the crucial hours before impact, as well as areas of likely floods and mudflows, in order to act with dispatch in the face of any contingency.”

    “Every BRC should ensure the safety and welfare of the entire population in their areas of responsibility,” said the CPP. “They must give special attention to the elderly, the sick, the children, the widows and others who may not be able to sufficiently prepare for the storm.”

    “The BRCs should be able to account for the entire barrio population during and immediately after the storm and promptly carry out emergency rescue operations when the need arises,” said the CPP.

    “In the past, the organized mobilization and swift action of the local Party branches and the barrio committees have been the most crucial factor in ensuring the safety of the population, minimizing the impact of storms and assisting the masses in immediately resuming their lives,” pointed out the CPP.

  • Jacksonville community tells school board: “No KKK High School”

    Jacksonville, FL – About 30 residents of Jacksonville rallied and spoke out at a Duval County School Board meeting on Nov. 5 in favor of changing the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High. Nathan Bedford Forrest was the first Imperial Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and members of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition (JPC) have been gathering community support to change the name of the local high school named after this monster for some time.

    Before the meeting of the school board, members of JPC held signs and rallied outside the building despite poor weather. Signs read “Change the name,” and “No KKK High School.” Activists were spirited as they talked to local media and chanted “What do we want – name change! When do we want it – now!” There was only one lonely person counter-protesting the rally and standing in favor of keeping the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest for the school.

    When it came time for the school board to meet, activists filtered into the room and signed up for public comment. The vast majority of the public commentary section was filled with activists speaking in favor of changing the name. The few racists who spoke in favor of keeping the name were often laughed at. One person was escorted out of the room by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for referring to black people with a racial slur.

    Members of JPC spoke passionately about the need to fight the long standing racist name of the school, including Teamster member and community activist Dave Schneider, who urged the school board to “be on the right side of history and change the name.” Lance Stoll of the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition handed the school board well over 1000 surveys indicating the desire of the community to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forest High School. Opponents to changing the name brought a gold letter opener with Nathan Bedford Forrest’s likeness and confederate Civil War medals from the 1800s as “supporting evidence” for their side of the story. Towards the end of the meeting, African American school board member Dr. Connie Hall read a request to “initiate the renaming of Nathan B. Forrest High School.”

    The meeting ended with a resounding victory when the school board decided to call for a special meeting on Friday, Nov. 8, at 1:00 p.m. to move forward with a vote to change the name. Community organizers are optimistic about the outcome of that vote.

  • SDS: Solidarity with Rasmea Odeh! Drop the charges, NOW!

    Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society.

    Students for a Democratic Society opposes the indictment of Rasmea Odeh. We recognize this attack as part of the US government’s attempts to silence and repress antiwar activists as well as the Arab community.

    On October 22nd, 2013, 65 year-old Rasmea Odeh was arrested in her home and charged with immigration fraud. The Department of Homeland Security alleges Rasmea did not disclose her arrest by an Israeli military court, which happened over 45 years ago, on her application for US citizenship. She could face up to ten years in prison and the revocation of her citizenship.

    The Israeli government is notorious for violating Palestinians’ human rights. Israelis often deny Palestinians any right to due process including, but not limited to, the right to know one’s charges, the freedom from arbitrary search and arrest, the right to representation in a trial, and the right to a trial by jury. Israeli military courts frequently detain and charge hundreds of Palestinian children per year. With this in mind, it is difficult to imagine that Rasmea received anything resembling a fair trial. After being in Israeli prisons for over 10 years, Rasmea went on to obtain both a law degree as well as a masters degree in criminal justice and continued to work toward a more just world. This year, she received an Outstanding Community Leader award from the Chicago Cultural Alliance for her work with the Arab American Action Network. This includes being a leader on the Arab Women’s Committee and leading the work in areas of civil liberties and immigrant rights. Her determination and dedication to justice should be applauded, not condemned.

    However, the case of Rasmea Odeh is primarily about political repression against Palestinian solidarity activists and community organizers. Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor its predecessor, Immigration and Naturalization Services, filed any charges before. It is a fact that Barry Jonas, who prosecuted the Holy Land 5 and is leading the ongoing investigation against the Antiwar 23 (including an SDS member as well as faculty advisors to SDS chapters) who were subpoenaed to a grand jury in 2010, was consulting the US Attorney presenting the indictment against Rasmea Odeh. Clearly, the sudden interest in Odeh is directly related to attempts to target, harass, and imprison those fighting against the ongoing US wars in the Middle East and those showing solidarity with Palestine. The members of SDS will not stand for it.

    Rasmea goes to court on Wednesday, November 13th. SDS unites with the international call for protests this day, and ask that students and youth join protests or hold one of your own on campus or in your communities. The fight to defend activists facing political repression is ultimately the fight to protect us all from political repression.

    If you are able to be in Detroit on Nobember 13th, join the solidarity rally at:

    U.S. District Court
    231 W Lafayette Blvd
    Detroit, MI 48226

    To take further action, we are asking people to do the following:

    1) Sign the petition to drop the charges against Rasmea! http://www.iacenter.org/rasmeaodehpetition/

    2) Call Barbara McQuade (U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan) at 313-226-9501 or 313-226-9100 and demand she drop all charges.

    3) Table, flyer, and plan events on campus in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh.

    4) Send a picture of support for Rasmea. Take a picture of yourself or your group holding a paper or banner saying “I am/we are Students for a Democratic Society and I/we support Rasmea.” Send them to cppr@aaan.org. Just remember that the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) may use your image in future publications and informational pamphlets that get published online or distributed as hard copies.

    5) Sign or write a solidarity statement and send it to stopfbi@gmail.com

    6) Mobilize to support Rasmea at her next hearing in Detroit on November 13th. For more information, email the Coalition to Protect People’s Rights at cppr@aaan.org