Fight Political Repression!

LRPers in Chicago and New York joined rallies called in defense of the activists whose homes were raided by the FBI on September 24 in Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. The victims include people involved in solidarity work with anti-imperialist struggles in the Middle East and Latin America, as well as supporters of groups such as the Students for a Democratic Society, the Arab-American Action Network and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. They were also among many who joined together to protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul in 2008. An FBI spokesman emphasized that the search warrants were related to an investigation into activities carried out in support of “terrorism.” In Chicago we have participated in meetings of the Committee Against Political Repression (CARP).

This government repression is an outrageous attempt at intimidation by the Obama administration. The LRP stands fully in solidarity with the FBI’s targets. It is commendable that all the activists have refused to speak to the FBI or testify at a grand jury proceeding.

A legal defense fund has been established to help people targeted by the raids. The Committee to Stop FBI Repression requests that donations be sent to: PO Box 14183, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Readers can access www.stopfbi.net for more details and updates, and there is also information at www.antiwarcommittee.org.