SCIC’s support to organizations raided by the FBI

The freedom of speech, press and peaceful assembly are the most sacrosanct rights guaranteed under any constitution, yet they have become the most trampled by government agencies both in the United States and abroad. Today, as it was during the darkest moments in our history, the fundamental liberties of peaceful activists and organizations from all social causes have been violated by a government bent on discrediting their work as sedition — one of the five exceptions to our freedom of expression – and falsely linking their work to known terrorist organizations.

Let there be no doubt that the actions of the FBI against our sisters and brothers exercising their First Amendment right to object to and peacefully protest America’s war in Iraq and Afghanistan; its support for Israel’s illegal occupation and oppression of Palestine and its people; and its direct involvement in government overthrows in Central and South America will not go unchallenged.

We have seen these tactics employed before by the FBI against civilians and by the Pentagon against conscientious objectors. And like those times, and by the example set by those before us, so too will we rise to the challenge in defense of our most cherished freedom against tyrannical rule on behalf of those whose voices remain silent.

The Southern California Immigration Coalition and its member organizations, grassroots activists, parents, teachers, students and supporters condemn the FBI raids against peaceful activists and stand in solidarity with them and our sister organizations in Minneapolis and Chicago, including the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Chicago March 10 Coalition for Immigration Reform, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Like them, we too remain steadfast, ready and willing to take this fight to any legislative house, courtroom or executive mansion that tries to intimidate us, bully us, or terrorize us into submission.

In solidarity and struggle,

Southern California Immigration Coalition
www.immigrationcoalition.org
(323) 602-3480