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<font size=4><b>We still need your help for the legal defense and medical
care <br>
for members of the <u>Arab community arrested on March 21</u>!<br><br>
<br>
</font><font size=3>The Backdrop:</b> Eight members of the Arab
community --mostly youth-- and two other activists were arrested at a
peaceful demonstration against the Iraq war. Many people were
severely injured due to police actions.<br><br>
<b>What Happened:</b> Two Arab youth were rushed from the scene to
the hospital in ambulances. Multiple felony and misdemeanor charges
were imposed on our community members and activists, with bail set over
$50,000 for most of those arrested.<br><br>
<b>What we accomplished:</b> We secured people to <u>loan</u> the
bond payments so we could get our people out of jail as soon as possible,
and got some people to make generous donations-- thank you all! We
organized our communities to make calls to the mayor and the DA saying
"drop the charges!". And, six people's charges have been
discharged so far! <br><br>
<br>
</font><font size=4><b><u>Four easy ways you can help: <br><br>
</u></font><font size=2>1. We need to raise $30,000 to pay for
legal defense and medical care, and will need to continue to raise even
more funds as additional costs accrue. </b><i>We have raised $6,000
so far, anything helps-- big or small.</i> </font>
<ul>
<li><font size=3>CLICK HERE TO DONATE BY PAYPAL:
<li>or Donate by Check to: Maherah Silmi at 1333 Gough Street, San
Francisco, Ca 94109
</ul><br>
</font><font size=2><b>2. We need you to make calls to the DA and
Juvenile Probation TODAY or TOMORROW to drop charges on the two juveniles
arrested:</b></font>
<ul>
<li><font size=3>Abdel Rahman Abu-Khadijah
<li>Sameh Ayesh</font>
</ul><font size=2><b>Ask the DA to drop charges on <u>ALL THOSE
ARRESTED</u> AT THE PROTEST ON MARCH 21ST.<br>
</font><font size=3>CONTACT INFORMATION:<br><br>
San Francisco District Attorney's Office:<br>
</b>call 415.553.1752<br>
press 1 for english<br>
follow instructions to use directory<br>
press: harris# (427747#)<br>
asks you for more letters: kamala# (526252#)<br>
puts you through to Kamala Harris' secretary (District Attorney)<br><br>
email:
<a href="mailto:DistrictAttorney@sfgov.org">DistrictAttorney@sfgov.org</a>
<br><br>
<b>Juvenile Probation Department<br>
</b>Phone: (415) 753-7800<br>
Fax: (415) 753-7715<br><br>
<b>3. Did you witness anyone getting injured or arrested? If
so, call Marissa at (510) 835-4354 so that our legal team can be in touch
with you for eyewitness testimony.<br><br>
4. Important: Share this information with your friends and family
and ask them to make calls and donations!<br><br>
<br><br>
<br><br>
</font><h3><b>AROC COMMENDS COMMUNITIES' SUPPORT IN DEFENSE OF THOSE
ARRESTED MARCH 21st<br><br>
</b></h3><font size=3><b>WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS COMMUNITY
EMPOWERMENT<br><br>
<br>
</b>The Arab Resource and Organizing Center is extremely distressed by
the occurrences of police repression that took place during and after the
March 21st protest against the Iraq War and other Occupations. <br><br>
Ten people were arrested. Eight of those were members of the Arab
community.. Two of the eight were youth under 18; four others were
between the ages of 18 and 20. Those arrested, as well as several
others, were seen by medical professionals for both serious and minor
injuries. <br><br>
At this time, we are pleased to report that the charges against 6 of
those arrested have been dismissed thanks to constant pressure from the
community on the District Attorney and the San Francisco Police
Department as well as outreach to San Francisco elected officials.
<b>This is an enormous victory and a testament to our collective
strength, however our work continues! <br><br>
Charges have not yet been dismissed for the two juvenile cases (names
undisclosed), or for two other adults (Margaret Belknap and Samuel
Bryson) also arrested that day—<u>please see info below and continue to
make calls!<br><br>
</u></b>AROC OFFERS OUR MOST HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PROVIDED FINANCIAL, LEGAL, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SUPPORT.<br><br>
<b>We have a continuing need for financial support to reimburse those who
paid thousands of dollars for bonds that obtained the release of our
youth. Please see below for information about donating to those
funds.<br><br>
</b>While some of the charges have been dismissed, the underlying
problems remain. <b>AROC views these occurrences as a direct attack on
the Arab community, as well as an attack on the civil liberties of others
acting in solidarity. </b> This sort of attack is reminiscent of attempts
by the US government, in the wake of September 11th 2001, to repress the
freedom of speech and activity of Arab communities. We are
concerned for our ongoing safety and will continue to provide support for
those affected by the March 21st arrests and abuses. AROC is also
concerned about the possible impact of these events on other communities
of color and social justice movements. <br><br>
We encourage our communities to remain united in the face of these
attacks on our civil liberties and to remain steadfast in our
organizing. In the same way that we stood up for our rights during
the community repression post September 11th, we have come together in
this moment, and <b>will continue to work together beyond this moment to
make sure that the Arab community is not isolated from other social
justice movements, and we will continue to stand united together as a
community. We will not be deterred from struggling for
justice!<br><br>
AROC will be working to convene a community gathering to support those
affected by this violence and repression, and to support and empower our
communities. Stay tuned or contact our offices for more information
(415) 861-7444 or email <a href="mailto:info@araborganizing..org">info
(at) araborganizing.org</a>.<br><br>
</b>Please note, if you were a victim of abuse, witnessed abuse, or are
in need of medical, legal, or emotional counseling in relation to the
events on March 21st, see the numbers below. We believe it is
essential to connect and work with the defense team of those arrested
from the Arab community.<br><br>
</font><tt>Arab Resource and Organizing Center ~ AROC<br>
522 Valencia St<br>
San Francisco, Ca 94110<br><br>
415.861.7444 ~
<a href="http://www.adcsf.org/" eudora="autourl">www.adcsf.org</a> ~
arabamericanlegal@gmail.com<br><br>
<br>
</tt><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
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