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<a href="http://palestineconference.org/wp/2010/12/16/uspcn-stands-against-political-repression/">
USPCN Stands Against Political Repression<br><br>
</a></b></font><font size=3>The United States Palestinian Community
Network (USPCN) strongly condemns and denounces the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s political repression of 19 anti-war, Palestine solidarity
and Palestinian activists. <br><br>
<b>The USPCN calls for the immediate suspension of the federal
government’s grand jury prosecution of these activists, and an end to the
FBI’s harassment of our communities.<br><br>
</b>Since September 24, the FBI has raided seven Chicago and Minneapolis
homes of activists and has served a total of 19 federal subpoenas across
the Midwest. The targeted citizens are outspoken community organizers and
students critical of U.S. policy in Colombia, Palestine, and the Middle
East. <br><br>
The grand jury and FBI are seeking evidence that connects the 19
activists and their “potential co-conspirators” to U.S.-designated
“terrorist organizations.” Five of the nineteen activists being targeted
are Palestinian-Americans whose only crime is working tirelessly to
inform fellow citizens of the realities of Israeli occupation. None of
the 19 has been charged with a crime, and all deny providing material
support, including money, to any foreign organization. These activists
are shining examples of courage and fortitude, ordinary citizens doing
the extraordinary work of building knowledge and support for justice and
a common humanity <br><br>
Federal harassment of our communities and associational life has grown
precipitously during the last decade, as Arabs, Muslims, and their
allies, continue to be persecuted for their lawful and necessary civic
engagement. This suppression of civil rights and free speech seeks to
criminalize and quell civic activism undertaken in support of Palestinian
and other oppressed peoples’ struggles against U.S.-funded occupation and
war. This harassment must stop.<br><br>
<b>The United States Palestinian Community Network stands in full support
of our brothers and sisters unjustly targeted by the federal
government.<br><br>
</b>We assert our determination and commitment to challenge our
government’s policies, both here and abroad, and will continue to defend
the rights of Palestinians, our allies, and all those struggling against
oppression. The USPCN upholds the constitutional right of Americans to
dissent without fear of persecution, and the rights of peace and justice
organizations to organize, educate, and assemble, free and unbridled.
<br><br>
<i>We call upon all USPCN local chapters, members and fellow citizens, to
join existing local and national efforts organized by the Committee to
Stop FBI Repression. Please visit:
</font><a href="http://www.stopfbi.net/"><font size=3 color="#0052A3">
http://www.stopfbi.net<br><br>
</a></i></font><font size=3><b>Do not be intimidated, we struggle
together. Continue to speak your conscience, continue to educate, and
continue to organize. Justice will prevail. <br><br>
</b> <br>
<br>
<b>December 16, 2010<br>
US Palestinian Community Network<br>
Web:
<a href="http://www.palestineconference.org/">
http://www.palestineconference.org<br>
</a>Email:
<a href="mailto:uspcn@palestineconference.org">
uspcn@palestineconference.org<br>
</a>Twitter:
<a href="http://twitter.com/uspcn">http://twitter.com/uspcn<br><br>
<br>
</a></b></font><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">
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