Welcome to Al-Awda New York: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition.
Oct. 11: From Palestine to OaklandFrom Palestine to Oakland: The Fight to Free Political Prisoners
Monday, October 11, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM 405 Milbank Hall, Barnard College 3009 Broadway, New York Map: http://www.barnard.edu/visitors/bc_map.html RSVP on Facebook Recommended: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121787404541092&ref=ts As part of the Global Days of Action for Ahmad Sa’adat and all Palestinian Political Prisoners, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine presents a talk featuring: FRANCISCO TORRES Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City, Cisco is a Vietnam Veteran who fought for the grievances of Black and Latino soldiers upon his return to the states. A former Black Panther, he has been a community activist since his discharge from the military in 1969. He worked with troubled youth up to the day of his arrest. Freed on bail in September 2007, Cisco is the sole defendant to still face charges as part of the San Francisco 8, a group of Black Panthers arrested for their alleged involvement in the 1971 murder of Sgt. John V. Young. LAMIS DEEK Lamis Deek is a Palestinian organizer born in Nablus, Palestine and raised in New York. She is member and co-chair of Al-Awda New York. In her practice as a lawyer, she focuses primarily on criminal defense and FBI investigations. She has handled a number of political prisoner cases domestically and witnessed the trial of Ahmad Sa’adat in Palestine. MICHAEL KENNEDY Michael Kennedy is currently a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at Columbia University. His research explores the lived experiences of Palestinian political prisoners, focusing on alternative forms of visual and textual representation. He also serves as a photography instructor and Regional Coordinator for the Research Journalism Initiative, an educational media nonprofit that provides conceptual and technical training in media production to Palestinian journalism students. Co-sponsored by: Al-Awda NY, Existence is Resistance, Black and Latino Student Caucus, ISO, Turath, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement Al-Awda Members Comment on Anti-Racism DemonstrationBelow is a comment by an Al-Awda member on the very successful protest against anti-Islamic bigotry. For more details on the protest, see http://www.iacenter.org/actions/muslimsolidarity-1-091210/ . Please share your feedback by writing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ! "It was a great day, it was a day to remember, it turned out wonderfully. There were more than 3,000 people. We were there to show them what we can do, and we did show them. Everyone saw what happened, we were all there, black, white, brown, from every religion, every political viewpoint. We were all there for two things: to support the mosque and to fight against racism. We did well and I would like to thank everyone for coming out and working so hard. If we continue like this there will be no racism in New York City. "We had very powerful speakers and a wonderful crowd. I only saw one negative incident, when the racists tried to hurt innocent people. Some cops weren't with us, but hopefully in the future they will understand that we fight for peace, not like the racists who only fight just to fight. "Thank you very much everyone. Al-Awda NY is going to be here for a long time, until the racists go away and Palestine is free!" -Ilter Ayturk, Member, Al-Awda NY Protest and Call-In Against FBI Repression!Join us as part of the national days of action against FBI repression! PROTEST in NEW YORK CITY, TUESDAY OCTOBER 5 4:30-6:30 PM 26 Federal Plaza, Broadway side, NYC Directions: all trains to Chambers Street or City Hall. Don't forget to call in on October 4 - see below: Actions to Stop FBI Repression Take Place Across the Country! Further actions planned for coming week on October 4 and 5 Thousands have come together in response to the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office on Friday, September 24, 2010. Across the country organizations and individuals are standing together to protest the United States government’s attempt to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists. Jess Sundin said, “These raids and subpoenas are an attack on anti-war and other progressive movements. It is an attack on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the government that their actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military.” Protests against the intimidation and harassment have taken place or are planned for 39 cities across the country. From Minneapolis and Chicago ,to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Kalamazoo MI and Dallas Texas, The response has been tremendous an continues to grow. We are calling for further actions to take place in the coming week as the first Grand Jury Subpoenas call for activists to appear on October 5. Monday October 4 : Call President Obama at 202-456-1111 and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 Demand : Tuesday October 5: Act in solidarity with activists called before the Grand Jury Take action at local federal buildings and FBI offices! Organize demonstrations in your community! In New York City, the protest will take place on Tuesday, October 5, from 4:30-6:30 PM, at 26 Federal Plaza, Broadway side, all trains to Chambers Street or City Hall. Sign the Petition Now: www.iacenter.org/stopfbi Funds for legal defense will be needed. We will announce where they can be sent in the next few days. Reach out to your organization or community group and send a statement of solidarity. Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose homes was searched said, “The assistance and support we have already received has been tremendously encouraging, with your help we can stop this outrageous fishing expedition and attack on progressive movements.” Click here to download the leaflet Committee To Stop FBI Repression: Al-Awda New York salutes Rev. Lucius WalkerSept. 8, 2010
A leader in the Black community, in the progressive religious movement, a giant in the anti-racist movements in the United States, he was a consistent, staunch and solidly principled defender of self-determination, national liberation movements, and a force constantly standing against racism, national oppression and U.S. imperialism. His role in the Latin America solidarity movement, and in particular the Cuba solidarity movement, is legendary. He founded and led IFCO, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, which, among its many strong campaigns, pioneered the Pastors for Peace annual caravans to Cuba, dedicated to breaking the blockade. Rev. Walker also strongly supported the liberation struggle of the Palestinian people, saluting the Viva Palestina caravan to Gaza and working with IFCO to support popular solidarity projects with Palestine. In fact, IFCO served as the fiscal sponsor of Viva Palestina USA - Lifeline to Gaza 2, making the project possible. We, as Al-Awda, were proud to share the stage, the streets and the struggle with Rev. Walker. Rev. Lucius Walker is part of the constellation of heroes of the struggle of all of our people for liberation, whose work and legacy will continue to inspire us all as we march toward liberation and a just world. Al-Awda New York, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition Al-Awda NY and USPCN denounce FBI raids and pledge to resist intimidation - Protest Tues. 9/28!Al-Awda NY joins with the US Palestinian Community Network denounces the FBI raids on anti-war, Palestine solidarity and Palestinian activists that took place in several U.S. cities on Friday, September 24. 2010. We are appalled at this gross violation of First Amendment Rights as well as the human and civil rights of social justice activists who speak for justice and peace for all our communities. We see this attack for what it is–an attempt at silencing opposition to U.S. wars in our homelands and our rights to express dissent at home. The movement for justice in/for Palestine in the United States will not be intimidated or silenced. We pledge our full support and our firm commitment to defend the targeted activists. Join us in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 28 from 4:30 to 6pm Federal Building at 26 Federal Plaza, to protest the raids! US Palestinian Community Network This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it A statement from the activists is below: For Immediate Release 24 September 2010 Contact: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612 Steff Yorek, 612-865-8234 Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists Homes Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the country. We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, October 24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina. “The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes,” said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI. “They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America.” This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America. The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian Political Prisoner). Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing expedition.” We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government. Activists have the right not to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely refuse, just say “No”. |
