Chicago, IL — After holding NATO protesters for up to 48 hours, and releasing 6 out of 9 arrestees without any charges, the City of Chicago filed state charges last night against 3 Occupy activists from Florida, including possession of explosives or incendiary devices, material support for terrorism, and conspiracy. On Wednesday night at approximately 11:30pm, police raided a house in the Bridgeport neighborhood, detained several people in multiple apartments, and arrested 9 activists. Police broke down doors with guns drawn and searched residences without a warrant or consent.
All you folks in the 1st District of Illinois (Chicago), please give your attention to Ray Lodato for Congress.
The 1st District of Illinois needs leadership for the 21st Century. As your Congressman, Ray Lodato will fight to bring good jobs to the district, repair our infrastructure, and clean up our environment. Let’s move forward together!
I’ve only just read about Vivekananda’s speech in Stephanie Syman’s The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America (2010).
beingblog:
by Anne Breckbill, associate web developer
“‘Public Notice 3’ explores the possibility of revisiting the historical speech as a site of contemplation, symbolically refracting it with threat codes devised by a government to deal with this terror-infected era of religious factionalism and…
The American Sociological Association (ASA) announced today that it will move its 2011 Annual Meeting from Chicago in response to a labor dispute involving hotels in the city, including those that had been scheduled to host the meeting.
The Peace and Justice Studies Association, in keeping with its mission and values, is opposed to all governmental intimidation. Disturbed by apparent FBI harassment of US-based nonviolent activists, which appears to be politically motivated, we call on all of our members and colleagues to stand firm in our commitment to freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, in order to preserve a diversity of opinions and perspectives in our work for a more peaceful and just world. We are concerned that these actions are part of a growing trend to narrow the space for civil society, and we resolve that our nonviolent efforts for peace will only be increased in these trying times.
Boston Activists Protest FBI Raids
Some of the very peace activists whose belongings were searched and seized, without arrest, we must add, applied for permits to conduct the marches and rallies they did. Tell me, is this work in material support of terrorism? Will we soon be seizing the assets of Greg Mortenson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill McKIbben?
Sept. 27- Boston rallied in solidarity with Minneapolis and Chicago antiwar activists targeted by FBI raids. Between 30 and 40 protesters walked a lively picket line organized by the Boston May Day Committee, the International Action Center and United for Justice with Peace. They also leafleted supportive and curious passersby and exchanged information about the raids: the affected antiwar activists had their homes searched, their computers and mobile phones confiscated, together with personal letters, photos and files.
The demonstrators likened the FBI strike with the Palmer Raids of the early 20th Century and suggested connections with the persecution of Muslims and immigrants. They also suggested that the raids are aimed at weakening the right to organize. Placards featured slogans like: “When DID We Become a Police State?”; ”FBI Raids the Constitution”; “An Injury to One is An Injury to All!”; “FBI: Stop the Repression of Activists.” Attendees were also heartened by the turnout and the fact that the action was among more than 27 taking place around the country, all within 2-3 days for FBI action.
More than one demonstrator speculated that the raid was a propagandistic act to build support for the Obama administration’s initiative to broaden state surveillance powers. They are seeking to expand their ability to snoop on secure internet and telephone communications. Open Media Boston featured an editorial by this writer drawing attention to the diminished civil liberties protections of the Obama era.
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Taste of Chicago
Wish I could be at “the Taste.” But what’s this about fireworks being on the 4th? Traditionally, they’ve been on the 3rd. What will the suburbs do?
