Statement from Angela Davis Against FBI and Grand Jury Repression

This solidarity statement and many more, from a range of progressive organizations and leaders, can also be found on at Stopfbi.net. H/t to Fight Back! News.

On September 24 the FBI raided homes of 14 activists in movements in solidarity with oppressed workers and peoples of Latin America and Israel/Palestine. I consider these raids to be an assault on democracy. While the immediate targets of the raids were activists in movements in solidarity with trade unionists and others facing violence in Colombia and the Middle East, their purpose is to disrupt the unity of progressive movements by sowing suspicion, distrust, and an aura of guilt by association. I am not too young to remember the dark days of McCarthyism in our country, and I know very well what the effect of such government reprisals can be.

The FBI seized computers, cell phones, boxes of papers and personal possessions from all 14. They served grand jury subpoenas on many of them. The FBI announced they were investigating possible “material support” to terrorist groups. But it appears that their real purpose is to disrupt the growing unity of the majority of Americans who are critical of the wars and occupations being carried out today in Iraq and Afghanistan, who oppose U. S. support for violence against trade unionists in Colombia and against Palestinians by the Israeli government in Israel, on the West Bank, and in Gaza. The only way the FBI’s actions make any sense at all is to see them as an attempt to isolate and intimidate any who would dissent from government policy or speak out against injustice. These raids violate the spirit and the letter of the Bill of Rights. They endanger the freedom of the entire U. S. population.

We learned bitter lessons from the FBI’s COINTELPRO repression in the 1960s, in which African American leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and leaders of the Black Panther Party such as Fred Hampton, were targeted for assassination. Progressive movements were targeted for disruption.

40 years of Philippine Society and Revolution

An interview with Comrade Jose Maria Sison (Amado Guerrero), by Ang Bayan.

It has been 40 years since the Central Publishing House of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) first published Philippine Society and Revolution (PSR). In the past 40 years, PSR has served as the CPP’s principal reference and guide in laying down the basic principles of the two-stage revolution in the Philippines based on the analysis of concrete conditions of the semicolonial and semifeudal system. To commemorate the anniversary of PSR and reaffirm the principles it laid down, Ang Bayan decided to interview Comrade Jose Ma. Sison who, as CPP founding chair Amado Guerrero, was the principal author of the PSR.

1. Can you relate to our readers certain historical facts about PSR? When did you start writing it? Who were involved in the research and writing? When was it first published and in what form? To your knowledge, how many times has the book been printed?

Jose Maria Sison (JMS): I wrote it soon after the launching of the people’s war and on the eve of the First Quarter Storm of 1970. I started writing and finished it in the third quarter of 1969. Some comrades in the EC/CC like Charlie del Rosario and Monico Atienza brought me the reference materials that I needed. When I finished the rough draft around August 1969, I gave it to Julie de Lima and other individuals and the members of the Central Committee to gather their suggestions and comments.

Trial of John Graham Begins

As many who have been following this case know, the trial of John Graham, a native from the Yukon in Canada, for the murder in the 1970s his friend and comrade in the American Indian Movement (AIM), Anna Mae Aquash began yesterday. The real intentions though of this so called “trial” has to be understood though.

Firstly, it is an attempt by the State to rewrite history in order to cover up the brutal acts of repression they themselves committed against the indigenous people of the Americas. Secondly, it has the intent is to neutralize Indian struggles for survival in the face of colonial and economic domination.

Background About the “Case”:

In 2003, the US government charged Vancouver resident, John Graham with the 1970’s execution style killing of his friend and comrade in the American Indian Movement (AIM), Anna Mae Aquash. He was extradited from Vancouver in 2007 to stand trial in South Dakota. The trial begins November 29, 2010. He is facing life in prison. He maintains his innocence.

John Graham is a Tuchone native from the Yukon, Canada. Among otherthings, he is a father to eight, a pipe layer and a community organizer. In the 1970’s, Graham was involved with AIM.

Union del Barrio L.A. Base Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales’ statement on the DREAM ACT

By UDB LA Base Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales. H/t to the Raza Press and Media Association.

The Federal Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, also known as the DREAM ACT and previously introduced as S.729 / H.R. 1751, is a legislation that would permit “undocumented” youth conditional legal status and eventually citizenship status once they meet ALL the following requirements:

• Entered the U.S. before the age of 16,
• Are under the age of 35,
• have lived in the U.S. continuously for 5 years,
• graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED,
• have good moral character with no criminal record and
• attend college or enlist in the military.

We, the youth base of Union del Barrio, Base Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales, full-heartedly denounce the military component of the DREAM Act. We as an organization are against any legislation that would lead to the militarization of our brothers, sisters, friends and community. Many DREAM Act supporters do not realize that by supporting the DREAM Act with the military component they are also supporting the inhumane War in Iraq, the slaughter of thousands of immigrants at the border, and undemocratic military coupes in “Nuestra America”. The deaths and inhumane treatment of our gente will be implicated by your own selfishness. The militarization component is not the only problem with the DREAM Act. There are no options for citizenship within the DREAM Act for students who have been pushed out of the educational system or who are thirty-five and over. We call for a Dream Act that will not have a life or death choice for our youth, especially when many undocumented students come from poorly funded high schools in working-class neighborhoods where Army recruiters outnumber college recruiters. Army recruiters make many promises to our youth. For instance, the army promises to pay for college, traveling around the world and a path to citizenship. We as Union del Barrio understand that the American government has created a poverty draft supported by the cuts on education. Given the current financial crisis and the push-out rates at our schools, joining the Army is becoming a more attractive option for our youth.

Canadian Government Co-opts Sisters In Spirit

H/t to People of Color Organize! for this.

On Friday Oct. 29, 2010, the Canadian government announced the end of (by lack of funding) the Sisters in Spirit (SIS) program — disappearing the program just as women disappear — to the point that not even the name or logo of Sisters in Spirit may be used.

The announcement was dumped into the Friday afternoon news cycle, just as was the Federal government’s announcement that it had to agreed to ratify the UN Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [and may I note the announcement was made by a woman, Conservative MP Rona Ambrose].

As defined by its creator the Native Woman’s Association of Canada (NWAC), SIS is/was: a research, education and policy initiative driven and led by Aboriginal women. Our primary goal is to conduct research and raise awareness of the alarmingly high rates of violence against Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.”

The government instead announced the creation of a…national strategy that includes the promise (and we all know how much currency a government promises carries) of $10 million for a national police support centre for missing persons and unidentified remains that won’t be operational until 2013 at the earliest. The new centre will rely on missing persons reports filed with local police forces. From the local police station reports, the new database will provide linkages to other cases if they exist (what about complaints of racism and the charge that local police officers ignore or do not follow up on these missing persons reports?).

New Wave of “Terror-Scare” an Old US Imperialist Ploy to Intensify Military Intervention for US Military Basing and Economic Interest

By Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, Spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao. This appeared on Philippine Revolution.

There has been a series of “terror-scare” spreading in the country of late. The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Mindanao (NDFP-Mindanao) views this chain of events along the following the lines:

1. The United States, being in the throes of a deep recession and trapped in the quagmire of wars of aggression in the Middle East, is looking up to the Philippines as its second front to secure its geo-politics in the Asia-Pacific, protect its economic interest and unhampered US military basing in the country. It had to install a more reliable ally — Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III – through a pre-programmed election and drum up a new wave of terror to justify its intensified military intervention.

2. Reminiscent of its old tactic that led to the terror events in the Philippines after the 9/11 attacks, this scheme is to justify the increasing presence of US troops in the country, and more aggressively launch the US counter insurgency strategy. Recently, some three thousand US soldiers have arrived to participate in joint military trainings in Luzon called CARAT and Phiblex, obvously, in blatant violation of our sovereignty. Hacienda Luisita of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan has even been targeted as the venue for these military exercises.

3. This wave of “terror-threats” and its subsequent violent “counter-terror” campaigns is a prelude to a full throttle attack against the revolutionary movement come January 2011. It comes as no surprise that AFP propaganda spin-doctors have maliciously rehashed the baseless “NPA-MILF-Abu Sayyaf” collusion angle.

Korea Crisis: Basic Facts and Historical Context

From the National Campaign to End the Korean War.  It can be downloaded as a PDF here.

Facts on the Recent Artillery Duel:

• On Tuesday, November 23rd, 70,000 South Korean and American military troops engaged in an annual military drill, called “Hoguk [Defend the State],” involving 50 warships, 90 helicopters, 500 warplanes, and 600 tanks mobilized for war simulation exercises scheduled for a period of 9 days, until Nov. 30th.

• The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) criticized the mobilization, stating that they were provocative, and demanded that South Korea halt the drill.

• South Korean artillery units fired toward DPRK from a battery close to the DPRK coast, within a disputed maritime region called the Northern Limit Line (NLL). The disputed border on the west coast between North and South Korea was drawn unilaterally by the U.S. Navy in 1953; it was never recognized by the North.

Voices of the Voiceless: Immortal Technique

Immortal Technique is rapper who needs to little introduction to those familiar with underground or political hip-hop. Born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, most of his lyrics focus on issues in global politics, based largely in a mixture of revolutionary socialist commentary on issues such as class hierarchy, poverty, religion, government and institutional racism. Without any major label support he has been able to build a large following and has released three albums - Revolutionary Vol. 1, Revolutionary Vol. 2, and The 3rd World - as well as numerous mixtapes.

While much of his lyrics are problematic – containing heavy doses of conspiracy theoryism and decidedly less than radical treatments of women and queers – his commitment to anti-imperialism and economic democracy make his a voice that is at least a cursory listen. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds,

Korea ‘Crisis’ Made in Washington

By Deirdre Griswold for the International Action Center.

When a “crisis” regarding Korea suddenly appears in the U.S. corporate media, their take is always that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (socialist north Korea) has done something totally irrational to cause it.

They totally disregard the facts of what happened and, of equal importance, what led up to it.

Yes, the DPRK shelled the island of Yeonpyeong on Nov. 23. According to south Korean officials, two of their soldiers were killed. But the shelling occurred at 2:34 p.m. Korean time. What had happened earlier?

Some 70,000 south Korean military personnel had been mobilized for war “exercises” right off the sea borderline between the north and the south — which is disputed territory. The south Koreans admit to having fired shells into waters that the DPRK considers its territory at 1:00 p.m. — more than an hour before the north’s response.

Emergency Protests Say: No New Korean War!

From the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition. Some of these protests have already happened, but others are to take place tomorrow.

Actions in Washington D.C, San Francisco, Los Angeles and around the country

The anti-war movement and all progressive people and organizations should stand against any new war, and demand an end to the U.S.-South Korean provocations.

Washington, DC Saturday, Nov. 27, 12 Noon White House

Albuquerque, NM Saturday, Nov. 27, 1pm UNM (Central and Harvard)

San Francisco, CA Monday, Nov. 29, 5pm Powell and Market Sts.

Los Angeles, CA Monday, Nov. 29, 5pm Wilshire and Western metro stop

New York, NY Monday, Nov. 29, 5pm Times Square (43rd St. & 7th Ave.) in front of the Military Recruitment Center

No New Korean War! Stop the Provocations – U.S. Military Out of Asia Now!

Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop’s Contribution to the Freedom Campaign

Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop’s Contribution to the Freedom Campaign. This album, put together to support the Leonard Peltier Freedom Campaign, features some of contemporary rap’s best and brightest political voices, including M1, Immortal Technique, T-K.A.S.H., Talib Kweli and 2Mex.

Leonard has been incarcerated in Federal Prison for the 1975 shooting death of two FBI agents during the government siege of the Pine Ridge Lakota Indian reservation since 1977.  His extradition from Canada, his trial, his conviction and his post-trial experience has been one long example of the hypocrisy of the colonial “justice” system. To learn more about the Peltier case check out Friends of Peltier and Leonard Peltier Defence Committee.

The album is available for purchase & download at CDBaby. It is also available for download on iTunes, Amazon.com, and more! So pick it up, and help popularize and given money to a worthy cause.

The Poverty of Philosophy

Some truth from Immortal Technique.

Navajo Jean Whitehorse: Boarding Schools, Relocation and Sterilization

By Brenda Norrell, the editor of Censored News.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jean Whitehorse, Navajo, endured the US government’s boarding schools, relocation and sterilization. Today, she says the BIA unwittingly gave her the best education that money could buy; not by giving her job training in the San Francisco area, but by placing her near the Occupation of Alcatraz.

At the age of 19, it was the right time and the right place for Whitehorse to learn who she was as an American Indian.

Speaking at the 42nd Anniversary of the American Indian Movement, during the weeklong conference, Whitehorse described her own journey, beginning with the exile of her people, the Navajo or Dine’.

Whitehorse said when Navajos were forced on the Longest Walk, they were removed from their homeland for four years. The government returned Navajos to only ten percent of their land, and only did so because the government felt the land was worthless. Later, oil, gas, uranium and coal were discovered on Navajoland.

Whitehorse, from the Eastern Agency of New Mexico on the Navajo Nation, said she grew up with abuse in boarding schools. The “Board of Education was the ruler. It was to punish you. My whole boarding school experience was all about abuse.”

Mumia Abu-Jamal: Some Who Feel No Reason For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving: A National Day of Mourning for Indians

Why do hundreds of people stand out in the cold rather than sit home eating turkey and watching football? Do we have something against a harvest festival?

By Moonanum James and Mahtowin Munro of United American Indians of New England.

Every year since 1970, United American Indians of New England have organized the National Day of Mourning observance in Plymouth at noon on Thanksgiving Day. Every year, hundreds of Native people and our supporters from all four directions join us. Every year, including this year, Native people from throughout the Americas will speak the truth about our history and about current issues and struggles we are involved in.

Why do hundreds of people stand out in the cold rather than sit home eating turkey and watching football? Do we have something against a harvest festival?