Join UNAC at the rally to end Stop and Frisk in New York City.

1. Join UNAC at the rally to end Stop and Frisk in New York City.         
   
   

 As you may know, there will be a very important rally and silent march against Stop and Frisk in New York City on June 17.  At a May 6 New York City meeting called by UNAC and the Muslim Peace Coalition we decided to support the demonstration and build a contingent where we will be marching with the demands of: End Stop and Frisk, Stop Spying on Muslims, Stop Promoting Islamophobia, Stop Waging War on Us.

Our antiwar and anti-Islamophobia contingent will gather with some others at 110th St. and 8th Ave at 1 PM (this is different than what was sent out before).  Please join us.

There are downloadable flyers for our contingent and the rally at the UNAC web site at www.UNACpeace.org.

The march is organized by SEIU 1199, NAACP, National Action Network and others.

Endorsers of our contingent include: UNAC, Muslim Peace Coalition, Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan NY, Interfaith Center of NY, May 1st Workers and Immigrant Rights Coalition, Muslim alliance in North America (MANA), Women in Islam, Solidarity with Iran, International Action Center, Free Mumia Coalition, International Socialist Organization, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Venceramos Brigade, Muslim Consultative Network, DRUM, Pakistan USA Freedom Forum, Bail Out the People Movement, Occupy Hartford, Ct. Indefinite Detention Coalition, National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms.

For transportation information to New York for June 17, please contact Toka at 860-680-7247 or Mongi at 860-514-8038 from Connecticut, Joe at 518-439-1968 from upstate, NY, for Boston, Marilyn at 781-316-2018.  For all other areas, please send an email to UNACpeace@gmail.com

Please spread the word about the rally and our contingent.

1. Join UNAC to protest at the political conventions

At the UNAC convention in March, we voted to support demonstrations at the Democratic and Republican conventions.  On our last Coordinating Committee Conference call we voted to make a financial contribution to organizations organizing both protests.  Please start organizing transportation from your area for these demonstrations. Information can be found at the web sites below:

Protest at the Democratic Convention: http://wallstsouth.org/

Protest at the Republican Convention: http://marchonthernc.com/

1. Support those arrested in Chicago at the NATO/G8 protests

The Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild has condemned the actions of the police during their attacks on the anti-NATO & G8 protesters in Chicago on May 20.  Their report can be found here: http://nlgchicago.org/.

As you may know, there are still 8 people being held on serious felony charges.  These include the NATO 5, all with terrorism charges under an Illinois law. Their defense is being organized by Occupy Chicago.  Please go to the Occupy Chicago web site for more information on the defense: www.Occupychi.org. 

Please call States Attorney Anita Alvarez at 773-674-6209 and demand that all charges be dropped against the anti-NATO/G8 protesters.

1. Victory for Carlos Montes.     

There has been an important victory in the case of Carlos Montes.  Due to public protest, three felony charges against him have been dropped on the condition that he plea “no contest” on a single count of perjury with no jail time.  The original charges could have resulted in 18 years in state prison. 

This victory is due to the defense efforts of those of us who supported him.  A very public campaign was waged in support of Montes.  This shows that, even during this period of continual attacks on civil liberties, victories can be won when a public campaign is waged.  When their attacks are done in the public eye, the government realizes that it will pay a political price for attacks on our civil liberties and will often back off.

Carlos Montes’ home was raided on May 17, 2011 by combined forces of the LA County Sheriff’s Swat Team and the FBI, by crashing his door down at 5 a.m. with automatic assault rifles drawn.  Montes’ charges centered around the fact that he owns firearms.  This apparently is illegal for someone convicted of a felony.  The prosecutor claimed that Montes had been convicted of a felony for allegedly throwing an empty soda can at a demonstration that took place decades ago.

Montes is a longtime Chicano community and antiwar leader.  His case should be seen in the context of the other 23 antiwar and solidarity activists who have had their homes raided by the FBI and who have been handed subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury.  The victory in the Montes’ case shows the way forward for others who are attacked by the government including the other 23 antiwar and solidarity activists, the NATO protesters, Muslims and others.  Montes’ and the other 23 antiwar and solidarity activists are being defended by the Committee to Stop FBI repression.  You can support these defense cases at www.stopfbi.net.