Solidarity with all mujeres who are political prisoners. #Justice4Rasmea pic.twitter.com/a2k2kiwowf

— Loca (@loquitag) November 10, 2014

Two symbols of the continued resistance of the Palestinian people: Steven Salaita & Rasmea Odeh

U.S. Attorney threatens supporters of Rasmea Odeh

Breaking news from StopFBI.Net:

Bizarre DOJ accusations against Hatem Abudayyeh attempt to criminalize opponents of political repression

In a bizarre and desperate move, prosecutors in the case of Palestinian American leader Rasmea Odeh filed a motion in Federal Court Oct. 3, which characterized the efforts of an important leader of the Rasmea Odeh defense campaign, Hatem Abudayyeh, as “jury tampering” and “almost certainly criminal.” The prosecution then asks Judge Gershwin Drain for an “Anonymous Jury,” which means that the names of the jurors are kept secret from the defense attorneys, and that an array of security measures are put it place during the trial that make it seem like 67-year-old Rasmea Odeh is a dangerous person.

There is no evidence at all for the baseless accusations against the movement in support of Rasmea. The prosecutor’s motion is a clumsy attempt at intimidation and should be condemned by everyone who is concerned about civil liberties.

Here are the facts. Rasmea Odeh is a beloved leader of the Palestinian community in Chicago who is facing trumped up immigration charges. Imprisoned by the Israelis in the late 1960s, due to her work to free Palestine, Rasmea was tortured and sexually abused. She is well-known and respected across the world. The federal government is threatening her with jail and deportation. As a result, a powerful and effective movement organized protests around the country, demanding “Justice for Rasmea.”

Now the prosecutors are waging an attack on everyone involved in this movement to support and defend Rasmea.

They talk about ‘jury tampering.’ Until there is a trial, there is no jury, so how could a jury possibly be tampered with? In any event, at no time have we ever tried to improperly influence a jury. Not once. What we are doing is organizing protests, having people sign petitions and holding educational events. We are encouraging people to attend Rasmea’s court appearances. We are shining a light on the unjust prosecution of Rasmea. We want the government to drop the charges.

In the prosecutor’s motion we are told, “Hatem Abudayyeh has orchestrated a concerted effort to influence the criminal proceedings against defendant, which has resulted, at each proceeding, in a large group outside the Courthouse protesting and parading, carrying signs demanding dismissal of charges and 'Justice for Rasmea' and displaying the Palestinian flag.” Imagine that. Palestinians, Arabs and progressive people responding to an injustice by holding a protest and engaging in activity that is protected by the First Amendment. In the world that the Detroit U.S. Attorney wants, speaking out as we have is, “almost certainly criminal.” On the contrary - it is criminal for the prosecutors to attempt to restrict our constitutional rights.

It is worth noting that there is a distinctly racist, anti-Arab undertone to the prosecutor’s motion, where spirited and dignified protests, with a majority of Palestinian American participants, are described as “hordes” and “mobs.” Again, the federal government is trying to sow fear among people in the U.S. by criminalizing and stereotyping Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims. As one of Rasmea's lawyers said when he was informed of the motion, it, " is only intended to play the 'terrorism' card and is unacceptable."

The prosecutors also have a problem with people who want to petition the government for a redress of grievances, so they complain in their motion that those who want the charges against Rasmea dropped “have previously attempted to flood Department of Justice telephone lines in an attempt to influence these proceedings.”

We will continue to hold call-in days and we will organize even more people to participate in them.

We take the threats of the prosecution seriously. We urge all of our supporters to keep their eyes on Detroit and to be ready to respond to any attacks on leaders of the Rasmea defense campaign.

We see these threats as a sign that our campaign to defend Rasmea Odeh is working. We were successful in getting Zionist Judge Borman off the case. There are now thousands of people across the country engaged in organizing for Rasmea. We will not allow the government to intimidate us. This attack will bring more supporters and strengthen our work further. We will redouble our efforts to make sure the charges against Rasmea are dropped!
 

Stand With Salaita! Posters in support of Prof. Steven Salaita's speaking tour in Chicago, Oct. 6th - 9th, 2014

Anti-War Committee - Chicago will be selling prints of these at all the events on the speaking tour. All proceeds will go toward the honorarium for Prof. Salaita. For information on the events, days and times: https://www.facebook.com/events/714970348587355/

Video of Ali Abunimah from "Forum: The lessons of Gaza & the tasks of the movement here"

Video of the forum on September 25, 2014 including MCs Kait McIntyre of Anti-War Committee - Chicago and Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Nesreen Hasan of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. This segment includes remarks by Ali Abunimah of Electronic Intifada, with responses by Manar Daghash, youth member of USPCN, and Mirjana Abu-Khalil, president of Students for Justice in Palestine - UIC.

Forum: The lessons of Gaza & the tasks of the movement here

Thursday, September 25

6:30 pm

Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, Chicago

Panelists:
Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada

A member of U.S. Palestinian Community Network

Holly Kent-Payne, Anti-War Committee – Chicago

Larry Redmond, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Mirjana Abu-Khalil, Students for Justice in Palestine - UIC

Israel’s murderous Operation Protective Edge has ended, with the worst death toll of Palestinians ever. And yet, Israeli cabinet members, and even Zbigniew Brzezinski, are seeing this as a defeat for Israel. 

What is the sum-up of the Gaza assault? What will be the consequences of this? 

• For the Two State solution? 
• For the Palestinian leadership? 
• For the BDS (boycott/divestment/sanctions) movement? 
• For the movement of the Palestinian diaspora? 

Come to a discussion to understand the lessons of the Israeli war on Gaza, the Palestinian resistance, and how to build the anti-war and solidarity movement here.

Sponsors so far: Anti-War Committee – Chicago; Freedom Road Socialist Organization; U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Chicago Area Peace Action, SDS at College of DuPage.

https://www.facebook.com/events/537958029671811/

Understanding Boeing's Role in the Navy's Next-Generation Drone Warfare

No Drones Illinois has done an amazing job laying out Boeing's role in the next generation Drone warfare.

Within days of antiwar protesters making a lot of noise at the 2014 Chicago Air and Water Show -- with a strong emphasis on the role of Boeing in the killing in Gaza and in next-generation killer drone technology -- the U.S. Navy quietly conducted tests that may change the way the Navy goes to war.

Check out the article here.

NEWS ALERT: For Immediate Release | Anti-War Committee (AWC)-Chicago

Press contacts: Hatem Abudayyeh, 773.301.4108, hatem@aaan.org;

Joe Iosbaker, 773.301.0109, joeiosbaker@gmail.com

Peace activists: Chicago, Drop Boeing as sponsor of Air and Water Show

Press conference, Die-in planned for Saturday at North Avenue Beach

Saturday, August 16, 12:00 noon press conference 

North Avenue Beach, west side of North Avenue Bridge (park side)

Followed by die-in

Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s deadly assault on Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians and anti-war activists have repeatedly marched in Chicago. Since the start, the protests have raised the demand that the Boeing Company stop providing Israel with the F15 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and smart bombs that have terrorized the people in Gaza.

The coalition of groups brings their campaign against Boeing to the Air and Water Show this weekend. Boeing is a major sponsor. Joe Iosbaker of the Anti-War Committee – Chicago, which initiated the action against Boeing, said, “We demand that the City of Chicago drop the company from the sponsors of the Air and Water Show. No company that makes profit from the slaughter of civilians should be part of city events.”

Iosbaker added, “We oppose U.S. aid to Israel. Our government has provided the weapons, many from Boeing, with which Israel has killed 2000 Palestinians, 80 percent of whom are civilians, including 463 children; and seriously wounded nearly 10,000 more.”

Hatem Abudayyeh of the Coalition for Justice in Palestine, which convened the mass marches for Palestine here, said, “We endorse this protest. The murderous assault on Gaza over the past month will result in a growing movement to boycott, divest and sanction the government in Tel Aviv. This is the first of many such efforts to come.” Joining the protest on Saturday, he explained, “Boeing has become the poster child for the crimes that U.S. companies commit in the world.”

The groups targeting Boeing will join the press conference by the Coalition to Shut Down Guantanamo at noon.

Endorsing organizations: Anti-War Committee – Chicago; Coalition for Justice in Palestine (American Muslims for Palestine, Chicago Islamic Center, Islamic Community Center of Illinois, Palestinian American Community Center, Palestinian American Council, and United States Palestinian Community Network), Jews for Justice in Palestine, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantanamo, Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, 8th Day Center for Justice, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy, Illinois Coalition Against Torture, American Friends Service Committee, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestine Solidarity Group, ANSWER - Chicago, Chicago Area Peace Action, Evanston Neighbors for Peace, Chicago Light Brigade

NEWS ALERT: For Immediate Release | Anti-War Committee (AWC)-Chicago

Press contacts: Hatem Abudayyeh, 773.301.4108, hatem@aaan.org;

Joe Iosbaker, 773.301.0109, joeiosbaker@gmail.com

Boeing peace protesters to go to court;

 Vow to continue efforts against Boeing’s complicity with Israel’s murder of Palestinians in Gaza

Boeing Company has become a national target of the BDS movement (Boycott/Divest/Sanction) in the U.S. against U.S. companies aiding the Israeli government. This national trend began when five Chicago activists were arrested at Boeing headquarters on July 16.

Tuesday, August 12, 2:30 PM court date | 3:00 PM press conference 

Circuit Court of Cook County, 2452 W. Belmont, Chicago

Five activists were arrested in an act to expose the Boeing Company’s complicity with Israel on July 16, when they entered the Boeing lobby wearing blood-soaked t-shirts to oppose the company's ongoing provision of weapons to Israel to bomb and shell civilians in Gaza. Chicago police arrested and charged them with trespass, a misdemeanor.

Four of the arrestees will appear on Tuesday at 2:30 in court at 2452 W. Belmont, Chicago. They will hold a press conference directly following the court appearance to discuss the case. 

The protesters include activists with the Anti-War Committee/Chicago, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Students for Justice in Palestine.

Speakers will include the protesters' attorney, Melinda Power, and Hatem Abudayyeh, of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, one of the Palestinian community leaders of the recent mass marches in Chicago that oppose the Israeli assault on Gaza.

The July 16 Chicago Boeing protest initiated a growing wave of protests against the company around the country opposing Boeing's profiteering from Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Boeing provides fighter jets, bombs and missiles to the Israeli military that have been in steady use on the bombardment of Gaza.  More than 2000 Palestinians have been killed, many due to weapons produced by Boeing. 

Protests against Boeing will continue in Chicago this week. The Anti-War Committee is supporting a protest at the Air and Water Show on August 16th to oppose war and militarism and to demand that Boeing be removed as a sponsor. Joe Scarry of the Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantanamo will attend Tuesday's press conference.

Hani Al Safadi, a Chicagoan with family in Gaza, will also speak about the suffering and death experienced by the Palestinian people there.

Sun, Aug. 10: Chicago March Against World Silence on Gaza Massacre

Join us as at 2:30pm at Congress and Michigan in Chicago as we march against the world silence on the massacre in Gaza.

 Look for the our banner (it says Free Palestine on top, End the Siege on Gaza in the middle, and Antiwar Committee Chicago at the bottom) to march with us and be a part of our contingent!

Click here to check out the Facebook event.

Then...

Join us for the Antiwar Committee meeting 5:30pm at  1325 S. Wabash (suite 105; the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights office).

Anti-War Activists Demand City Drop Boeing From Air & Water Show

On July 30, anti-war activists held a press conference and die-in to protest the genocide in Gaza and demand that Boeing be dropped as a sponsor of the Air and Water Show in Chicago.

Click here to see the video. Thanks to Progress Illinois!

Demand Chicago Drop Boeing from Air and Water Show!

Press Conference & Die-in
Wednesday, July 30, 9:30 a.m. 
City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., 2nd Floor

Boeing Company is a major sponsor of Chicago’s annual Air and Water Show this summer. Many people come to the lake shore every year to see displays of jets and other aircraft.

Boeing weaponry are responsible for many of the over 1000 dead and over 6000 seriously wounded Palestinians in Gaza in the past three weeks. The dead are mostly civilians, including over 200 children. Israel’s fighter jets – the F15s and F16s – as well as Apache helicopters are all made by Boeing.

Boeing has made billions from the sale of weapons for use in Israel's attacks, as part of its eight year old siege of Gaza.

The City of Chicago should drop Boeing from the sponsors of the Air and Water Show. No company that makes profit from the slaughter of civilians should be included.

Protest initiated by: Anti-War Committee – Chicago, Jews for Justice in Palestine, U.S. Palestinian Community Network and 8th Day Center for Justice. Endorsed by: Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantanamo, Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, Chicago Faith Coalition on Middle East Policy, Illinois Coalition Against Torture, American Friends Service Committee, Jewish Voice for Peace, Palestine Solidarity Group, ANSWER - Chicago, Chicago Area Peace Action, Evanston Neighbors for Peace

Pictures from sit-in at Boeing Company headquarters on 7-16-14

Protestors sit-in at Boeing Company headquarters, protest weapons for Israeli attack on Gaza Chicago – Wednesday, July 16, 2014

At 5:00 p.m. today, a group of activists from the Anti-War Committee – Chicago (AWC), the 8^th Day Center for Justice, the American Friends Service Committee, the Episcopalian Peace Fellowship, and Jews for Justice in Palestine, entered the Boeing Company building and refused to leave. They went there to deliver a message: they oppose the Boeing Company providing weapons for the Israeli siege of Gaza. The action was initiated by Jewish Voices for Peace, as one of a number of actions happening around the country in response to the vicious assault by Israel.

AWC – Chicago issued the following statement about their participation the action. AWC has gone after Boeing for almost two years for their role as the second largest arms manufacturer. Kait McIntyre, one of the protesters, is a candidate for Boeing’s board of stock holders. Also among the AWC protesters are Joe Iosbaker, Newland Smith, and Bonnie Coyle.

The Anti-War Committee - Chicago condemns Boeing Company for manufacturing weapons for targeted deaths of civilians in the Israeli siege of Gaza

In our campaign against Boeing we have routinely exposed their company as a key element of the U.S. war machine, which profits off the sale of weapons for U.S. wars and U.S. allies. Boeing reaps billions from the sale of weapons for use in the Israeli attacks on Gaza as part of its eight year old siege of Gaza. Boeing has provided the Israeli air force with several hundred F15 and F16 fighter planes and thousands of tail kits designed to make dumb bombs into “smart bombs,” improving accuracy. More recently Boeing designed a laser seeker to add to the nose of a bomb equipped with their tail kit, giving the ability to engage moving targets.

In addition Boeing has provided at least 60 of the Apache attack helicopters to Israel, as well as their payloads of “pinpoint accurate” Hellfire Missiles.

In observing the precision of Boeing’s products, we learn something about Israel’s bombing and missile strikes on Gaza.  As these weapons are so precise, then the deaths of civilian men, women and children - the vast majority of the 200 killed by Israel - are premeditated. The Israeli pilots know who is in their gun sights. They launch their weapons with full knowledge.

This means that the Israeli pilots are no different than the criminal settlers who burned Mohammed Abu Khdeir alive. They are killing in cold blood. They are killing civilians – men, children, women, and old people. They bomb food stores, hospitals, and even a center for the disabled.

The men who killed Mohammed Abu Khdeir have the sounds of their victim in their minds, but Israeli pilots have killed hundreds since Israel’s operation “Protective Edge” began, and thousands more throughout the history of the occupation.

Finally, Chicago is home to one of the largest Palestinian communities in the U.S.  Chicago is also home to the Boeing Company, whose stock price soars from the slaughter of countless Palestinians. This is a slap in the face we cannot abide.

End the siege of Gaza now! End U.S. aid to Israel! Free Palestine!

 

End the seige of Gaza NOW!

Several thousand Palestinians and their supporters rallied and marched here, July 9. Antiwar Committee Chicago is proud to be in the streets with our brothers and sisters.

Teach-in on U.S. Intervention in Ukraine

No New Cold War with Russia

No U.S. Support for Fascist Atrocities in Ukraine

We Need Funds for Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Schools, Not for War

Thursday, May 22nd

7:00 p.m.

205 W. Monroe Street, 5th floor

8th Day Center for Justice

Speakers:

Rick Rozoff, manager of the Stop NATO website

Carl Rosen, President of the Western Region of the United Electrical union

Marina DudaNova, a local activist who lived through a war in her homeland, Transnistria, in 1992

This teach-in has been called to respond to developments in Ukraine in the past weeks: in Odessa, the deaths of 46 people and burning of the House of Labor at the hands of fascists; the attacks on cities in east and southeast Ukraine by army and fascist militia attacks; and the growing moves by the US and NATO in Ukraine and threatening a new war with Russia.

Sponsors:

8th Day Center for Justice

American Party of Labor

Anti-War Committee – Chicago

Chicago Area Peace Action

Stop NATO

Students for a Democratic Society – College of DuPage

Workers World Party

This event is organized as part of the call for emergency antiwar actions by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). To read the statement, a list of endorsing organizations, and see the events around the country, go to: https://unacpeace.org/

https://www.facebook.com/events/648309835239946/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Anti-War Committee t-shirts, $15 plus shipping. Contact joeiosbaker@gmail.com

Boeing Campaign video

Kait McIntyre's campaign video (made by Bonnie Coyle) to take on Boeing.

Stop Boeing's Killer Drone

The Anti-War Committee is organizing to oppose the Boeing Company’s plan to win the Pentagon contract for the next generation combat drone.

Sign our new petition here.

We will be protesting at the Boeing Stockholders Meeting on April 28th at the Field Museum.

Stay tuned for more information.

We are supporting Kait McIntyre’s campaign to get elected to the Boeing board on an anti-war platform.

Here is Kait's platform:


1.       Her platform calls on Boeing Company to disinvest in drone research, stop seeking drone contracts in general and end its pursuit of the Navy UCLASS combat drone contract. Boeing should close the Phantom Ray drone project, end production of the Scan Eagle program, and stop any current or future bidding on drones for warfare and surveillance without proper warrants. The US’s use of drone warfare – targeted killing, and attacks in countries where we have not declared war - violates international law. We need to end wars, not build a new generation of deadly weapons.

2.       Her platform calls on Boeing Company to end military production. The projected cuts to the Pentagon budget are greatly needed, but are only the beginning of retooling of our economy away from war production, in the interests of humanity and the U.S. economy.  In line with the needed cuts to the Pentagon, Boeing should shift its business strategy to phase out all military production. The United States has spent trillions of dollars in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan alone, as well as in Libya and Syria. This money could have been contributed toward schools, jobs, health-care, and other social service programs that benefit people. Pentagon contracts and weapons manufacturing mean death and destruction. From the depleted uranium bombs that have poisoned the soil and people of Gaza, to the B52 bombers that killed so many Vietnamese, we deeply regret that Boeing products have harmed so many and linked the Boeing name with bloodshed, death, and destruction.

3.       Her platform calls on Boeing Company to end their history of corporate welfare and class warfare, and give back to the communities where they operate. Boeing uses loopholes to dodge paying taxes, but tax payments on their enormous profits could stop the slashing of government funded social programs. In addition,Boeing should repatriate profits from overseas operations.

Current Boeing CEO James McNerney has said that educators and families with children in school in Chicago may have to “do some things at the local level that the local level doesn’t want to do in order to ensure some quality.” His meaning is clear: he backs Mayor Emanuel’s attacks on the teachers and children of Chicago Public Schools. Boeing should put a stop to these attacks and speak out against Emanuel closing schools and turning schools into military academies.

Boeing should sign onto labor peace agreements. We believe that the key to building a company is keeping well-paid jobs with benefits like pension plans, and treating workers fairly. We oppose cutting jobs for thousands just so a handful can buy multi-million dollar homes in Miami.

Finally, Boeing should commit their vast wealth to research and development for green air travel, and lead the industry towards sustainability. This is urgently needed as climate change accelerates.

Update on Anti-Boycott Bill in IL State Legislature

03/21/2014

We are delighted to report that State Senate Bill 3017 was not called for debate or a vote during the Judiciary Committee hearing on Wed., March 19th. It now appears, although there is no certainty on this, that the bill will not be moved forward during this legislative session. If the March 28th deadline for moving a bill is not met, it means this unconstitutional assault on academic freedom and free speech will have effectively been defeated.

We have come this far because people and organizations throughout Illinois took action. Our hundreds of phone calls and email messages, the petitions, and the direct discussions with members of the State Legislature all had an impact and made a difference! We had a sense we were on strong footing when we saw that 95 organizations and individuals had submitted to the Judiciary Committee "witness slips" through Wednesday indicating that they opposed this legislation, even though they could not appear at the committee hearing in person. Only 3 people submitted witness slips in support of the bill.

The issue is not quite settled though. A State Senate resolution introduced by the same Senator Silverstein, SJR 59, is still pending.  It has much the same  purpose of undermining academic boycotts of Israel, minus the punitive measure of defunding public universities.  The Resolution has still not been assigned to a Senate Committee, so we will keep you updated on its status, and on what you can do to oppose it.

Thank you for making your voice heard!  Look out for our continued updates  on any related developments.

The Illinois Coalition to Protect Academic Freedom and Free Speech was formed in response to anti-boycott legislation introduced in the Illinois State Senate.  The Coalition includes the Center for Constitutional Rights, CAIR-Chicago, Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago, Palestine Solidarity Legal Support, American Studies Association, Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago, Arab-Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, Committee Against Political Repression, Friends of Sabeel: North America, United States Palestinian Community Network,  American Friends Service Committee- Chicago, Just Foreign Policy, Defending Dissent Foundation, American Muslims for Palestine, UIC Graduate Employees Organization, IFT-AFT Local 6297,and other individuals.