FBI Protest December 4th, 2010 11 a.m to 1 p.m. In front of the World Trade Center, Downtown Long Beach (FBI has an office in the WTC) Ocean Blvd., cross street Magnolia Ave. Suggested Signs: "Stop FBI Repression" "FBI: Stop Crime, Not Peace" "FBI Has An Office In The World Trade Center, Long Beach" (to let folks know they are in town) "Protest Is Patriotic And Legal" "Dissent Is Patriotic" Hello, my name is Leonard Baric with the Long Beach Area Peace Network. As you may already know, the FBI raided and/or harrassed and intimidated peace activists throughout the country on September 24, 2010. They did this in Chicago, Minneapolis, Michigan, North Carolina, and California. Many of these activists were issued subpoenas to appear before a grand jury and had cell phones, computers, mailing lists taken from them ("confiscated"). They were accused of "providing material support to terrorists" in other countries, a patent lie. This "investigation" is a political action undertaken by the FBI to suppress dissent in our country, and a message to peace and social justice activists that if the FBI does not agree with their political views, they can be harrassed and even brought to trial for expressing their beliefs and engaging in democratic attempts to change U.S. foreign and domestic policy. One taregeted group of activists, the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, helped organize the protest of the Republican National Convention in 2008, where 500 protesters, including Amy Goodman, were arrested. For more info, check out their website, antiwarcomittee.com. Also, google searches with "fbi peace activists" will provide info, as well using search engines on independent web media sources like alternet.com and truthdig.com. We will be having a protest of the FBI actions, in concert with other peace groups acoss the nation, info below. I would like to remind everyone that even if your group does not have peace activism as its main objective, any unchallenged actions against activists by the FBI or any other agency are a threat to our constitutional rights. An injury to one is an injury to all. We will have signs at the protest, but please bring your own if you can as we expect a large turnout. We will be distributing call sheets with phone numbers for Congress, Attorney General Eric Holder, and the FBI so we can stage a "call-in" on the street in front of the local FBI field office in Long Beach. Thank you for your time. Please let us know approximately how many people you will bring to this event. All are welcome. We urge you to join us, as a democracy without participation leaves the door open for political oppression as seen on september 24th. Thanks again. Leonard Baric LONG BEACH AREA PEACE NETWORK
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