Free the Anti-Minutemen 5!

Protests shut down Minutemen "Debate" in Chicago

2006-05-05T13:02:00.000-05:00

Coverage:

Sun-Times

From ABC 7: "Inviting the Minutemen into this community is like inviting the KKK into a largely black community," said Rehana Khan, an Anti-Minutemen defendant. Read more.

2006-04-30T21:14:00.000-05:00

The Anti-Minutemen Defendants Defeat the State's Efforts to Put Them in Jail... and the Battle Continues from Here!

On Tuesday, April 25, in Rolling Meadows, IL, the Anti-Minutemen defendants defeated the attempts of the state's attorney's office to put them in jail and convict them on trumped-up charges stemming from a peaceful protest against the Minutemen para-military vigilantes.

The Minutemen are the semi-official shocktroops of the viciously anti-immigrant agenda coming down from the top levels of government right now. Like the brownshirts in Nazi Germany, they act as the mostopenly rabid enforcers of a fascistic agenda, who both gain praise from people in their camp (including Congresspeople and Governors), while at the same time are sometimes distanced from important leaders (like the President), in tactical maneuvers of a very strategic alliance. Distancing yourself is quite different than opposing the Minutemen. Part of the goal here is to make draconian laws like the Sensenbrenner Bill, or others that greatly expand the grounds for mandatory detention and deportation, legalize indefinite detention, expand detention capacity, and further militarize the border, look like the rational "middle ground" between the vigilantes and those righteously calling for amnesty.

On Oct 15th, 2005 the Minutemen held an "America First National Summit Bootcamp" at Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights. A Confederate flag, with its legacy of slavery, lynchings, and Jim Crow oppression, hung prominently at the America First Summit. This conference brought together national leaders of the anti-immigrationvigilante movement, white supremacists, politicians (Congressman Tom Tancredo was on the "invited" list) and ex-military personnel to strategize on how to round up and hunt down undocumented immigrants on the borders and throughout the country.

At the request of the Minutemen, the police attacked this protest, singled out five activists, and filed false charges of resisting arrest and battery. On Tuesday, the state's attorney, after a conference in which he was pressured by our lawyers and the judge, threw out thecharge of resisting arrest, and we took a plea bargain on the charge of battery. We were given one year of court supervision; have to complete 240 hours of community service by April 2007, and if we are arrested for any reason within that year, we risk returning to court for these charges.

With these charges, we faced the combined forces of the State's Attorney, the police, and the Minutemen, all of whom were working together to try and make us spend time in jail for opposing this dangerous and well-connected hate group. The intimidation was clear:The Assistant State's Attorney gave subpoenas to media that had covered the protest or that had written articles about us. He threatened to subpoena one of our press volunteers, and harassed our supporting organizations. On the Friday before the trial, a support rally at Arlington Heights City Hall was met with an absurd geared-up police force triple their size and hounded by cameras at every move. They wanted to make an example out of the Anti-minutemen defendants and make everyone around the country afraid to oppose the Minutemen.

According to the State, the Minutemen can arm themselves, take the law into their own hands to hunt down human beings like animals and whip up hatred of people who are or look like immigrants, and that's supposed to be "legitimate". But when people link arms to protest one of their meetings, they are met with snipers on the roof, and the police attack the protesters and then force them to take responsibility for "battery" on the cops. This is a profound injustice, and even unjust within the rules of this system.But it is also true and important that the Minutemen and the State did NOT get what they wanted. We turned this case around on its head; we mobilized many supporters to defend us and we brought the opposition to the Minutemen onto the national stage. The news coverage we received finally brought the other side to the repeatedly one-sided media coverage of the Minutemen. It even featured one of our lawyers, Jed Stone, saying that the Minutemen are the "new Ku Klux Klan."

The state's attorney first attempted to throw us a "deal" of 30 days in jail, and then a "deal" requiring an apology under oath! We refused to take these so-called "deals", and stuck to our principles, even though taking them would have meant getting the case over with quicker.The plea bargain that we took on April 25 did involve a compromise, and it's not without potential problems. At the protest on October 15th, we were singled out for arrest based on passionately speaking out against the Minutemen, and now, under supervision, we are living under the threat of again being singled out for attack by the police, and being forced to go back to court for these original charges. And the Minutemen, who have photographed our supporters at demonstrations and sent us threatening emails, are furious that we were not jailed. The cofounder of the Illinois Minuteman Project called for us to be jailed for ten years. Despite what happened in court, we refuse to compromise on opposing this hate group, and we will need our supporters to be prepared to defend us if we come under further attack.

We understand that we do not deserve these hours of forced and assigned community service, and we do not deserve the year of court supervision. But, we did not deserve to have been arrested on the 15th either, and we did not deserve being brought to court, either. We made a tactical decision to take this deal, because we knew we faced a very difficult battle to defend ourselves against these false charges. In particular, the charge of resisting arrest is notoriously difficult to defend; it is often used by cops to attack protests, because it is very easy to convict someone of this charge and then supervision isnot an option.

We have spent the last six months battling the Minutemen in the courts. The battle for the rights of immigrants and against the Minutemen will be won by taking to the streets and organizing with the people. Sometimes in the course of this, people can be made to defend themselves for opposing injustice and must fight in the courts. However, we definitely do not make the rules, in the courtroom, everything is stacked against defendants, and innocent people get convicted all the time. In a perfect world, we would not have had to take this deal, but in a perfect world, we would never have needed to be at the protest to begin with.

We give our deepest thanks to our friends, our supporters, and our lawyers Jim Fennerty, John Curnyn, and Jed Stone. If it had not been for their many efforts, hard work, and sacrifice, we would not have made it through and won the victories we were able to achieve- including further laying the basis to get the Minutemen out of our communities altogether.Many people have been afraid to stand up against the Minutemen. And many people also hold illusions that the Minutemen are "just a bunch of crazies" or do not hold much power, hoping that if we ignore the Minutemen they will just go away. But everything we have learned in these last 6 months shows us that not only are the Minutemen a seriousgrowing threat that must be exposed, confronted and stopped, but that the struggle of the people can defeat this hate group. We hope that everyone takes these lessons to heart.

We believe that people should be willing to take risks to fight for what is right and in these times of extreme attacks on immigrants, what is needed is courage. We always knew that we might be punished severely for standing up for the right thing and for defending those who come under attack. We will continue to risk our freedom and oursafety for a better future but we will also continue to fight fiercely against any effort to punish anyone for standing up for what's right. Just because people are willing to be unjustly punished for their actions in support of justice, does not mean we accept that punishment or grant any moral ground to those who would punish us.

The protest on October 15th is one we will always remember. Not just because it started us on a long legal battle, but for something else. That day was one of the most beautiful displays of unity amongst diverse groups of people from different communities and different backgrounds. For us, this spirit of solidarity did not end there. The Anti-Minutemen defendants- white, Latino, Muslim- were a microcosm of that day. Only two of us knew each other from before, but we worked together, bonded by our similar convictions, seeing everyone's fate as linked together. We see our broad mix of nationalities and backgrounds as an incredible strength, and helped bring togethermany different communities of supporters. Together with our supporters we prevented the State from jailing us and helped to reveal the true nature of the Minutemen, their connections all the way up, and to the whole anti-immigrant agenda, into the media and into public discourse.It is this solidarity between different groups that is needed if we are to stop the Minutemen and stop the attacks on immigrants. Together we fight for a better future for immigrants and all people. As the defendants prepare to march proudly with our sisters and brothers from many different nations on May 1st, we will look at the people around us joined in solidarity, and see the seeds of a much brighter future.

In struggle,

The Anti-Minutemen Defendants:

Kara "Penny" Norlander
Rehana Sabah Khan
Cynthia Linda Gomez
Eric Zenke

More news coverage of the Anti-Minutemen 5

2006-04-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

ABC 7

Sun-Times

Tribune

NBC 5

Anti-Minutemen protesters reach deal!!!!

2006-04-25T07:13:00.000-05:00

Read more below: (from the Daily Herald)

"This is an important victory for those of us who believe the Minutemen are the new Ku Klux Klan," said Jed Stone, a defense attorney representing one of the protesters. Read more:

Press Release -- Trial Starts Tuesday!

2006-04-24T02:56:00.000-05:00

April 23
Media Advisory
Press Contact: Jo Jessup
Phone: 773-220-6338 or email anitminutemen5@yahoo.com

Anti-Minutemen Trial Begins April 25th
Press Conference 12:00 noon Rolling Meadows Court House

The trial of the Anti-Minutemen defendants begins April 25 2006. This group of young people-white, Latino and Muslim were arrested for peacefully protesting against the racist paramilitary vigilantes known as the Minutemen. Their trial will be held at 2121 Euclid Street, Rolling Meadows, IL and presided over by Judge Hyman I Riebman in courtroom #107 at 9 AM.

A press conference will be held at 12:00 noon at the Rolling Meadows Court House opening day of the trial in support of the defendants. The defendants Cynthia Gomez, Kara Norlander, Eric Zenke and Rehana Khan are being represented by Jim Fennerty, past president of the Chicago National Lawyers Guild, Jed Stone, past president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Lawyers and attorney John Curnyn.

On Oct 15th, 2005 the Minutemen held an “America First National Summit Bootcamp” at Christian Liberty School in Arlington Heights. A Confederate flag hung prominently at the America First Summit. This conference brought together the national leaders of the anti-immigration vigilante movement, white supremacist, politicians and ex-military personnel to strategize on how to round up and hunt down all undocumented immigrants on the borders and throughout the country.

In response to this summit a multinational demonstration came together from all over the Chicagoland area to protest the escalating attacks and draconian laws that are aimed against all immigrants. Hundreds of people, families and organizations participated in this protest.

Acting on orders from the Minutemen and without provocation the police attacked this protest. The police selectively arrested these young people on multiple charges of battery and resisting arrest. These defendants face a year in jail and $2,500 fine.

In an attempt to intimidate the growing support for this case, Assistant State's Attorney Lance Northcutt told the court he would issue subpoenas to media outlets and at least one organization present at the protest. Subpoenas were said to be issued to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, La Raza Newspaper, WRTE FM, Daily Herald and other reporters and news organizations. Northcutt has even listed a press volunteer for the Anti-Minutemen defendants as a potential witness for the prosecution and threatened to subpoena them. These subpoenas ordered the media to turn over their audio, video and print articles pertaining to the event on October 15, 2005, no later than April 19, 2006.

Rather than oppose the threat of contempt of court charges, the Daily Herald supplied hundreds of photographs to the Assistant State's Attorney, most of which were never published. At this time, the defendants do not know how other media outlets have responded to this outrageous demand that they become the eyes and ears of the prosecution.

Report on the actions of Friday, April 21, in Arlington Heights:

2006-04-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

A small but spirited picket line demanding the charges be dropped against the anti-minutemen 5 took place outside the temporary offices of the city of Arlington Heights.

Carrying signs that read "No to the Minutemen!" "Drop the Charges Against the Anti-Minutemen 5!" "No one is illegal!" people marched to the beat of drummers in front of the offices.

We chanted to the passing cars and those stopped at the traffic lights:
"No to the Minutemen
Drop the Charges
No one is illegal
Si se puede!"

and

"Drop the charges, it's gone to far.
Stop putting protestors behind bars!"

In response to this small but disciplined action, the police of Arlington Heights had surrounded the entire parking lot with yellow police caution tape. They had police officers stationed on the roof of the building and about 30 police deployed in riot gear throughout the parking lot.

The police took still pictures and video taped our protest!

The Anti-Minutemen 5 go to court Tuesday April 25 at 8:00 a.m. to start their trial. Below is information:

April 25 is the first day of our trial. Rally at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse at 8:15 a.m.

At this rally, we need an unmistakable show of support, with many people demanding:

-- NO to the Minutemen!--
DROP THE CHARGES on the Anti-Minutemen Defendants!
-- NO JAIL TIME for a peaceful protest!
-- Defend the rights of immigrants!

The Courthouse is at 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
There are two places where we will meet to carpool at 7:00 a.m. sharp:

-- Casa Michoacán: 1638 S. Blue Island Avenue (at Loomis/18th). We are planning to get a bus leaving here as well. Click here for a Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1638+S+Blue+Island+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60608&ll=41.861635,-87.660255&spn=0.025953,0.073214

-- the World Can't Wait office, 1741 N. Western, Chicago
Click here for a Google map:
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1741+N.+Western+Avenue,+Chicago,+IL&ll=41.914254,-87.68712&spn=0.014115,0.042915&om=1

News and Updates for Thursday

2006-04-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Anti-Minutemen Defendants,

With only 5 days left before our first day in court, we have much to do!!! Below is an important update, and please read further for information on our rallies in Arlington Heights on Friday April 21 (tomorrow!!!) and our vigil outside the courtroom on April 25.

1) Stop the harassment of the Anti-Minutemen supporters!!!!

In the last few days, people and organizations that have supported the Anti-Minutemen defendants have been intimidated by the Office of the State's Attorney. A person in our defense network was contacted by the investigator for the State's Attorney, Dick Devine, and was threatened with a subpoena -- which would mean being forced to testify in court at our trial -- and not because the State's Attorney thinks they've found another eyewitness. We see this as a blatant attack on anyone who has dedicated themselvs to supporting us. This is an outrage and it cannot go down!!!

In addition, two organizations that have supported us, and that organized people against the Minutemen on October 15, have either been contacted by the State's Attorney or been served with a subpoena that could force them to testify in court. This is a straight-up attempt to intimidate anyone who opposes the Minutemen --

will you let this go down unopposed?

Call the State's Attorney, Dick Devine: (312) 603-3000, or by email at http://us.f378.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=stateattorney@cookcountygov.com . Tell him to stop intimidating our supporters! Hands off our press person! And hands off anyone else they might try to intimidate or attack as part of their efforts to punish us for opposing the Minutemen.

We are still asking people to call the Mayor of Arlington Heights and tell her that you support the Anti-Minutemen 5, and that the charges should be dropped. No one should be prosecuted for peacefully protesting. And Arlington Heights should not support the Minutemen!

Arlene Mulder

Mayor of Arlington Heights

847-368-5105

847-368-5100

We need hundreds of phone calls to go out in the next few days -- both to the State's Attorney, to tell him to stop intimidating our supporters and to drop the charges, and to the Mayor, to tell her to stop standing with the Minutemen. Please call everyday and encourage all the people you know to do the same.

News and updates from the Anti-Minutemen Defendants

2006-04-16T17:30:00.000-05:00

Dear friends and supporters of the Anti-Minutemen Defendants ...

(For background information, click here: http://antiminutemen5.blogspot.com/2006/03/who-anti-minutemen-5-are-repeat-post.html
With less than 9 days left until trial on April 25, we are in a very crucial time! This email contains information on what we need to accomplish in the next 9 days.

This is a time of historic resistance and struggle over the rights and the future of immigrants. The Anti-Minutemen defendants are some of the many people who have put their lives on the line to say that racist vigilantes and fascist shock troops will not be tolerated. And now they could be punished for this with 4 years in jail – for a peaceful and symbolic protest! Will this be tolerated or not? What will you do?
Here is what we are trying to accomplish in the days leading up to the trial:

1) Rally to tell Arlington Heights to stop supporting the Minutemen!!!
We are holding a rally on

Friday, April 21, at 3 p.m, Arlington Heights City Hall,

3436 N. Kennicott Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois.
(click here for a Google map.)

Last October, it was the Arlington Heights Police that called out a high-level attack squad on our peaceful protest against the Minutemen. It was the Arlington Heights Police that invented these charges against us. All across the country, cities are taking sides for or against immigrants' rights – will Arlington Heights support and protect racist armed thugs like the Minutemen, or will they stand for the rights of immigrants and those who defend them? We need a big presence at this rally on April 21st, a few crucial days before our trial, when the state's attorney still has a chance to drop the charges!
(If you want to carpool, meet at 1:30 p.m. at the World Can't Wait office in Chicago: 1741 N. Western Avenue – near the Western Blue Line stop. Click here for a map:

2) April 25 is the first day of our trial. Rally at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse at 8:15 a.m. At this rally, we need an unmistakable show of support, with many people demanding:
-- NO to the Minutemen!
-- DROP THE CHARGES on the Anti-Minutemen Defendants!
-- NO JAIL TIME for a peaceful protest!
-- Defend the rights of immigrants!
The Courthouse is at 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
There are two places where we will meet to carpool at 7:15 a.m:
-- Casa Michoacán: 1638 S. Blue Island Avenue (at Loomis/18th) Click here for a Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1638+S+Blue+Island+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60608&ll=41.861635,-87.660255&spn=0.025953,0.073214
-- the World Can't Wait office, 1741 N. Western, Chicago

3) We have raised just under $2,000 from our friends and supporters; people have dug into their pockets from the little that they have, so that we can to fight these ridiculous charges. But we still need at least $8,000 more to raise. Very soon, you will be able to make donations at www.antiminutemen5.tk through PayPal, or you can send donations directly by mail to:
Law Office of Jim Fennerty

36 South Wabash, Suite 1310

Chicago, IL 60603

Attn: anti-MM5

Things you can do:
-- throw a house party and ask everyone to contribute for our legal funds
-- get together with your co-workers and pledge a certain amount
-- ask businesses to make a donation or to have a day where a certain percentage of their sales goes to our legal fund

4) And last, we still need the word to spread. Do all of your friends and the organizations you work with know that the state is trying to punish us with years in jail for opposing the Minutemen? What are they planning to do? Are they coming out to our rallies on April 21 and 25? Can they help organize? In these times of inspiring and brave protests by immigrants, the stakes are very high – we need to send a clear message that it is right to oppose the Minutemen, and no one should be jailed for peacefully and symbolically opposing this fascist group!
We will keep you informed of updates and changes as they come. Please contact us at antiminutemen5@yahoo.com if you want to help, or for any questions or news we should be aware of.

In struggle,
the Anti-Minutemen Defendants

Noticias de los acusados en contra de los Minutemen

2006-04-16T17:26:00.000-05:00

Un mensaje de los acusados en contra de los Minutemen
(para información acerca de nuestro caso, visita a:
http://antiminutemen5.blogspot.com/2006/03/otra-vez-quines-son-los-5-en-contra-de.html)
Queridos amigos y apoyantes de los en contra de los Minutemen:
Nos quedan menos de 10 días hasta el juicio, el 25 de abril, y estamos en un período muy crucial. Este mensaje contiene información acerca de lo que necesitamos lograr en los 10 días siguientes.
Estos son tiempos de resistencia y lucha histórica acerca de los derechos y el futuro de los inmigrantes. Los acusados en contra de los Minutemen son algunas de los muchos que se ha arriesgado para decir que los vigilantes racistas y las tropas de choque racistas no se pueden tolerar. Y ahora podrían ser castigados por eso, con posiblemente 4 años en la cárcel -- ¡Por una protesta pacífica y simbólica! ¿Se va a tolerar eso o no? ¿Qué vas a hacer tú?
Eso es lo que necesitamos lograr en los días antes del juicio:
1) ¡Manifestación para decir a la ciudad de Arlington Heights que dejen de apoyar a los Minutemen!
El viernes, 21 de abril, a las 3 de la tarde,
en el ayuntamiento de Arlington Heights,
3436 N. Kennicott Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois.
(http://www.antiminutemen5.tk/ También se pueden enviar donaciones directamente a:
Law Office of Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603
Attn: anti-MM5

Otras ideas para recaudar fondos:
-- hacer una fiesta en su casa, y pedir a todos que hagan donaciones para nuestros gastos legales
-- agruparse con sus compaños de trabajo para comprometer una cantidad de dinero
-- pedirles a los negocios que hagan una donación o que en un día determinado, cierta cantidad de sus ventas vayan a nuestro fondo legal.

4) Y, últimamente, necesitamos que siga corriendo la voz. ¿Saben sus amigos, y las organizaciones con que trabajas, que el estado nos quiere castigar con la posibilidad de cuatro años en la cárcel por oponer a los Minutemen? ¿Qué van a hacer? ¿Van a ir a nuestras manifestaciones el 21 y el 25 de abril? ¿Pueden ayudarnos en organizarlas? En estos tiempos de protestas valientes y inspiradoras, corremos gran peligro pero también tenemos grandes oportunidades. Necesitamos enviar un mensaje claro que ¡es justo oponer a los Minutemen, y nadie merece la cárcel por oponer a este grupo fascista!
Les mantendremos al tanto con cambios y noticias cuando sucedan. Por favor, escríbannos a
antiminutemen5@yahoo.com si quieren ayudar, para avisarnos de noticias importantes, o si tienen alguana pregunta.

En la lucha,
los acusados en contra de los Minutemen
http://www.antiminutemen5.tk/

Pueden visitar a nuestra página de Internet para bajar archivos:
http://www.freewebs.com/antiminutemen5/ammf_files/downloads.html (English)
www.freewebs.com/antiminutemen5/ammf_files/downloadssp.html (Español)

Daily Herald article on our case

2006-04-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

The village of Arlington Heights must release any abuse or criminal complaints against four police officers involved in the arrests of young adults during an October protest against the Chicago Minutemen Project, an anti-illegal immigration group.

To read the rest, click here.

Fundraising Event!

2006-04-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday, April 8, Doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Fundraising Party for the Anti-Minutemen 5
Galería Colibrí, 2032 W. 18th. Street, Chicago, IL
Music, Raffle, and more

Counterpunch does a piece on the Anti-Minutemen Defendants

2006-03-29T10:00:00.000-06:00

By RON JACOBS

There have been a number of massive protests across the United States for immigrant rights in recent weeks. The particular impetus for these protests is a bill authored by the anti-immigrant Congressmen Rep. Sensenbrenner and his allies that was passed by the House in late 2005 and is currently being considered in the Senate. The bill, numbered H.B. 4437, is a repressive piece of legislation authored by one of the most reactionary legislators in the Congress. Not only would it penalize undocumented workers, it would also criminalize any acts designed to help these members of US society. This bill is just the most obvious aspect of a growing wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States.
Back in October, the anti-immigrant vigilante group The Minutemen held a conference in Arlington Heights, Illinois. People opposed to the Minutemen's agenda protested the event. Five were arrested by police in what many witnesses agreed were rather brutal arrests. The Anti-Minutemen Five-as they are known in the Chicago area--are scheduled to stand trial on April 25, 2006 on a variety of charges. I recently contacted the arrestees through their defense organization. Some of them agreed to answer some questions I emailed to them. A transcript of our email conversation follows:
Click here to read the rest.

News articles about the Minutemen and immigrants' rights

2006-03-23T00:10:00.000-06:00

A selection of different articles about immigrants and the Minutemen, organized by date:
1) DC Immigrants March
Revolution newspaper, March 26, 2006
from the article:
Northern VA has also seen the most recent foray of the “Civil Defense Patrols of the Minutemen,” the infamous KKK-like anti-immigrant stormtroopers who have been so highly praised for their valor and patriotism in defending the borders by Congress members and governors of both political parties. The Minutemen's activities on the border with Mexico have been portrayed as a “clamor from the grassroots” to justify militarizing the border. Now they are operating in cities and towns far from the border, stalking and photographing day laborers and those who would hire them, attempting to force immigrants more into the shadows.
Northern Virginia's population has traditionally had large numbers of white, affluent, retired and active military families, government workers, and Pentagon and CIA employees. In Herndon, VA the Minutemen were met with protest when they began photographing and harassing Latino day laborers who gathered at a 7-11. But they have continued to expand their operations. Montgomery County, Maryland, which has a large immigrant population and has traditionally provided a lot of social services to immigrants, and where cities such as Takoma Park have passed ordinances protecting immigrants, has seen the Minutemen begin photographing and stalking the day laborers at hiring halls run by CASA Maryland, an immigrant rights organization that operates several such halls and involves the immigrant community in fighting for basic rights and expansion of services. When CASA Maryland righteously called for immigrants and their supporters to photograph Minutemen photographing workers and to protest at places where Minutemen live to let their neighbors and coworkers know about their fascist activities, the Minutemen went squealing to the police and their high-placed backers in the government. They demanded investigations into CASA Maryland’s use of taxpayer funds and actually accused the executive director of the organization of “thuggish behavior” and endangering their children!!! As one of the day laborers stated at the march: “The Minutemen are not just backed by the government, they are doing what the government wants them to do.”
The town of Gaithersburg, Maryland, voted and allocated funds to create a workers' hiring hall for some day laborers who had gathered for years in the parking lot of a local church. The Minutemen began “patrolling” the site. Their activity has helped to mobilize and strengthen a reactionary pole of patriotic racists among the townspeople into a "backlash" which might have remained inactive otherwise. The workers' center is now in danger of being canceled by the city.
To read the full article click here.
2) Minuteman Project Plans New Border Patrol
The Associated Press, March 21, 2006.
Read as the Minutemen get national press coverage – they're planning another offensive as they hunt and trap and terrorize immigrants.
“Each volunteer passes a criminal background check, interview and training, according to Simcox.”
Yeah right ...
But Hoover said the group's patrols are unrealistic and ineffective. He would like to see them set up camp in remote areas rather than close to highways and towns.
"We have 300 miles (480 kilometers) of border down here and they are playing around on five miles (eight kilometers)," Hoover said.
This quote is from a supposed opponent of the Minutemen ... opposing them on the terms that they are “ineffective” and “unrealistic”!
To read the rest of the article click here.

3) Rally participants lose jobs
28 workers complain to 2 federal agencies
Chicago Tribune, March 17, 2006
More than two dozen workers at a Bellwood factory say they were fired for taking part in last Friday's immigration rights rally that drew up to 100,000 supporters to the Loop.Jose Oliva, director of the Interfaith Workers' Rights Center, believes many more immigrants around the city have also faced disciplinary action for attending the rally.Another advocate said he believes 10 workers were fired from a company that makes automobile parts in Schiller Park."It sends a chilling message," Oliva said. "It's one of the scariest things someone can say to you: `Agree with me, or I can take away your livelihood.'"
To read the rest of the article click here.

4) Chicago Immigrants – A Defiant Show of Strength
Revolution newspaper, March 13, 2006
The scene in downtown Chicago on March 10 was remarkable and unprecedented—hundreds of thousands of immigrants marched into the heart of a major U.S. city, stopping all traffic and disrupting business as usual for a whole workday afternoon to demand that their voices be heard. Immigrant protesters left their workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods all over the Chicago region and beyond to converge on the downtown Loop area. And they delivered an unmistakable NO to a draconian new anti-immigrant bill (known as HR4437 or the Sensenbrenner bill) passed by the House of Representatives last December and to other anti-immigrant attacks, like the Minutemen vigilantes who hunt down immigrants at the border.
This historic march sent shockwaves far and wide—throughout this country and worldwide. It is an international call to millions and millions of immigrants everywhere in this globalized world who are dislocated from their homes, kept in the shadows, denied rights, isolated, and superexploited!
To read the full article click here.

Otra vez - quiénes son los 5 en contra de los Minutemen

2006-03-22T22:10:00.000-06:00

(The flier translated into Spanish)
¡Anulen las acusaciones! ¡No metan a la cárcel a los 5 en contra los Minutemen!

Con el pretexto de la “guerra contra el terror” están ocurriendo en este país ataques cada vez más violentos contra inmigrantes. Las personas que hacen oír su voz en contra de estos atropellos merecen nuestro apoyo y que las defendamos cuando las atacan. Hoy, cinco jóvenes blancos, latinos y musulmanes que protestaron el 15 de octubre contra los Minutemen corren peligro de que los condenen a cuatro años de cárcel. Tenemos que exigir que les anulen inmediatamente las acusaciones.

En Estados Unidos se están sentando precedentes legales y políticos que son peligrosamente parecidos al tratamiento de los judíos en la Alemania nazi. Después del 11 de septiembre, el gobierno ha dicho que a los inmigrantes (especialmente a los árabes y musulmanes) los puede encarcelar por tiempo indefinido en condiciones inhumanas, sin acusarlos de nada y sin juicio. Congresistas como Tom Tancredo y Dennis Hastert han dicho que los inmigrantes son una amenaza para Estados Unidos y que está bien que la policía pare a una persona nada más porque parece “illegal alien” y justifican cualquier medida antiinmigrante en nombre de la “guerra contra el terror”. El Congreso quiere legislar que entrar al país sin permiso sea un delito grave (felony), así como ayudar a quien lo haga. La Cámara de Representantes aprobó en diciembre un proyecto de ley (4437) con ese fin. Si el Senado lo aprueba, a millones de maestros, trabajadores de la salud y activistas los tratarían como delincuentes por ayudar, enseñar, dar de beber o llevar al hospital a un inmigrante indocumentado. Este mes, el gobierno anunció que le asignó a Halliburton un proyecto de $385 millones para construir centros de detención para inmigrantes. Todo esto en un país que tiene centros de tortura como Abu Ghraib y Guantánamo.

¿Qué ocurrirá en esos centros de detención construidos para encerrar a personas indocumentadas, a quienes les han despojado sus derechos legales, y a quienes han calificado de “hordas”, “invasores” y “amenaza para la seguridad nacional”?

En esta atmósfera, grupos como los Minutemen son tropas de choque semioficiales. Patrullan la frontera armados a la caza de seres humanos que consideran una amenaza a la “cohesión nacional”. Hace poco estos Minutemen, que se han autonombrado defensores del patriotismo, atacaron a un maestro en Elgin, Illinois, porque enseñaba a sus alumnos acerca de la independencia mexicana. Uno de sus fundadores dice que los que se oponen a los Minutemen son “terroristas”, lo cual no tiene fundamento y sin embargo repitió Associated Press.Las reuniones de los Minutemen en el prado del Capitolio son noticia nacional. El representante John Culbertson de Texas ha propuesto que el gobierno financie y reconozca legalmente sus patrullas armadas. El gobernador de California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, incluso los ha felicitado un par de veces por su “buen trabajo”.

El 15 de octubre se realizó una protesta pacífica en solidaridad con los inmigrantes frente al lugar de una conferencia de los Minutemen en Illinois. Un grupo de diferentes nacionalidades se reunió en la acera a expresar su desacuerdo con la reunión a viva voz. Por increíble que parezca, la policía los atacó siguiendo órdenes de los Minutemen, aunque no estaban bloqueando la entrada a la conferencia y todo lo que hacían era corear lemas en la acera. Llegaron dos destacamentos especiales de la policía de 90 comisarías, perros, equipo de motín y artillería pesada.Arrestaron a cinco activistas. Una de las arrestadas era la única mujer de la protesta que llevaba una hijab (la tela con que se cubren la cabeza las musulmanas) y se la arrancaron de la cabeza en un acto violento contra sus derechos religiosos. A todos les inventaron cargos de resistencia a la autoridad y agresión a los policías, y por esto los pueden condenar a cuatro años de cárcel. Los fiscales no han querido llegar a un acuerdo antes del juicio porque quieren meterlos a la cárcel. El juicio está programado para el 25 de abril.

Esto es un ejemplo de la criminalización del disentimiento en este país, donde hoy equivale a traición no estar de acuerdo y protestar; donde el presidente declara que puede espiar a quien le dé la gana por la razón que le dé la gana y dice que el peligro es ¡que la prensa lo desenmascare!Cuando el gobierno protege y apoya a los Minutemen, y ataca a la oposición, deja en claro que pretende imponer su programa contra los inmigrantes y callar a quienquiera que represente un obstáculo. Lo que el gobierno dice es: “No protesten, no se opongan”. ¡Pero eso no se puede tolerar! Estas acusaciones tienen que anularse y eso solo es posible mediante una gran batalla política. Súmate a esta batalla.
-- Necesitamos que lleguen miles de cartas al fiscal, exigiéndole que anule las acusaciones. Se necesitan centenares de cartas a:

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602

-- También se necesitan fondos con urgencia; necesitamos reunir más de $10,000 en unas pocas semanas para la defensa. Envía cheques a:
Law Office of Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603 Attn: anti-MM5

-- Ven al juzgado de Rolling Meadows el 25 de abril a las 8 de la mañana y exige que anulen las acusaciones.

-- Corre la voz para que otros también apoyen: escribe una nota a tu periódico; coloca esta carta en blogs y portales; organiza una entrevista a uno de los acusados en tu periódico o estación de radio o televisión. Comunicarse a: Antiminutemen5@yahoo .com

Who the Anti-Minutemen Defendants are -- repeat post

2006-03-22T22:05:00.000-06:00

Drop the Charges! No jail time for the Anti-Minutemen Defendants!

Right now this country is seeing increasingly vicious attacks on immigrants, justified in the name of the “War on Terror”. When people step out to oppose these outrages, they must be supported. And when they are attacked, they must be defended.

A group of five young people – white, Latino, Muslim – are facing up to four years in jail for a protest against the racist vigilante group the Minutemen. We need you to join in demanding that the charges be dismissed immediately against the Anti-Minutemen Defendants.

Legal and political precedents are being set that are chillingly similar to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. Since 9/11, the administration has built legal precedent for the concept that immigrants -- especially Arab and Muslim -- are not entitled to due process, and can be held indefinitely in deplorable conditions. Legislators such as Tom Tancredo and Dennis Hastert are calling immigrants a threat to America, defending harsh profiling, and manipulating fear to justify any anti-immigrant measures in the name of the “war on terror.” The Sensenbrenner bill (HB 4437), which passed the House in December, would turn millions of immigrants into felons for crossing without permission – and would make it a felony for anyone to aid or assist them. If this passes the Senate it would mean millions of teachers, health workers, and activists could become felons for giving aid or education or even a drink of water or a ride to the hospital. And in February 2006, the U.S. government announced a $385 million contract with Halliburton to build detention centers for immigrants. This in a country that runs notorious torture centers in Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo.
Just what will happen in these detention centers, built to lock away undocumented people whose legal rights have been disappeared, and who have been cast as “hordes”, “invaders”, and a threat to national security?

In this atmosphere, groups like the Minutemen serve as semi-official shock troops and enforcers. They patrol the border with guns, hunting the human beings they call a threat to the “fabric of America.” Recently they attacked a teacher in Elgin, Illinois, for teaching about Mexican Independence Day, acting as the self-appointed enforcers of patriotism and jingoism. Minuteman co-founder Chris Simcox accused his opposition of being “terrorists” – and despite his complete lack of evidence, this accusation was disseminated widely by the Associated Press.They hold rallies on the lawn of the Capitol, to national press coverage. Rep. John Culbertson of Texas has introduced bills asking for financial support and legal recognition for their armed patrols. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has twice praised these folks for doing a “fine job”.

On October 15, people of different nationalities held a peaceful protest on the public sidewalk in front of the site of a Minutemen conference, in a show of solidarity with immigrants. They chanted and spoke out against the Minutemen and in favor of immigrant rights. The response? On orders from the Minutemen, the cops attacked the protest, even though demonstrators were not preventing anyone from entering the conference, and had done nothing but chant on the sidewalk. They called in two regional special task forces, drawn from police from more than 90 surrounding cities, dogs, riot gear, and heavy artillery.They singled out five of the most vocal activists – including the only woman at the protest wearing a hijab (Muslim head scarf), which they tore off of her head in a blatant violation of her religious rights. Those five were given outrageous and trumped-up charges of resisting arrest and battery against the police officers. Some are facing potentially four years in jail. Two state’s attorneys have refused to discuss a plea without jail time. Their case goes to trial on April 25.

This is part of the overall criminalization of dissent in this country, where protest is equated with treason. Where the president declares the right to spy on anyone, for whatever reason he wants, and says that the real danger is that newspapers dared to write about it!When opposition to the Minutemen is attacked, while they are protected and promoted, it is clear that the government intends to enforce its anti-immigrant program and to silence anyone who gets in the way. The message is this: Don’t protest. Don’t resist. This can’t be allowed to happen! Charges like this have and can be defeated, but not without tremendous political battles for support. You have an important role to play in this. Here’s what you can do:

--Send letters now- we need thousands- to the State's Attorney, asking that the case be immediately dismissed:

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602

--Funds are needed very urgently; we need to raise upwards of $10,000 in legal expenses in a few weeks.Send contributions and make checks out to:

Law Office of Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603 Attn: anti-MM5

--Come to the Rolling Meadows courthouse at 8 am on April 25 to demand the charges be dropped.
--Spread the word and build support: write about the case in your local newspaper; post this flyer on blogs and web sites; arrange for one of the Anti-Minutemen 5 to be interviewed by your local radio or TV station or newspaper.

Noticias sobre los 5 en Contra de los Minutemen

2006-03-21T02:13:00.000-06:00

Ha cambiado la fecha del juicio. Es el 25 de abril, en Rolling Meadows, Illinois.El 16 de marzo fuimos al juzgado de Rolling Meadows para realizar unos trámites, y más de 20 de nuestros apoyantes vinieron al juzgado, aunque tenían apenas 24 horas de anticipación. El juez nos dio la nueva fecha del 25 de abril para el juicio. Tenemos dos abogados nuevos que están haciendo trabajo voluntario en nuestra defensa; ahora nuestro equipo tiene tres abogados: John Curnyn, Jim Fennerty, y Jed Stone. Vamos a montar una fuerte defensa legal y una lucha popular para derrotar estos cargos. Todavía necesitamos que manden miles de cartas al fiscal del Condado Cook, que demandan que anulen las acusaciones (sigue este link para un ejemplar de la carta y la dirección del fiscal:
http://antiminutemen5.blogspot.com/2006/03/la-carta-de-apoyo-our-support-letter.html
El domingo 19 de marzo, celebramos nuestro primer evento público, el la iglesia San Pío, en el barrio de Pilsen en Chicago. (Gracias a San Pío por habernos ayudado tanto con el uso del espacio.) Asistieron una gran variedad de personas de muchas nacionalidades y niveles de experiencia política. Hablaron Tito Moreno de El Mundo No Puede Esperar, Penny Brown de los 5 Contra los Minutemen, y Juan Torres de El Mundo No Puede Esperar. Hablaron del peligro de los Minutemen como una fuerza “semi-oficial” del gobierno de Bush, y de la conección entre los ataques a los inmigrantes con la “guerra contra el terror”, y hicieron un reto a la gente que saliera a la defensa de los 5 contra los Minutemen como una parte clave de derrotar toda la agenda anti-inmigrante. Los artistas Capital D y DJ Manowax tocaron hip-hop político, y la banda Tarima Son nos dieron música bailable y divertido al estilo Veracruzano. En el mismo espíritu que les conmovió a cerrar el viernes 10 para la marcha en pro de los derechos de los inmigrantes, la gente de los restaurantes de la comunidad de Pilsen nos apoyaron bastante: los restaurantes Café Mestizo, Fogata Village, Panadería Nuevo León, Taquería Los Comales, Benny's Pizzeria, y la Taquería Casa del Pueblo donaron una gran cantidad de comida para nuestra cena. Los invitados el evento donaron generosamente, y hasta la fecha hemos recaudado cerca de $1,100 para nuestros gastos legales. Pero todavia necesitamos casi $9,000 más para montar una defensa al nivel necesario para derrotar estos cargos.
Los 5 en Contra de los Minutemen han salido en los medios de comunicación: hicimos una entrevista el 20 de marzo en Radio Arte; en el periódico La Raza salió un artículo el viernes 17; tenemos otras entrevistas programadas para la semana que viene. Todavia necesitamos salir en mucho más de los medios; si quieren ayudar con este aspecto, favor de escribirnos a: antiminutemen5@yahoo.com.
Nuestra próximo evento para recaudar fondos será el 8 de abril, en la Galería Colibrí, 2032 W. 18th. Street, Chicago.
Queden pendientes de nuestro blog para noticias.

Updates on the Anti-Minutemen 5

2006-03-21T01:54:00.000-06:00

Our trial date is now April 25, in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. We went to court in Rolling Meadows on March 16, and more than 20 of our supporters came out, even though they had barely 24 hours notice. We have two new lawyers who are working pro bono on our defense; now our team has three lawyers: John Curnyn, Jim Fennerty, and Jed Stone. We will be mounting a strong legal defense and a popular battle to defeat these charges. still need thousands of letters to be sent to the State's Attorney, urging him to drop these charges. Go to http://antiminutemen5.blogspot.com/2006/03/la-carta-de-apoyo-our-support-letter.html for a sample letter and the address of the State's Attorney.)
Sunday March 19th, we celebrated our first public event at St. Pius Church, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. (Thank you St. Pius for helping us out with the space.) A wide variety of people came, from many different nationalities and levels of political experience. Tito Moreno of World Can't Wait, Penny Brown from the Anti-Minutemen 5, and Juan Torres from World Can't Wait spoke. They talked of the danger posed by the Minutemen as a semi-official force within the Bush Regime, of the connection between the attacks on immigrants and the “war on terror”, and they challenged people to come out in defense of the Anti-Minutemen 5 as a key part of defeating the whole anti-immigrant agenda. Capital D and DJ Manowax gave us political hip-hop, and Tarima Son gave us fun and danceable music Veracruz-style. In the same spirit that moved many restaurants to close on Friday the 10th for the pro-immigrants rights march, the people of the restaurants of Pilsen gave us substantial support: Café Mestizo, Fogata Village, Panadería Nuevo León, Taquería Los Comales, Benny's Pizzeria, y la Taquería Casa del Pueblo all donated a great amount of food for our dinner. The event's guests donated generously, and to date we have raised close to $1,100 for our legal expenses. But we still need almost $9,000 more in order to mount the kind of defense needed to defeat these charges.
The Anti-Minutemen 5 have been featured in all kinds of media: A March 20 radio interview on Radio Arte, a March 19 interview on WBBM radio (New York), a March 17 article in La Raza newspaper, two March 13 radio interviews on WORT in Madison, and several more interviews coming up this week. Go to www.antiminutemen5.blogspot.com for links to some of these past shows. We still need help breaking out into many more media outlets: to help us out in spreaing the word to the media, email us at antiminutemen5@yahoo.com
Our next fundraising event will be April 8, at Galería Colibrí, 2032 W. 18th. Street, Chicago.
More information will be coming.
Stay tuned to our blog, antiminutemen5.blogspot.com, for more news and updates.

Artículo en La Raza

2006-03-17T10:44:00.000-06:00

Nota: Ha cambiado la fecha del juicio. Es el 25 de abril en Rolling Meadows. El artículo tiene la fecha que nos habian dado anteriormente.

Los jóvenes Eric Zenke, Rehana Sabha Kahn, Kara Penny Norlander, Marco Jiraz Rojas y Cynthia Linda Gómez podrían ser condenados a cumplir tiempo en la cárcel por enfrentar cargos de agredir a oficiales de policía y resistirse al arresto, cuando el 15 de octubre pasado participaron en una manifestación contra una reunión nacional de los Minutemen, en Arlington Heights.
Leer más:

New Trial Date!

2006-03-16T12:33:00.000-06:00

New Trial Date!

New Trial Date is April 25, in the Rolling Meadows Courthouse. Our trial is expected to take two weeks.

We still need thousands of support letters to the state's attorney (see below post) and we need hundreds of people to come out on April 25 to demand NO JAIL TIME.

more to come -- please spread the word on our fundraiser this Sunday, 6 p.m.

Evento para recaudar fondos, 19 de marzo

2006-03-15T20:30:00.000-06:00

¡Fuera los Minutemen!
Domingo, 19 de marzo:
Foro comunitario y evento para recaudar fondos
para los 5 en contra de los Minutemen

Crecen los ataques a los inmigrantes y al activismo. Pero la marcha histórica del 10 de marzo, con centenares de miles de personas, demuestra la creciente resistencia. La gente tomó la calle y demandó: ¡NO a HR 4437! ¡NO a los Minutemen!

Lucha contra los Minutemen, y apoya a los 5 en contra de los Minutemen.

¡Únanse en solidaridad con muchos diversos grupos para una noche de

pláticas, comida, y música!

Domingo, 19 de marzo
Iglesia San Pío, 1919 S. Ashland Ave.
Las puertas abren a las 6 p.m.
Donaciónes: $10-20.
A nadie se les negará la entrada por falta de fondos.

* Comida Internacional
* Pláticas acerca de los Minutemen y los ataques viciosos a los inmigrantes
* Música: el grupo Tarima Son, DJ Manowax, Capital D, y más ...

Los 5 Contra los Minutemen son cinco activistas anti-racistas arrestados en
una protesta en contra de los Minutemen en Arlington Heights el 15 de
octubre de 2005. Les inventaron cargos falsos y enfrentan la posibilidad de
cuatro años en la cárcel.
¡Necesitamos derrotar estos cargos!
Endosantes:
Council on American Islamic Relations, Arab American Action Network, Iglesia Metodista Amor De Dios, ¡El Mundo No Puede Esperar!, Juan Torres, The SPACE Collective, y más.
Para más información: antiminutemen5@yahoo.com
En la Internet: www.antiminutemen5.tk www.antiminutemen5.blogspot.com

Come to court tomorrow 3/16 to support the Anti-Minutemen 5! ¡Vengan a la corte para apoyar a los 5 en contra de los Minutemen!

2006-03-15T20:13:00.000-06:00

(Scroll down for English)
Repartan este email por todos lados … Please distribute this email everywhere.

¡Vengan a la corte para apoyar a los 5 en contra de los Minutemen!

Mañana, los 5 en contra de los Minutemen vuelvan a la corte. Tienen abogados adicionales, y van a pedir una extensión de la fecha del jucio, dado que el fiscal ha tardado en entregar evidencia crucial.

Necesitamos que el pueblo demande que anulen las acusaciones ya. ¡Vengan a la corte a las 8:15 para demostrar su apoyo! ¡Traigan pancartas que digan “Free the Anti-Minutemen 5! “¡No metan a la cárcel a los Anti-Minutemen 5!”

Cuando: Jueves 16 de marzo, 8:15 a.m.
Donde: Juzgado Rolling Meadows, 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Quiénes: Todos que apoyen a los derechos de los inmigrantes, y todos los que opongan a los Minutemen.

¡Ser inmigrante no es un crimen! ¡Oponer a los Minutemen! ¡Defender a los 5 en contra de los Minutemen!

www.antiminutemen5.blogspot.com www.antiminutemen5.tk
antiminutemen5@yahoo.com

Come to court to support the Anti-Minutemen5!

Tomorrow, the Anti-Minutemen 5 return to court. They have additional lawyers, and they will be petitioning for an extension, as the state’s attorney has been late in turning over crucial evidence.

We need the people to demand the the charges be dropped now. Come to court at 8:15 to demonstrate your support! Bring signs that say “Free the Anti-Minutemen 5! “¡No metan a la cárcel a los Anti-Minutemen 5!”

When: Thursday, March 16, 8:15 a.m.
Where: Rolling Meadows Courthouse, 2121 Euclid, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
Who: Everyone who supports immigrants’ rights, and everyone who opposes the Minutemen

Being an immigrant is not a crime! Oppose the Minutemen! Defend the Anti-Minutemen5!

www.antiminutemen5.blogspot.com www.antiminutemen5.tk
antiminutemen5@yahoo.com

Interview on KPFA

2006-03-13T13:28:00.000-06:00

Friday the 10th, one of us did an interview with KPFA, a well-respected independent radio station that serves the San Francisco Bay Area in California. You can listen to it here (it starts at about the 11 or 12- minute mark): http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=13013&page=1&type=

Anti-Minutemen 5 Events/Eventos para los Anti-Minutemen 5

2006-03-13T11:36:00.000-06:00

Public Events/ Eventos Públicos

1) Sunday March 19, 6-9 p.m.
St. Pius Church, 1919 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL
Forum and Fundraising Party for the Anti-Minutemen 5
Speakers, Food and Entertainment

Foro y Fiesta para Recaudar fondos para los Anti-Minutemen 5
Pláticas, Comida, y Entretenamiento

2) Saturday, April 8, 7 p.m. *
Fundraising Party for the Anti-Minutemen 5
Galería Colibrí, 2032 W. 18th. Street, Chicago, IL
*Time TBA

Media Appearances/ Entrevistas en los medios de comunicación
1) Tuesday 3/13, WORT f.m, Madison, Wisconsin:
We will be interviewed on Public Affairs (a news show) 12-1 p.m. Central Time.
In Madison, tune in to WORT 89.9 f.m. or listen on the Internet at http://www.wort-fm.org/
Tenemos una entrevista (en inglés) en un show de noticias, Public Affairs. Para escuchar: en Madison, 89.9 f.m. On en la Internet: http://www.wort-fm.org/

2) Tuesday 3/13, WORT f.m., Madison: We will be interviewed on a Spanish-language news show.
Tenemos una entrevista en un show de noticias en español, 6-7 p.m. Central Time.
In Madison, tune in to WORT 89.9 f.m. or listen on the Internet at http://www.wort-fm.org/
Para escuchar: en Madison, 89.9 f.m. On en la Internet: http://www.wort-fm.org/

Important Change/Cambio Importante

2006-03-13T11:28:00.000-06:00

Please note that support letters in our case should actually be sent to the state's attorney, not to the judge as we had earlier requested. (The address is below.)

Favor de notar que las cartas de apoyo para nuestro caso se deben de mandar al fiscal, y no al juez como habíamos pedido. (La dirección aparece abajo.)

Initial signatories

2006-03-04T17:31:00.000-06:00

The following is an initial list of those who have signed on to the letter calling to drop the charges:
Father Chuck Dahm, St. Pius Church, Chicago
Ali Khan, American Muslim Council, Chicago
Reverend Debra Elandus Lake, Sankofa Way Spiritual Services, Chicago
Reverend José Landaverde, Amor de Dios United Methodist Church, Chicago
Travis Morales, Washington, D.C.

La carta de apoyo (our support letter)

2006-03-03T18:39:00.000-06:00

**Esta carta se debe de enviar directamente a Richard Devine, el fiscal para el Condado Cook.**

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602

Estimado Sr. Devine:

Le escribo para expresarle mi profunda preocupación por el juicio de cinco manifestantes arrestados el 15 de octubre del año pasado en una protesta contra la conferencia de los Minutemen en Arlington Heights. Le ruego que no los haga pasar ni un momento más en la cárcel y, además, que anule todas las acusaciones.

Esos jóvenes ejercían el derecho de libertad de palabra al pronunciarse contra el odio, el racismo y la intolerancia. Participaban con centenares de personas de distintos sectores sociales en una manifestación pacífica de apoyo a los derechos de los inmigrantes y a los derechos humanos. No se debe castigar el derecho de protestar contra grupos de odio como los Minutemen.

Los Minutemen son un grupo paramilitar racista, antiinmigrante, que toma la ley en manos propias. Son una patrulla fronteriza armada y realizan actividades contra los inmigrantes por todo el país. Ahora se están organizando en Chicago para sembrar terror en nuestra gran población de inmigrantes.

Apoyo a los cinco acusados que se opusieron a los Minutemen y creo que sería una gran injusticia condenarlos de cargos tan injustificados. Le ruego que anule las acusaciones.

Atentamente,

Favor de mandar esta carta a Sr. Devine y una copia a los acusados a:
c/o Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603
attn: anti-MM 5

(The flier translated into Spanish) ¡Anulen las acusaciones! ¡No metan a la cárcel a los 5 que protestaron contra los Minutemen!

2006-03-02T23:55:00.000-06:00

This is our flier (posted as "Our Story"), in Spanish.

¡Anulen las acusaciones! ¡No metan a la cárcel a los 5 que protestaron contra los Minutemen!

Con el pretexto de la “guerra contra el terror” están ocurriendo en este país ataques cada vez más violentos contra inmigrantes. Las personas que hacen oír su voz en contra de estos atropellos merecen nuestro apoyo y que las defendamos cuando las atacan. Hoy, cinco jóvenes blancos, latinos y musulmanes que protestaron el 15 de octubre contra los Minutemen corren peligro de que los condenen a cuatro años de cárcel. Tenemos que exigir que les anulen inmediatamente las acusaciones.
En Estados Unidos se están sentando precedentes legales y políticos que son peligrosamente parecidos al tratamiento de los judíos en la Alemania nazi. Después del 11 de septiembre, el gobierno ha dicho que a los inmigrantes (especialmente a los árabes y musulmanes) los puede encarcelar por tiempo indefinido en condiciones inhumanas, sin acusarlos de nada y sin juicio. Congresistas como Tom Tancredo y Dennis Hastert han dicho que los inmigrantes son una amenaza para Estados Unidos y que está bien que la policía pare a una persona nada más porque parece “illegal alien” y justifican cualquier medida antiinmigrante en nombre de la “guerra contra el terror”. El Congreso quiere legislar que entrar al país sin permiso sea un delito grave (felony), así como ayudar a quien lo haga. La Cámara de Representantes aprobó en diciembre un proyecto de ley (4437) con ese fin. Si el Senado lo aprueba, a millones de maestros, trabajadores de la salud y activistas los tratarían como delincuentes por ayudar, enseñar, dar de beber o llevar al hospital a un inmigrante indocumentado. Este mes, el gobierno anunció que le asignó a Halliburton un proyecto de $385 millones para construir centros de detención para inmigrantes. Todo esto en un país que tiene centros de tortura como Abu Ghraib y Guantánamo.
¿Qué ocurrirá en esos centros de detención construidos para encerrar a personas indocumentadas, a quienes les han despojado sus derechos legales, y a quienes han calificado de “hordas”, “invasores” y “amenaza para la seguridad nacional”?
En esta atmósfera, grupos como los Minutemen son tropas de choque semioficiales. Patrullan la frontera armados a la caza de seres humanos que consideran una amenaza a la “cohesión nacional”. Hace poco estos Minutemen, que se han autonombrado defensores del patriotismo, atacaron a un maestro en Elgin, Illinois, porque enseñaba a sus alumnos acerca de la independencia mexicana. Uno de sus fundadores dice que los que se oponen a los Minutemen son “terroristas”, lo cual no tiene fundamento y sin embargo repitió Associated Press.
Las reuniones de los Minutemen en el prado del Capitolio son noticia nacional. El representante John Culbertson de Texas ha propuesto que el gobierno financie y reconozca legalmente sus patrullas armadas. El gobernador de California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, incluso los ha felicitado un par de veces por su “buen trabajo”.
El 15 de octubre se realizó una protesta pacífica en solidaridad con los inmigrantes frente al lugar de una conferencia de los Minutemen en Illinois. Un grupo de diferentes nacionalidades se reunió en la acera a expresar su desacuerdo con la reunión a viva voz. Por increíble que parezca, la policía los atacó siguiendo órdenes de los Minutemen, aunque no estaban bloqueando la entrada a la conferencia y todo lo que hacían era corear lemas en la acera. Llegaron dos destacamentos especiales de la policía de 90 comisarías, perros, equipo de motín y artillería pesada.
Arrestaron a cinco activistas. Una de las arrestadas era la única mujer de la protesta que llevaba una hijab (la tela con que se cubren la cabeza las musulmanas) y se la arrancaron de la cabeza en un acto violento contra sus derechos religiosos. A todos les inventaron cargos de resistencia a la autoridad y agresión a los policías, y por esto los pueden condenar a cuatro años de cárcel. Los fiscales no han querido llegar a un acuerdo antes del juicio porque quieren meterlos a la cárcel. El juicio está programado para el 24 de marzo.
Esto es un ejemplo de la criminalización del disentimiento en este país, donde hoy equivale a traición no estar de acuerdo y protestar; donde el presidente declara que puede espiar a quien le dé la gana por la razón que le dé la gana y dice que el peligro es ¡que la prensa lo desenmascare!
Cuando el gobierno protege y apoya a los Minutemen, y ataca a la oposición, deja en claro que pretende imponer su programa contra los inmigrantes y callar a quienquiera que represente un obstáculo. Lo que el gobierno dice es: “No protesten, no se opongan”. ¡Pero eso no se puede tolerar! Estas acusaciones tienen que anularse y eso solo es posible mediante una gran batalla política. Súmate a esta batalla.
-- Envía cartas al juez y exige que anule las acusaciones. Se necesitan centenares de cartas a:
Judge Hyman I. Riebman
Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Dept. 107
2121 Euclid Avenue
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
-- También se necesitan fondos con urgencia; necesitamos reunir más de $10,000 en unas pocas semanas para la defensa.
Envía cheques a:
Law Office of Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603 Attn: anti-MM5
-- Ven al juzgado de Rolling Meadows el 24 de marzo a las 8 de la mañana y exige que anulen las acusaciones.
Corre la voz para que otros también apoyen: escribe una nota a tu periódico; coloca esta carta en blogs y portales; organiza una entrevista a uno de los acusados en tu periódico o estación de radio o televisión.
Comunicarse a: Antiminutemen5@yahoo .com

Send THOUSANDS of these support letters to the judge!

2006-03-02T10:06:00.000-06:00

3/13 Note change:
The letter below should be sent out to the state's attorney by the thousands ... email it widely, and make sure to tell people to send an email back to Antiminutemen5@yahoo.com, so we know how many were sent.

Print out copies and have everyone at your job, your barbershop or hair salon, your church, your school, etc, sign one --- they can send them in individually or you can collect them all and send them in yourself.

******************************************************

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602

Dear Mr. Devine:

I am sending this letter to express my deepest concern about the prosecution of five anti-racist activists who were arrested on October 15, 2005 at the protest of the Minutemen conference in Arlington Heights. I urge that they not be forced to suffer any more time in jail and furthermore that all charges be dropped.

These young people were simply exercising their right to free speech against hate, racism, and intolerance. They were participating in a peaceful symbolic demonstration in solidarity with hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds to show their support for immigrant and ultimately human rights. People should have the right to demonstrate their opposition to a hate-group like the Minutemen.

The Minutemen are a racist, anti-immigrant vigilante group that takes the law into their own hands. They are an armed border patrol group, who are also involved in anti-immigrant actions across the country. The Minutemen have recently come to organize in Chicago to terrorize our large immigrant population.

I support the five anti-racist defendants and I believe it would be a great injustice to convict them of such unwarranted charges. Please drop all charges against them.

Sincerely,

Our story

2006-03-01T01:02:00.000-06:00

Circulate this flier far and wide, along with the sample support letter.

Drop the Charges! No jail time for the Anti-Minutemen 5!

Right now this country is seeing increasingly vicious attacks on immigrants, justified in the name of the “War on Terror”. When people step out to oppose these outrages, they must be supported. And when they are attacked, they must be defended. A group of five young people – white, Latino, Muslim – are facing up to four years in jail for a protest against the racist vigilante group the Minutemen. We need you to join in demanding that the charges be dismissed immediately against the Anti-Minutemen 5.

Legal and political precedents are being set that are chillingly similar to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. Since 9/11, the administration has built legal precedent for the concept that immigrants -- especially Arab and Muslim -- are not entitled to due process, and can be held indefinitely in deplorable conditions. Legislators such as Tom Tancredo and Dennis Hastert are calling immigrants a threat to America, defending harsh profiling, and manipulating fear to justify any anti-immigrant measures in the name of the “war on terror.” The Sensenbrenner bill (HB 4437), which passed the House in December, would turn millions of immigrants into felons for crossing without permission – and would make it a felony for anyone to aid or assist them. If this passes the Senate it would mean millions of teachers, health workers, and activists could become felons for giving aid or education or even a drink of water or a ride to the hospital. And in February 2006, the U.S. government announced a $385 million contract with Halliburton to build detention centers for immigrants. This in a country that runs notorious torture centers in Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo.

Just what will happen in these detention centers, built to lock away undocumented people whose legal rights have been disappeared, and who have been cast as “hordes”, “invaders”, and a threat to national security?

In this atmosphere, groups like the Minutemen serve as semi-official shock troops and enforcers. They patrol the border with guns, hunting the human beings they call a threat to the “fabric of America.” Recently they attacked a teacher in Elgin, Illinois, for teaching about Mexican Independence Day, acting as the self-appointed enforcers of patriotism and jingoism. Minuteman co-founder Chris Simcox accused his opposition of being “terrorists” – and despite his complete lack of evidence, this accusation was disseminated widely by the Associated Press.
They hold rallies on the lawn of the Capitol, to national press coverage. Rep. John Culbertson of Texas has introduced bills asking for financial support and legal recognition for their armed patrols. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has twice praised these folks for doing a “fine job”.

On October 15, people of different nationalities held a peaceful protest on the public sidewalk in front of the site of a Minutemen conference, in a show of solidarity with immigrants. They chanted and spoke out against the Minutemen and in favor of immigrant rights. The response? On orders from the Minutemen, the cops attacked the protest, even though demonstrators were not preventing anyone from entering the conference, and had done nothing but chant on the sidewalk. They called in two regional special task forces, drawn from police from more than 90 surrounding cities, dogs, riot gear, and heavy artillery.

They singled out five of the most vocal activists – including the only woman at the protest wearing a hijab (Muslim head scarf), which they tore off of her head in a blatant violation of her religious rights. Those five were given outrageous and trumped-up charges of resisting arrest and battery against the police officers. Some are facing potentially four years in jail. Two state’s attorneys have refused to discuss a plea without jail time. Their case goes to trial on March 24.

This is part of the overall criminalization of dissent in this country, where protest is equated with treason. Where the president declares the right to spy on anyone, for whatever reason he wants, and says that the real danger is that newspapers dared to write about it!

When opposition to the Minutemen is attacked, while they are protected and promoted, it is clear that the government intends to enforce its anti-immigrant program and to silence anyone who gets in the way. The message is this: Don’t protest. Don’t resist. This can’t be allowed to happen! Charges like this have and can be defeated, but not without tremendous political battles for support. You have an important role to play in this. Here’s what you can do:

--Send letters now- we need thousands- to the State's Attorney, asking that the case be immediately dismissed:

Richard A. Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
500 Richard J. Daley Center
Chicago, IL 60602

--Funds are needed very urgently; we need to raise upwards of $10,000 in legal expenses in a few weeks.
Send contributions and make checks out to:
Law Office of Jim Fennerty
36 South Wabash, Suite 1310
Chicago, IL 60603 Attn: anti-MM5
--Come to the Rolling Meadows courthouse at 8 am on March 24 to demand the charges be dropped.
--Spread the word and build support: write about the case in your local newspaper; post this flyer on blogs and web sites; arrange for one of the Anti-Minutemen 5 to be interviewed by your local radio or TV station or newspaper.