The Committee Against Political Repression to hold press conference and rally to protest summoning of subpoenaed activists

Chicago, IL – The Committee Against Political Repression will hold a press conference today (January 25) inside the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn, at 4 p.m., followed by a rally outside at 4:30pm to protest the summoning of nine Palestine solidarity and Arab American community activists to a federal grand jury in Chicago.

Press conference speakers will include a representative from the legal team, one of the subpoenaed activists and Christine Boardman, President of SEIU Local 73. Rally speakers will include anti-apartheid and Africa solidarity activist Prexy Nesbitt, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jesse Sharkey, representatives from the Arab American and Puerto Rican communities and Gretchen Henninger of the Committee Against Political Repression.

Tom Burke of the National Committee to Stop FBI Repression said “In the month of December, the FBI delivered grand jury subpoenas for January 25 to nine activists in Chicago. Six of these went to members of the Arab American community; the remaining three went to Palestine solidarity activists and individuals who have travelled to Palestine. These subpoenas are related to the FBI raids on seven houses and an office in September, where subpoenas were served on 14 activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.”

 

The subpoenaed activists said in a statement, “Those of us subpoenaed in December were ordered to appear before the grand jury on January 25th. This is the same grand jury that was impaneled by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in order to indict people from among those whose homes and offices were raided in September. We have made our decisions to stand strong with the other 14 subpoenaed activists from Illinois, Minneapolis and Michigan. We WILL NOT take part in this fishing expedition. “

 

Maureen Murphy, who was summoned to appear before the grand jury on January 25, added, “Despite this attempt to criminalize solidarity with the Palestinian people, we will continue to stand with them and work to end US aid to Israel. Those of us facing the grand jury and the movement as a whole will continue to build the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israeli apartheid and strengthen relationships between Palestinians living under occupation and their supporters here in the US.”