Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts

Friday, July 11, 2025

BAP: FIFA and the IOC must ban the US and Israel from international sport + petition

Black Alliance for Peace Launches Petition Drive Calling on the U.S. and Israel to be Excluded from All International Sporting Events for Crimes Against Humanity and Domestic Repression


For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

communications[blackallianceforpeace com]  

(201) 292-4591  

June 30, 2025 - The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) calls for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to withdraw the invitations for the United States to host the World Cup in 2026 and the International Olympics in 2028. Ajamu Baraka, the director of BAP’s North-South Project for People(s)-Centered Human Rights states:

“There are two factors that make this call imperative. The environment of fear and political repression in the United States directed toward individual travelers to the U.S. and even those in transit to other nations has resulted in a number of nations issuing travel advisories against travel to the U.S. The other factor that is even more egregious is the lawlessness of the U.S. and Israel who are engaged in an ongoing genocide against the occupied Palestinian population of Gaza.”  

With tens of thousands of people from around the world who would like to attend the World Cup and the Olympic games, the U.S. has become a dangerous place to visit, especially for people of color. But as the petition points out, “anyone suspected of residing in and/or visiting the United States with or without “proper” documentation, including U.S. citizens, are being harassed, questioned about their political beliefs and even detained without due process.”

But the fact that the U.S. and Israel continue to operate as rogue states completely rejecting all of the normal constraints on lawless international behavior by engaging in unprovoked attacks on sovereign nations such as Lebanon and Iran and a barbaric slaughter of occupied Palestinians in Gaza and the murder of thousands in the West Bank by settlers and the Israeli Army, disqualifies both nations of hosting and participating in events involving the community of civilized nations.

Both FIFA and the IOC have previously denied hosting of, and participation in international events for nations and governments who have acted in ways they deemed antithetical to their stated core values of human rights and anti-discrimination.  

There is no more horrific example of the violation of FIFA, IOC and civilized values than what the world is witnessing today in Gaza.

FIFA and the IOC must be consistent. There must be accountability with one human rights standard for all!  Ban the U.S. and Israel, withdraw the invitations to host these events in the U.S.

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The petition below can be signed atactionnetwork.org/petitions/no-world-cup-or-olympics-in-us  (1,163 have signed so far) 


The North-South Project for People(s)-Centered Human Rights:  peoplecenteredhumanrights.com




En Español abajo, Em português abaixo, En français ci-dessous

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Must Demonstrate a Commitment to Universal Human Rights by Banning the United States and Israel from Hosting or Participating in International Sporting Events

The United States has become dangerous for members of the global community, and specifically for non-white/non-European people. The world is witnessing massive violations of human rights and the Constitution of the United States as masked agents using unmarked vehicles raid work places, homes, and places of public assembly to incarcerate and disappear Black, Brown, and Indigenous people and, in too many cases, denying them legal representation and basic information as to their whereabouts and wellbeing to their families and attorneys.

Under the current U.S administration anyone suspected of residing in and/or visiting the United States with or without “proper” documentation, including U.S. citizens, are being harassed, questioned about their political beliefs and even detained without due process. This repressive environment has created a sense of insecurity and anxiety for travelers to the U.S. including students, and even some diplomats of “foreign nations.” Even individuals while in transit to other countries have been subjected to harassment and intimidation.

But this is just part of the story.

The State of Israel, with direct assistance from the United States, is committing gross and profound violations of human rights and international law through military adventures, and carrying out an ongoing genocide in addition to other war crimes including, but not limited to collective punishment and starvation. This is on top of Israel’s eight decade pogrom of apartheid against the Palestinian people, as well as a perpetual disregard for the sovereignty and self determination of the Lebanese, Yemeni, Syrian, and Iranian people and their respective governments and bodies of leadership. The global community, everyday, witnesses Israel’s wanton slaughter of people and pillage of lives with the full endorsement of the United States which continues to fund, arm, and promote Israel’s tactics of terror and barbarity.

Both FIFA and the IOC have previously denied the hosting of, and participation in international events for nations and governments who have acted in ways they deem antithetical to their stated core values of human rights, anti-discrimination and global sustainability. For instance, both IOC and FIFA banned Germany and Japan from international competition following the second world war. Additionally, IOC banned the Republic of South Africa from participating in the Olympic Games from 1964 to 1992 due to the nation’s racist system of apartheid, and FIFA banned the nation from participating in its matches between 1961 and 1992 for the same reason. And, more recently, the IOC has instituted a standing ban on the Russian Federation from participating in its summer and winter games due to what is deemed an illegal invasion and occupation of Ukraine.

This raises the question as to why FIFA and IOC are affording the United States and the State of Israel with preferential treatment over other nations who have been and are currently sanctioned and banned from competition and the hosting of international sporting events for violations of the core values of both bodies.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, as members of the global community and people/institutions of conscience demand that FIFA and IOC withdraw the United States and the State of Israel from hosting or participating in international competition events until such time that both nations demonstrate a willingness to adhere to each agency’s core values and further operate in ways that adhere to international law and human rights.

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Federación Internacional de Fútbol Asociación (FIFA) y el Comité Olímpico Internacional (COI) deben demostrar un compromiso con los derechos humanos universales prohibiendo que Estados Unidos e Israel organicen o participen en eventos deportivos internacionales

Estados Unidos se ha vuelto peligroso para los miembros de la comunidad global, y específicamente para las personas no blancas/no europeas. El mundo está siendo testigo de violaciones masivas de los derechos humanos y de la Constitución de Estados Unidos, mientras agentes encapuchados que utilizan vehículos sin identificación allanan lugares de trabajo, hogares y lugares de reunión pública para encarcelar y desaparecer a personas negras, morenas e indígenas, y en demasiados casos, negándoles representación legal e información básica sobre su paradero y bienestar a sus familias y abogados.

Bajo la actual administración estadounidense, cualquier persona sospechosa de residir y/o visitar Estados Unidos con o sin documentación "apropiada", incluidos ciudadanos estadounidenses, está siendo acosada, interrogada sobre sus creencias políticas e incluso detenida sin debido proceso. Este ambiente represivo ha creado una sensación de inseguridad y ansiedad para los viajeros a Estados Unidos, incluidos estudiantes e incluso algunos diplomáticos de "naciones extranjeras". Incluso personas en tránsito hacia otros países han sido sometidas a acoso e intimidación.

Pero esto es solo parte de la historia.

El Estado de Israel, con asistencia directa de Estados Unidos, está cometiendo graves y profundas violaciones de los derechos humanos y del derecho internacional mediante aventuras militares, y llevando a cabo un genocidio en curso, además de otros crímenes de guerra que incluyen, pero no se limitan a, castigos colectivos y hambruna. Esto se suma a las ocho décadas de pogromo de apartheid de Israel contra el pueblo palestino, así como a un perpetuo desprecio por la soberanía y autodeterminación del pueblo libanés, yemení, sirio e iraní, y sus respectivos gobiernos y cuerpos de liderazgo. La comunidad global es testigo, día tras día, de la matanza indiscriminada y el saqueo de vidas por parte de Israel, con el pleno respaldo de Estados Unidos, que continúa financiando, armando y promoviendo las tácticas de terror y barbarie de Israel.

Tanto la FIFA como el COI han negado anteriormente la sede y la participación en eventos internacionales a naciones y gobiernos que han actuado de maneras que consideran contrarias a sus valores fundamentales declarados de derechos humanos, no discriminación y sostenibilidad global. Por ejemplo, tanto el COI como la FIFA prohibieron a Alemania y Japón competir internacionalmente después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Además, el COI prohibió a la República de Sudáfrica participar en los Juegos Olímpicos desde 1964 hasta 1992 debido al sistema racista de apartheid del país, y la FIFA lo excluyó de sus competiciones entre 1961 y 1992 por la misma razón. Y, más recientemente, el COI ha establecido una prohibición permanente contra la Federación Rusa para participar en sus juegos de verano e invierno debido a lo que se considera una invasión y ocupación ilegal de Ucrania.

Esto plantea la pregunta de por qué la FIFA y el COI están otorgando a Estados Unidos y al Estado de Israel un trato preferencial sobre otras naciones que han sido y están actualmente sancionadas y prohibidas de competir y albergar eventos deportivos internacionales por violaciones de los valores fundamentales de ambos organismos.

Por lo tanto, nosotros, los abajo firmantes, como miembros de la comunidad global y personas/instituciones de conciencia, exigimos que la FIFA y el COI retiren a Estados Unidos y al Estado de Israel de la organización o participación en eventos de competencia internacional hasta que ambas naciones demuestren voluntad de adherirse a los valores fundamentales de cada agencia y además operen de manera acorde al derecho internacional y los derechos humanos.

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A Federação Internacional de Futebol (FIFA) e o Comitê Olímpico Internacional (COI) Devem Demonstrar Compromisso com os Direitos Humanos Universais, Proibindo os Estados Unidos e Israel de Sediar ou Participar de Eventos Esportivos Internacionais

Os Estados Unidos tornaram-se perigosos para os membros da comunidade global, especialmente para pessoas não brancas/não europeias. O mundo testemunha violações massivas dos direitos humanos e da Constituição dos Estados Unidos, com agentes mascarados, utilizando veículos sem identificação, invadindo locais de trabalho, residências e locais de reunião pública para encarcerar e fazer desaparecer pessoas negras, pardas e indígenas e, em muitos casos, negando-lhes representação legal e informações básicas sobre seu paradeiro e bem-estar para suas famílias e advogados.

Sob a atual administração dos EUA, qualquer pessoa suspeita de residir e/ou visitar os Estados Unidos com ou sem a documentação "adequada", incluindo cidadãos americanos, é assediada, questionada sobre suas convicções políticas e até mesmo detida sem o devido processo legal. Esse ambiente repressivo criou uma sensação de insegurança e ansiedade para viajantes aos EUA, incluindo estudantes, e até mesmo alguns diplomatas de "nações estrangeiras". Até mesmo indivíduos em trânsito para outros países têm sido submetidos a assédio e intimidação.

Mas isso é apenas parte da história.

O Estado de Israel, com assistência direta dos Estados Unidos, está cometendo violações graves e profundas dos direitos humanos e do direito internacional por meio de aventuras militares e de um genocídio contínuo, além de outros crimes de guerra, incluindo, entre outros, punição coletiva e fome. Isso se soma ao pogrom de apartheid de Israel contra o povo palestino, que já dura oito décadas, bem como ao desrespeito perpétuo à soberania e autodeterminação dos povos libanês, iemenita, sírio e iraniano e de seus respectivos governos e órgãos de liderança. A comunidade global testemunha, todos os dias, o massacre desenfreado de pessoas e a pilhagem de vidas por Israel, com o total apoio dos Estados Unidos, que continuam a financiar, armar e promover as táticas de terror e barbárie de Israel.

Tanto a FIFA quanto o COI já negaram a realização e a participação em eventos internacionais de nações e governos que agiram de maneiras que consideram antitéticas aos seus valores fundamentais declarados de direitos humanos, antidiscriminação e sustentabilidade global. Por exemplo, tanto o COI quanto a FIFA baniram a Alemanha e o Japão de competições internacionais após a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Além disso, o COI proibiu a República da África do Sul de participar dos Jogos Olímpicos de 1964 a 1992 devido ao sistema racista de apartheid do país, e a FIFA proibiu o país de participar de suas partidas entre 1961 e 1992 pelo mesmo motivo. E, mais recentemente, o COI instituiu uma proibição permanente à Federação Russa de participar de seus jogos de verão e inverno devido ao que é considerado uma invasão e ocupação ilegais da Ucrânia.

Isso levanta a questão de por que a FIFA e o COI estão concedendo aos Estados Unidos e ao Estado de Israel tratamento preferencial em relação a outras nações que foram e estão atualmente sancionadas e proibidas de competir e sediar eventos esportivos internacionais por violações dos valores fundamentais de ambos os órgãos.

Portanto, nós, abaixo assinados, como membros da comunidade global e pessoas/instituições de consciência, exigimos que a FIFA e o COI retirem os Estados Unidos e o Estado de Israel da organização ou participação em eventos de competição internacional até que ambas as nações demonstrem disposição para aderir aos valores fundamentais de cada agência e continuar a operar de maneiras que respeitem o direito internacional e os direitos humanos.

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La Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) et le Comité International Olympique (CIO) doivent manifester leur engagement en faveur des droits humains universels en excluant les États-Unis et Israël de l’organisation et de la participation à des manifestations sportives internationales

Les États-Unis sont devenus une menace pour les membres de la communauté internationale, en particulier pour les personnes non blanches/non européennes. Le monde assiste à des violations massives des droits humains et de l'état de droit ancré dans la constitution des États-unis : alors que des agents masqués à bord de véhicules banalisés font irruption sur les lieux de travail, les domiciles et les lieux publics pour arrêter et faire disparaître des personnes noires, racisées et autochtones, refusant dans de trop nombreux cas à leurs familles et à leurs avocats l'accès à un·e représentant·e légal et à des informations élémentaires quant à leur sort et leur état de santé.

Sous l'administration États-Uniennes actuelle, toute personne soupçonnée de résider ou de séjourner aux États-Unis avec ou sans « papiers en règle », y compris des citoyen·nes états-unien·nes légalement documenté·es, est harcelée, interrogée sur ses opinions politiques et même détenue sans procédure légale. Ce climat répressif a créé un sentiment d'insécurité et d'anxiété chez des personnes voyageant aux États-Unis, y compris les étudiant·es, et même chez certain·es diplomates de « nations étrangères ». Même des personnes en transit vers d'autres pays ont été victimes de harcèlement et d'intimidation.

Mais ce n'est qu'une partie de l'histoire.

L'État d'Israël, avec l'aide directe des États-Unis, commet des violations flagrantes et sévères des droits humains et du droit international à travers ses opérations militaires, et perpétue un génocide en plus de mener d'autres crimes de guerre, incluant, mais sans s'y limiter, des punitions collectives et l'utilisation de la famine comme une arme de guerre. Ce n'est que le point d'orgue des huit décennies d'apartheid perpétré par Israël contre le peuple palestinien, ainsi que de son mépris perpétuel pour la souveraineté et l'autodétermination des peuples libanais, yéménite, syrien et iranien et de leurs gouvernements et dirigeants respectifs. La communauté internationale est chaque jour témoin du massacre arbitraire de civils et du saccage de vies humaines par Israël, avec le soutien total des États-Unis, qui continuent de financer, d'armer et de promouvoir les tactiques terroristes et barbares d'Israël.

Tant la FIFA que le CIO ont par le passé refusé d'accueillir ou de participer à des événements internationaux organisés par des nations ou des gouvernements ayant agi d'une manière jugée contraire aux valeurs fondamentales défendues par ces organisations, à savoir les droits humains, la lutte contre la discrimination et la durabilité à l’échelle mondiale. Par exemple, tant le CIO que la FIFA ont interdit à l'Allemagne et au Japon de participer à des compétitions internationales après la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Ailleurs, le CIO a interdit à la République d'Afrique du Sud de participer aux Jeux olympiques entre 1964 et 1992 en raison du système raciste d'apartheid en vigueur dans ce pays. De son côté, la FIFA a interdit à ce pays de participer à ses matchs entre 1961 et 1992 pour la même raison. Plus récemment, le CIO a interdit à la Fédération de Russie de participer à ses jeux d'été et d'hiver en raison de ce qu'elle considère être une invasion et une occupation illégales de l'Ukraine.

Cela soulève la question suivante : pourquoi la FIFA et le CIO accordent-ils un traitement préférentiel aux États-Unis et à l'État d'Israël, alors que d'autres nations ont été ou sont actuellement sanctionnées et interdites de compétition et d'organisation d'événements sportifs internationaux pour avoir violé les valeurs fondamentales de ces deux instances ?

Par conséquent, nous, soussigné·es, en tant que membres de la communauté mondiale et personnes/institutions de conscience, exigeons que la FIFA et le CIO excluent les États-Unis et l'État d'Israël de l'organisation ou de la participation à des compétitions internationales jusqu'à ce que ces deux nations démontrent leur volonté d'adhérer aux valeurs fondamentales de chaque agence et d'agir de manière conforme au droit international et aux droits humains.


Wednesday, February 19, 2025

BAP: US war on Africa rages on with Somalia in the crosshairs

 Originally posted at:  blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/us-war-on-africa-rages-on-with-somalia-in-the-crosshairs



U.S. War on Africa Rages on
with Somalia in the Crosshairs

February 10, 2025 — The new Trump administration has wasted no time continuing the U.S. war on Africa. Just one month into his second term, the U.S. has launched at least six airstrikes in Somalia’s Puntland region. While AFRICOM and the Somali government claim these strikes are “authorized” and therefore legal under international law, this so-called authorization is nothing more than a hallmark of neo-colonial governance. Comprador regimes installed and maintained by Western imperialism do not exercise genuine sovereignty but instead serve as facilitators of foreign domination.

The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) Africa Team and the U.S. Out of Africa Network (USOAN) unequivocally condemn this renewed aggression. These strikes, backed by the Puntland regional government, have nothing to do with “security.” They serve U.S. neo-colonial domination, enforcing foreign control and keeping Somalia divided.

Under Trump’s first term, the U.S. launched over 200 airstrikes in Somalia—more than Bush, Obama, and Biden combined—fueling instability and strengthening al-Shabaab. The 2020 troop withdrawal was a reorganization of imperial strategy, ensuring AFRICOM continued operations through drone warfare and proxies.

For decades, the U.S. has worked to keep Somalia in crisis. It has exploited divisions between Somalia and Somaliland, manipulated conflicts in the Horn, and propped up corrupt regimes. The Somali government, like all comprador regimes, trades sovereignty for military aid, including its recent $600,000 contract with BGR Group, a Washington lobbying firm.

BAP previously warned that Trump’s second term would bring a more aggressive U.S. posture in Africa. As BAP Africa Team Co-Coordinator Netfa Freeman stated:

“The Trump administration enters office at a time when China and Russia have significantly deepened their strategic partnerships across the continent and with the continent no longer in the same position of weakness as before. The rise of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has shown the world that African nations can reject Western domination and military occupation. These factors mean that the U.S. will likely pursue a much more aggressive military strategy in Africa, being that all they know is drone warfare, proxy militias, and strategic partnerships with neo-colonial regimes to maintain its grip.”

This attack is part of a broader U.S. offensive against the growing movement in Africa for self-determination. Trump has already moved against South Africa, cutting aid under the racist pretext of defending white Afrikaners while punishing the country for challenging U.S. and Israeli settler-colonialism. The same empire that protects apartheid landowners in South Africa continues to wage war on Somalia and militarize the continent. Meanwhile, AFRICOM’s role in destabilizing Africa extends beyond Somalia. In Libya, U.S. military forces are deepening their partnership with the comprador regime in Tripoli, strengthening military ties under the tired pretext of “security cooperation.” AFRICOM’s continued presence in Libya, where U.S. and NATO forces devastated a prosperous country in 2011, ensures that Libya remains fractured, occupied by competing factions, and is a staging ground for imperialist military operations across North Africa and the Sahel.

The U.S. and its allies have turned Somalia into a perpetual warzone, a playground for private mercenaries, and a military testing ground for AFRICOM’s latest weapons and drone technology. They have done so under the guise of “fighting terrorism,” when in reality, they have created the very conditions that allow groups like al-Shabaab to thrive. BAP rejects the false choice between U.S. military occupation and endless war. The Somali people have the right to build their own future, without Washington’s bombs, without AFRICOM’s presence, and without the interference of Gulf States acting as Western proxies.

Shutdown AFRICOM!

U.S. Out of Africa!

No Compromise! No Retreat!


Sunday, January 26, 2025

NLG on the ceasefire in Gaza, censorship at Columbia, and the immigrant support movement

 A new NLG know your rights, or risks, guide has been posted at:  www.nlg.org/massdefenseprogram/responsive-guides/


The NLG'annual Week of Abolition will be March 3-7, with the theme: "Practicing Everyday Abolition" --  www.nlg.org/woa/




Sent out by email the evening of January 16th:





[Re-posted:


 The National Lawyers Guild Says Ceasefire Today, Liberation Tomorrow! 


The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in the occupied territory of Gaza. This is the least that could happen, given Israel’s recent escalation of their 76-year, ongoing, genocidal campaign against Palestinians. It comes at a time when the death toll has exceeded 46,000 people, with reports that this number is undercounted. Israel has displaced more than 90% of the Palestinians living in Gaza. It will take decades to rebuild all the damage that was done, and therefore it's imperative that we also demand an immediate lifting of the lifting of the siege and ongoing economic embargo on Gaza. 

This level of violence and destruction witnessed could not have been achieved without our elected officials at every level of government aiding Israel. The U.S. federal government has sent over $26 billion in weapons since October of 2023. Congress passed legislation designed to target non-profits who dare to speak out about the genocide of Palestinians. States like Texas have censored pro-Palestine speech on college campuses. 

All of this did not stop the massive wave of popular support that the Palestinian people have across the world. Mass protests broke out against the ongoing genocide. Universities became encampments, as students took over public spaces demanding an end to the genocide. The International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice both have cases against Israel for violating human rights, thanks to the initiative and pressure of Palestinians and their allies from South Africa to Chile to Ireland, and many more. The world has witnessed the atrocities that Israel is committing, and they are fighting back. 

We call on the US and international legal community to escalate our pursuit for legal accountability for the last 467 days of genocide and all Israeli colonial violence, ethnic cleansing, ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid, in our global and local legal institutions. We support the efforts of activists and progressive legal communities who are pursuing legal justice against individual members of the genocide army through national laws of Universal Jurisdiction. Every state which has signed and ratified the Geneva Convention is duty bound to prosecute those responsible for violating the Conventions. 

We must also call for  our legal community to unite in the pursuit of real justice against U.S. individuals and institutions who have directly participated, aided and abetted in the genocide and famine, from the Biden administration officials, to member of Congress, to the media. They are all responsible.The ceasefire agreement has yet to be ratified, and is set to be rolled out in stages. We must keep our eyes on Gaza and the Palestinian people. The NLG continues to reiterate its support for a free Palestine. We believe that the Palestinians have the right to self-determination, by any means necessary. We also continue to reiterate the “legitimacy of the right of the Palestinian people to resist illegal military occupation, apartheid and ethnic cleansing" as is clear in international law and any correct moral standard. We join others in the statement Ceasefire today, Liberation tomorrow!




The National Lawyers Guild Is In Solidarity with Katherine Franke, and Condemns Columbia University


The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) condemns Columbia University’s forced retirement of former NLG Executive Director, Katherine Franke. This response is only one of the many attacks Columbia University has lobbied against anyone daring to speak out against Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Professor Franke is a true embodiment of the NLG’s spirit and fight of putting people and the planet over profits. 

After 25 years of service, Professor Franke was forced out of Columbia University for her unwavering support for Palestinian liberation. This is retaliation from Columbia University against her statements in support of the student encampments protesting Isarel’s genocide against Palestinians. She also brought to light the fact that Israeli students who had recently served in the Israeli military were using violence against anti-genocide protesters. 

Columbia University’s response to these student encampments is unequivocally one of violence: the University sent in the NYPD to clear the encampment, allowed Zionist students and professors to attack anti-genocide protestors, and has retaliated against anyone on staff who dares to support these brave student protestors.

Israel’s genocide against Palestinians continues to intensify, claiming the lives of over 46,000 since October 7th, 2023. Standing in solidarity with Palestinans who are asserting their right for liberation and self-determination is not radical. We cannot remain silent in the face of continued Israeli occupation of Palestine. Katherine Franke reminds us that we must speak out, no matter the cost. ]






Sent out by email the evening of January 24th:



New KYR for immigration justice advocates: Assessing Risks in Supporting Immigrants at Points of Intervention, Understanding the “Harboring” Non-U.S. Citizens Federal Crime, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)


In collaboration with Southern Coalition for Social Justice and National Immigration Project, the NLG’s Mass Defense Program has created a new KYR for people advocating with and supporting non-U.S. citizens. The new Trump administration has already stated its intent to use laws to prosecute “immigration-related violations,” which can extend to individuals who help and advocate on behalf of non-U.S. citizens. In the past, the federal government has utilized a federal crime against immigrant advocates, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A), “Bringing In and Harboring Certain” Non-U.S. Citizens. Understanding this very broad law can help assess risks at different points of intervention!

Read the full guide across our website and social media platforms:

Website

Instagram 

Bluesky

Facebook

Resources for non-U.S. citizens when protesting:

National Immigration Project Resources: bit.ly/nipresources

National Immigration Law Center's KYR: bit.ly/nilckyrimmigrants




Sent out by email January 15th in the afternoon:


Letter to Character and Fitness Committees Regarding Advocacy for Palestinian Rights


Dear [ ],

This morning, January 15, 2025, Unlock the Bar and Palestine Legal, joined by the National Lawyers Guild, Center for Constitutional Rights, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Palestinian American Bar Association, and the Climate Defense Project, have submitted a letter to each attorney licensing jurisdiction in the country, reminding the Character and Fitness Committees of their constitutional and legal obligations when evaluating applicants to the bar.

Both historically and currently, the attempts to utilize the Character and Fitness process in order to withhold licensure from social justice advocates engaging in liberative movements has been an unfortunate reality. In this moment of anti-Palestinian bias, there have already been examples of prospective applicants being subject to unfair and disparate treatment as they attempt to become lawyers. Character and Fitness Committees must be mindful to not allow such bias to affect their applicant review process.

With this letter, legal groups and advocacy organizations are reminding bar committees that, as government entities,  they must be bound to the First and Fourteenth Amendments, anti-discrimination laws, and constitutional jurisprudence.

"As in all other realms in the U.S., the Palestine exception to free speech is affecting lawyers. They are facing heightened scrutiny and punishment for a rational political position,” said Xavier T. de Janon, NLG Director of Mass Defense. “Character and Fitness evaluations are dated, onerous, and shadowy processes that have little to do with the practice of law.”

Full letter: "Advising on Your Legal Obligations to Ensure an Equitable Character and
Fitness Review Process in the Face of Anti-Palestinian Repression."

The letter is currently taking sign ons of support. If you would like to join as a sign on to this letter, please fill out the form here.


Sunday, September 15, 2024

SanctionsKill: Statement on the recent US theft of a Venezuelan government plane

This was originally posted at sanctionskill.org/statement-on-the-recent-u-s-theft-of-a-venezuelan-government-plane/ September 11th and there are now 67 signatures.  Imagine if a country tried to seize Air Force One, or force it to make an unplanned landing, as the US and EU have done with Latin American presidential aircraft in recent years.  Imagine if a country did that with the Russian, Chinese, British, or Indian equivalent aircraft.  The US presumes to seize and try President Nicolas Maduro and other foreign leaders and diplomatic personnel, and supports attacks on diplomatic facilities.  Imagine the results if Mongolia [or South Africa?] had tried to seize President Putin recently and somehow extradite him to NATOland.  The BBC and others acted like that was a serioupossibility.  They claim that this aircraft seizure was just a warning to the Venezuelan government.


Around September 14-15th Venezuela accused the US government and others of plotting to assassinate President Maduro and US citizens were arrested, including a military service member.  Spanish and Czech citizens were also arrested.  A new "Bay of Piglets" in the waning months of the Biden-Harris administration?




Statement on the Recent U.S. Theft of a Venezuelan Government Plane



You are invited to sign on to the following statement:

On Monday, Sept. 2, U.S. officials pirated a jet plane belonging to the sovereign country of Venezuela. The plane was in the Dominican Republic for servicing. The corporate media falsely reported that the plane was “owned by Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.” No, Venezuela owns the plane and uses it for travel by various Venezuelan officials, including the president.

The piracy of the $13-million airplane is the latest of a long list of material goods and money belonging to Venezuela that the United States government has stolen. These illegal seizures have accompanied over 900 Economic Coercive Measures – sanctions – that the U.S. has imposed on Venezuela during decades aiming to impoverish the population and overthrow the government.

Using sanctions as its pretext, the U.S. has seized Venezuela’s CITGO refineries and gas stations, and has frozen Venezuela’s $2 billion in gold reserves in London. Along with sanctions, Washington backed a military coup against Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez government in 2002; the coup failed. Throughout 2019 the U.S. and the European Union claimed a little known reactionary politician, Juan Guaidó, was Venezuela’s president and supported Guaidó’s coup attempts; these all failed and Guaidó was finally rejected by his own former supporters.

Now the U.S. government is trying to undermine the July 28 election of President Nicolás Maduro that has been announced and certified by the Venezuelan National Election Council (CNE) and ratified by Venezuela’s Supreme Court.

The U.S. also used illegal measures to justify the kidnapping and imprisonment of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, who had been making international agreements to purchase food for the people of Venezuela.

In December 2020 the U.N. General Assembly declared U.S. sanctions “contrary to international law, international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the norms and principles governing peaceful relations among States.”

The piracy of the Venezuelan jet plane is the latest example of U.S. foreign policy based on self-serving “rules” in violation of international law. It clearly shows that Washington guides a rogue state.

The following organizations have initially endorsed this statement: SanctionsKill Campaign, Venezuela Solidarity Network, Friends of Latin America, Task Force on the Americas, International Action Center, The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), U.S. Peace Council, United National Antiwar Coalition – UNAC, Workers World Party, Socialist Action, Alliance For Global Justice, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, Bronx Ant War Coalition,  Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees, Palestine Children’s Welfare Fund, Free Palestine Movement, Syria Support Movement, NakbaTour, One State Assembly, The Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights, Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste, Popular Resistance, Canadian BDS Coalition and International BDS Allies, Al-Awda the Palestinian Right to Return Coalition, Committee of Anti-Imperialists in Solidarity with Iran (CASI), The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organizations (IFCO), Asociación Americana de Juristas – AAJ, Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Casa Baltimore/Limay, Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, National Lawyers Guild International

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Sunday, May 12, 2024

Jik an Bout editorial part 3: The imperialists and the multinationals are waging a global and brutal offensive against the peoples. Let us intensify the Resistance! + more on the war in Palestine

 A few more articles on Palestine:


Egypt is going to join the ICJ case on the side of South Africa, Colombia, and Turkey, but the reason could be that Egypt doesn't want to accept the people of Gaza as refugees and the Egyptian coup government considers Islamist Hamas a threat.  They waited so long before joining.  And I thought someone on Twitter/X was completely guessing or imagining when they claimed that the new Gaza pier would be used to transport refugees to the US, and now there is talk in the mainstream media of plans to bring Gaza refugees here and Trump vilifies the Palestinians and supports Israel's invasion of Rafah.  On Egypt:  www.commondreams.org/news/egypt-icj-israel


Anti-war Mother's Daywww.commondreams.org/opinion/mother-s-day-war-gaza


cindysheehan.substack.com/p/mothers-day-for-peace-7ef


Apparently marked in the People's Republic of China as well (and in Cuba?), though countries in the former socialist bloc often treat International Women's Day March 8th as a mother's day or use their own date, as in DPR Korea (November 16th, commemorating a convention that met in 1961).  In Egypt it is March 21st, in May as part of Buddha's Birthday in Taiwan, and May 30th in Nicaragua en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day


www.commondreams.org/opinion/university-presidents-gaza-protests


www.commondreams.org/opinion/macklemore-hillary-clinton-on-palestine


Satirized:  www.normalisland.co.uk/p/the-us-labels-hip-hop-artist-macklemore


Bernie Sanderswww.commondreams.org/news/sanders-israel-war-palestinian-people


www.commondreams.org/news/us-department-of-state-israel






This is the third part of a series that began in issues #216 and 217 of Jik an Bout jikanbouttv.com and www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063478720844 ?), paper of the CNCP, the National Council of Popular Committees, in Martinique.  The earlier parts are posted at:  durhamspark.blogspot.com/2024/04/jik-bout-editorial-world-war-iii-has.html




The imperialists and the multinationals are waging a global and brutal offensive against the peoples

Let us intensify the Resistance!


In our two previous editorials, we developed the thesis that "World War III has already begun." We have also put forward the idea that, beyond the confrontations between rival powers, the most fundamental world war is the one between the multinationals that hold the real power in the imperialist countries on the one hand, and the dominated workers and peoples of the whole world on the other. These two camps have fundamentally contradictory, definitively irreconcilable interests and, since the decisive confrontation has begun between them, it is important that our camp, that of the workers and the peoples, make a clear assessment of its assets and strengths, that it think of and implement a strategy and tactics that will ensure its victory.
Given the brutality of the attacks and the apparent omnipotence of the dominant system, many are deeply convinced that it is unstoppable. The vast majority of people, subjected to disinformation and manipulation by Western media empires, unaware of the extent of the Resistance that abounds all over the planet, are not aware that the enemy is considerably shaken. In truth, the capitalist and imperialist system has had its day and the world is ready to make a new leap towards progress.
It is a law of the development of human society, clearly demonstrated by the theoreticians of Marxism-Leninism: when the necessary objective and subjective conditions are met, the system that has had its day inexorably gives way to another that corresponds to the new configuration of the world. The development of the productive forces, the new social relations and the new ideas that developments create, call for new structures in society.
Today, the objective and subjective conditions are coming together for the world to change its basis
(a) With regard to objective conditions:
In previous articles, we have shown that the sharpening of contradictions with rival powers and the strengthening of the struggle for sovereignty waged by dominated countries make the ability of Western imperialists to plunder the world's raw materials and subject world trade to the dictatorship of their currencies increasingly problematic. Add to this the fact that the anarchy inherent in the liberal system has been compounded by the fact that Capital has become more and more disconnected from the real economy and [is] wading into the swamps of speculation. Even more decisively, the Computer Revolution and the explosion of New Information and Communication Technologies (NICTs) have reshaped the social relations between the dominant and the dominated and have shaken up the architecture that allowed the former to impose undivided power1.
(b) With regard to subjective conditions:
Inevitably, new objective conditions create or reinforce new ideas. It is undeniable that today an alternative planetary way of thinking is gradually being imposed in a way that confronts the dominant Western bourgeois ideology. This has been confirmed:
– by the massive environmental mobilizations which, often at the initiative of young people, have swept the world to denounce the threats posed to the planet by ultra-liberal and productivist policies;
– the internationalization of the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police brutality;
– by the extension of the "Me Too" movement. The latter, because it came from Western countries, received worldwide media coverage, but it was part of a powerful mobilization dynamic for the defense of women's rights that was already developing on all continents.
– by the extraordinary mobilization of students and high school students who, all over the world, denounce the genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people by the Zionist occupation army of Israel with the active support of the Western imperialist countries. An admirable commitment that gives faith in humanity!
These four examples reflect the qualitative change that takes place at the subjective level. Bourgeois patriarchy, nationalist chauvinism, racism, supremacism, imperialist interventionism, are being undermined by a new ideology that advocates respect for the environment, the interests of future generations, the sovereignty of peoples and social justice.
All this allows us to say that the objective and subjective conditions are in place for the coming of a new world. It is, of course, impossible to predict the duration of the period that will end the domination of the capitalist and imperialist system. But, punctuated by battles lost or won, advances or setbacks, the historical trend is inescapable. What remains certain is that the action of the peoples, whether spontaneous or organized, can delay or accelerate the process.
You don't fight a war with a flower in your gun!
We are at war with governments, agents of the multinationals, who are at the helm of powerful states, with sprawling institutions, armies and apparatuses of repression that have no qualms, expert intelligence services, extremely powerful propaganda and manipulation tools. We are at war with a system! The clear awareness of this reality must never leave us, the activists of alternative movements, revolutionary organizations, when we carry out analyses or when we undertake actions.
Earlier, we discussed the "single objective" of each side at war and the main fronts on which the battles were fought (economic, ideological, military and political). For the Peoples, the objective is to bring down the ruling system while building the new world; As the two dynamics eminently go together, this must be reflected in the development of a global strategy that is opposed to that of the multinationals.
On the economic level: The room for manoeuvre available to the people is much greater than is generally thought. For your information, bourgeois economists admit that more than 60% of the world's working population, or 2 billion people, earn their living in the informal economy. The IMF, another example, shows that the weight of the informal sector in the GDP of African countries ranges from 20% to 65%. These figures already suggest the extent of the popular economy in the global fabric, but its importance goes far beyond that. It is only this economy that allows nearly 6 billion human beings to survive the cruelty of the ultra-liberal policies imposed by the multinationals. Is it not clear that the more intense the looting, the more the so-called informal economy develops?
In our view, the building of an alternative economic system requires that we learn from the genius that the peoples show in order to survive.
Therefore, fighting on the economic front calls on us to rely on what already exists to boost alternative initiatives, to encourage the emergence of dissident networks and short circuits (at the level of the extended family, neighborhoods or economic sectors) and to strengthen the connection between the sections of our people who have emigrated or are living on the national territory. Without the mastery of a broad and structured economic base, we would remain at the mercy of dirty tricks and blackmail from the rulers; on the other hand, calls for possible boycotts of foreign companies or products would remain unproductive.
On the Ideological level: We mentioned above the emergence of new ideas coming to confront the dominant Western bourgeois ideology. Their convergence is bound to create a coherent ideology that will eventually impose its supremacy on society. But for the time being, the confrontation on the ideological front remains hot. Society is still largely a prisoner of the ideology of individualism, elitism and competition. On this basis, the enemy has managed to blur the boundaries of class4 very deeply. It even uses new ideas (which challenge the pyramidal structure of society) as a weapon to disorganize and divert popular movements. These movements, now labelled "citizens’ movements", are invited to give priority to individual decisions and to line up behind leaders designated by the system's media. The powerful enterprise of manipulation carried out after the fall of the "Socialist Camp" succeeded in spreading the thesis within society that "the time of ideologies is over" and that "citizens" had to guard against any "co-optation" by political organizations. At the same time, Western media empires are trying to offer superficial interests and a bestialized culture, to destroy all forms of critical thinking and to condition minds.
If, therefore, we do not wage a systematic and uncompromising struggle on the ideological front, all our battles will consist of "chayé dlo an pannyé5". Ideological and political training, the popularization of knowledge in all fields, the encouragement of critical reflection are all indispensable weapons for victoriously waging the war against the capitalist and imperialist system.
On the military Level: It is obvious that the Western imperialists will never accept the challenge to their hegemony. For centuries they have maintained it by committing the most horrible crimes, by multiplying subversion and coups d'état; However, they are aware that their rule is now under serious threat. That is why they have set in motion a world war. Their ability to cause harm should not be underestimated. As a famous Martinican artist said: "These people who are guilty of cynically committing so many crimes are necessarily psychopaths."
The enemy's methods are well known: espionage, infiltration of provocateurs, information warfare and psychological warfare, assassination, use of auxiliaries, corruption, etc. All this prepares or accompanies the armed intervention. It is therefore necessary to be prepared, let us say discreetly, to thwart all attacks of this nature.
The main strength of our peoples is numbers! It is by systematically working for the accumulation of forces and the involvement of the broadest masses in the battles that we will create the conditions for victory.
On the political level: The villainy of ultra-liberal policies is such that in all sectors of society mobilizations are organized to defend the rights of workers and more generally of the population. They are necessary and must be supported. However, our duty is to carry out a political offensive so that, on the one hand, everyone realizes the extent of the real war waged by the ruling classes and, on the other hand, we unmask all the illusions sown by the opportunists. In fact, there are many who claim to be fighting against imperialist domination, colonialism, sabotage of public services, etc., but who at the same time try to divert our people from the path of emancipation and the struggle against the system, because their class interests lead them to collaborate with it. Contrary to what they claim, neither electoral victories, nor demands for changes to the French Constitution, nor any declaration of loyalty to "the Republic" in exchange for additional "competences", are likely to bend the imperialists' will to destroy the endogenous economy or to carry out genocide by substitution.
As we said above, what is at stake is the eradication of a perverse and destructive system. Revolutionary Parties and Popular Movements
We have established that the war between the Peoples and the multinationals is a world war. The opposing camp is scrupulously organized and acts under the command of a very competent and well-hierarchical General Staff. How can we imagine that the Peoples' camp could gain the upper hand, without also having structures that would allow for global analysis, the elaboration of strategies and the coordination of battles on the different fronts?
In previous centuries, revolutionary class and national liberation struggles were waged under the leadership of "Vanguard Political Parties", often under the aegis of Marxist-Leninist ideology. Today, even if the role of revolutionary political parties remains more decisive than ever, the nature of their relationship with popular movements has profoundly evolved. The challenge for revolutionary parties is not to "lead the masses", but to create relevant analyses and proposals, to develop practices that are convincing enough to be taken up by the greatest number of people [the translator objected to this, saying that revolutionary, leading party ivital for revolution].
Regarding the connection between popular struggles at the international level:
In the past, internationalist networks were driven for the most part by political parties grouped together in "Socialist Internationals". Today, the convergences of struggles are made through extremely numerous networks, on the basis of specific themes (ecological, feminist, pan-Africanist, etc.) that generally declare themselves "a-political". There are, however, international networks, defending political projects that are clearly anti-liberal and anti-imperialist. In our America-Caribbean region, for example, we can mention the "Assembly of the Peoples of the Caribbean (APC)", the "Sao Paolo Forum", "ALBA Movements", "Jubilee South", "ICMLPO"7.
The stakes in this decisive war between our peoples and the multinationals are crucial. For us, it is a question of eradicating a system at the end of its life which, if it continues, will lead the planet and humanity to destruction. We must give ourselves all the necessary means to intensify our Resistance, to achieve the final victory and to build the "other possible world".
________________________________________________________________________________
1 The system is caught in a trap from which it cannot escape: its survival is linked to the massive sale of new technologies; But censorship is not enough to prevent it from deconstructing its ideology and propaganda or conveying alternative information about its past and present crimes.
2 Humanity is once again seen as an intrinsic part of the ecosystem. It is the pretension to dominate it, to exploit it, to submit it to one's fantasies that threatens the planet and humanity with the threat of destruction.
3 The enemies, on the other hand, scrupulously study popular practices and circuits, either to destroy them or to take advantage of them.
4 On the one hand, the wave of influencers scattered among the working classes who gain access to "wealth" by acting as advertising relays for the multinationals, and the massive campaigns carried out to sow the illusion that one could solve one's economic and social problems by becoming a "self-employed entrepreneur", have largely contributed to this.
5 Carry water in a basket.
6 This is not contradictory to the existence of sectoral departments legitimately linked to political parties.
7 In this regard, we invite all our readers to share with us the information they have about other networks working for the convergence of popular struggles.