CLID Statement On 33 Arrestees At Saturday Boston Anti-Fascist Rally-Drop The Charges!
THE COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE
____________________________
The Committee for International Labor Defensejoins with our sisters and brothers of Black Lives Matter Boston and Cambridge, to call on the Boston Municipal Court, Mayor Marty Walsh, District Attorney Dan Conley, and Police Commissioner William Evans, to drop all charges stemming from the unlawful arrest and detainment of 33 protesters on Saturday, August 19, 2017, at the “Fight Supremacy” rally on Boston Common.
Many of the protesters were unnecessarily injured by police during the confrontations and arrests. All those arrested were charged with crimes ranging from disorderly conduct to assault, for holding their ground against fascism and white supremacy in the southeast quadrant of Boston Common and surrounding areas.
The Committee for International Labor Defenseis aware that the arrestees face court appearances on August 21, 22 and 23, to determine their fate, and we are closely monitoring each of their cases. The Committee squarely and publicly holds the City of Boston accountable for the health and safety of every one of these political prisoners, including the minor who is only 15 years of age.
The Committee for International Labor Defensedemands the immediate release of the Boston 33, dismissal of all legal charges, and withdrawal of all fines and penalties for which the Court may hold them liable. Their arrest was unjust and a violation of the democratic right to protest that is fundamental to the U.S. constitution and US history. No one should be arrested for standing against racism and racist violence.FREE THE BOSTON 33 NOW!"
We are mindful that on this day, exactly 90 years ago, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ruthlessly electrocuted two working class political prisoners namedNicola SaccoandBartolomeo Vanzetti,during a time of similar unrest.We will not allow those crimes to be repeated.
The Committee for International Labor Defensecalls on our brothers and sisters in the labor movement to show solidarity with all 33 of these political prisoners in memory of Sacco and Vanzetti, one of International Labor Defense’s very first cases.The capitalist bosses and their repressive state apparatus have changed little since 1927, as we can see through these attacks on working class protesters.
Signed by:
THE COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE
____________________________
MISSION STATEMENT
The Committee for International Labor Defense (CILD) aims to bring together labor organizations worldwide to organize mass defense in cases important to the cause of workers and all oppressed.
We seek to build on the past achievements of the working class to revive International Labor Defense. The original ILD (1925-46) mobilized worldwide campaigns in political and legal defense of Sacco and Vanzetti, the Scottsboro Boys, Cuban sugar workers, sharecroppers in the US South, and many more cases.
The ILD took a side, in solidarity with the struggles of workers, oppressed, and other socially marginalized people. The ILD defended movements, organizations, and individuals with whose political views it did not necessarily agree.
While supporting legal efforts, the ILD understood that the law, courts, prisons, and police exist to protect the ruling class. To paraphrase one of the founding members of the original ILD, “We place all our faith in the masses, and none in the ‘justice’ of the courts or other tribunals.”
In the process of recruiting labor organizations worldwide to rebuild the ILD, the CILD will take up international, domestic and local defense cases, in line with its capacity.
For more information please send an email tocforild@gmail.comor visit our websiteinternationallabordefense.org
On Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 8:34 AM, Eric Brooks<rico49@gmail.com>wrote:
A final comment for consideration: It might help build the CILD to add a website URL and email address where people can contact CILD to the statement so that if it is printed and handed out it stands alone. At the top you could say: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Committee for International Labor Defense URL…