Women Targeted for Prosecution in Non-Violent Port Protests

(Olympia, WA 10/25/08) Prosecutors have brought charges against twenty-six people arrested during a non-violent women's protest in November, 2007.

Thoughtful, Moral Demonstrations

For two weeks in November, hundreds of demonstrators blocked military equipment from moving through their publicly owned port. On November 13th, 39 women were arrested during a non-violent demonstration in solidarity with each other, women nationally, and the women in Iraq.

Patty Imani, one of those charged, said Friday: "Thousands of women have been killed in Iraq. It's obscene that the city's response is to jail those of us who were only trying to stop more from dying."

The women in Olympia saw the suffering that the United States' occupation of Iraq was causing, to the Iraqi people and particularly to the women of Iraq. The protest was carefully planned to bring attention to how the war has effected the lives of women in Iraq and the United States.

Inappropriate Prosecution

The City has waited nearly a year to bring these charges, and has suspiciously brought these new charges less than a week after their other cases against port protesters were dismissed. Also, prosecutors have a history of targeting women and people of color in protest cases. Twenty-six demonstrators have been singled out for prosecution, 25 of whom are women.

A Call for Solidarity

Those being prosecuted are calling for solidarity and support from all those who are concerned that women and people of color are being targeted for carrying out their constitutionally protected right to non-violently dissent.

For more information or to donate to the legal support fund visit www.olypmr.org

Obsessed with Hate: Challenging Anti-Muslim Propaganda

Thursday, October 23, 2008
7:00pm
Evergreen - SEM II E1107

Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Muslim Student Association at University of Washington (MSU-UW) speak on how their communities are fighting anti-Muslim propaganda on their campuses and in their communities. Join the conversation and discuss our communities response to Islamophobia.

For more information contact sesame@evergreen.edu , 360-867-6724 or visit http://sesame-evergreen.blogspot.com