Tues, 2/7, Harvard: "Translation as Terror? Tarek Mehanna's lawyers speak out"

In their First Public Discussion Since the Trial, join us for:

Translation as Terror:

Tarek Mehanna's Lawyers Speak About

Defending a National Security Case in Federal Court

Tues, Feb 7th, 5pm
Wasserstein Hall, Rm 2012
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA

The trial of Tarek Mehanna in a Boston federal court this fall raised new questions about freedom of speech in the post-9/11 era and sparked intense interest nationwide.

Charged with material support for terrorism in part for translating public documents from Arabic to English, 29-year old Mehanna had a dream team of Boston defense lawyers: JW Carney, Janice Bassil, John Oh and former OPIA attorney advisor Sejal Patel.

In their first public discussion of the trial since the guilty verdict, the team will speak at HLS about the experience of handling a "terror" trial in federal court.

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/133783903406932/

For more info about the trial check out:
http://freetarek.com/
http://socialistworker.org/2012/01/03/feds-put-islam-on-trial

Thurs, 2/9, "Protest Against Layoffs at Harvard Libraries!"

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Also join us for a student-labor rally against library layoffs:

5pm, Thursday, February 9th

Holyoke Center

1350 Mass. Ave

Cambridge, MA

RSVP on Facebook

Wed, 2/1, "Organize AGAINST Anti-Teacher Ballot Initiative"

Wednesday February 1, 6-8pm

Madison Park High-School
75 Malcolm X Blvd.
Roxbury, MA 02120
(Look for signs or call 917-414-1946 to get into building)

Stand for Children, a non-profit advocacy organization funded by the anti-union Walmart billionaires and the Gates Foundation, has filed an initiative petition that will likely appear on the November 2012 ballot.  This complex question would make changes in the yet to be implemented evaluation system, and impose new state mandates on school district teacher hirings and weaken the voice of teachers' unions.

Stand for Children claims that the initiative will "promote excellence in public schools", but a closer examination shows that the proposal would take away teachers' voices in how we are evaluated.  The proposal is a clear attack on our teachers' unions, and it creates a divide among teachers, parents, community members and our students.

We need to take a public stand AGAINST this ballot initiative. Teachers and community members need to work together to improve our students' education. We need more teachers and staff in our schools that are given the necessary support to be successful leaders.   We need more funding and materials in our schools. We do not need ballot initiatives that blame teachers. Join other teachers and community members from Boston and surrounding towns to take a public stand against this attack and to fight for real education reform!

Everyone and anyone is invited to attend.

For more information please contact the Teacher Activist Group (TAG Boston): info@tagboston.org

For more information on Stand for Children:
http://www.massteacher.org/advocating/toolkits/stand.aspx
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/26_01/26_01_sanchez.shtml

Sat, 2/25, "No to Islamophobia! Rally in Solidarity with Tarek Mehanna!"

RALLY ON BOSTON COMMON

SATURDAY, Feb 25th

 

EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE AT RACISM & ISLAMOPHOBIA
This Guilty Verdict is Unjust! Free Tarek NOW!

When: Saturday February 25th, 2012

What time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Where: The Gazebo on the Boston Common near Park Street 

This rally marks an important milestone in our support of Tarek and will include:

1. A written statement from Tarek Mehanna

2. The Free Tarek Campaign road map, 2012: Next Steps 

3. A number of engaging speakers from respected local groups.
4. Petition signature collecting

5. Information about how to get involved in the campaign for Tarek's release!

Together we will brave the snow to show our support for our brother Dr. Tarek Mehanna. Dr. Mehanna has been framed by the FBI and US Attorney’s office for refusing to become an informant against his own community. His trial was unfair, frought with government misconduct at all levels, and centered primarily on Tarek’s religious and political beliefs and statements. This unjust guilty verdict has harrowing ramifications for civil rights and freedom of speech, and it speaks volumes about the current level of racism and Islamophobia in this country.

Tarek Mehanna is a hero for refusing to participate in the U.S. Government's war on Arabs, Muslims, and communities of color. We demand a fair trial leading to his release!

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RSVP on Facebook

Also see this article for more information - http://socialistworker.org/2012/01/03/feds-put-islam-on-trial

Thurs, 2/2, "Protest Against Cuts & Fare Hikes at Dorchester MBTA Hearing!"

5pm, Thursday, February 2nd

Dorchester House Multi-Service Center

1353 Dorchester Ave

Dorchester, MA, 02122

(see map)

 

The MBTA wants to severely cut our transit service in ways that will harm all working class people in and around Boston, but will especially increase the difficult transit communities of color in this city already deal with. Let's use their community hearings as a way to organize ourselves against the cuts.

NO fare hikes!
NO to service cuts!
NO to transit racism!
INCREASE and IMPROVE service, don't cut it!

We'll meet outside of the Dorchester House to rally at 5:15. Afterward, we'll go in together to the hearing at 6:00.

RSVP on Facebook 

Download Flyer

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Sponsored by the Dorchester Branch of the International Socialist Organization.

Email us if you and/or your organization want to endorse, help organize, or want more information: eladirb@yahoo.com