A news conference and a demonstration are planned for Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. The news conference is to begin at 4:30 p.m. and the demonstration at 5 p.m. at Federal Building Plaza at Dearborn and Adams Streets.
Both are convened by:
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
Black Lives Matter, Chicago
Arab American Action Network
Lifted Voices
Let Us Breathe Collective
Asata's Daughters
Organized Communities Against Deportations ( OCAD )
U. S. Palestinian Community Network
Anakbayan - Filipino Youth Organization
Jewish Voice for Peace
Trans Liberation Collective
Stand Up for Racial Justice ( SURJ )
People's Response Team
Freedom Road Socialist Organziation
Resist, Reimagine, Rebuild - R3 Coalition
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, Western District
Statement: Democracy under assault: Donald Trump is the commander in chief of white supremacist terrorism
The murder and attempted murder of anti-racist demonstrators Saturday in Charlottesville, VA, by armed thugs marching under the banners of openly white supremacist anti-Semitic and homophobic organizations is not an isolated incident. This assault was organized by the neo-fascist forces of the United States who are seeking to become the Storm Troopers of the Alt Right and Donald Trump. Their rallying cry is the restoration of tributes to the traitors who attempted to destroy the United States in the name of preserving the enslavement of Black Americans; their objective is the ethnic cleaning of the United States - genocide.
The fact that the President of the United States could not find the words to condemn these groups and their actions only confirms that he is in on the plan, the leader of the conspiracy. David Duke, former Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, also confirmed the conspiracy, saying the Charlottesville massacre "represents a turning point for the people of this country. We are determined to take our country back." He later added, "We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That's what [we] believed in. That's why we voted for Donald Trump."
We demand that our mayor, Rahm Emanuel, clearly state that he is directing the Chicago Police Department not to tolerate any of these elements and their plans for attacks on the movements of the people for civil rights and democracy in the city.
This assault on democracy cannot be treated as a one-time event to be protested and forgotten. It will not be over because mainstream politicians have momentarily condemned it. We must not forget that many of those seeking to distance themselves from these Storm Troopers aided and abetted them throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. We cannot forget that for decades they have been at the heart of the problem with their attacks on immigrants, the voting rights and civil rights of Black people and have always advocated for police state tactics against communities of color.
We demand that the Department of Justice in every judicial district root out, arrest, indict, prosecute and jail the leaders of this racist conspiracy against our democracy.
We call on the people of our country to take steps at every level - local, state, and national - to purge all vestiges of the traitorous slave confederacy, including all statues, institutions and streets erected or named for them.
The democratic and progressive forces of this country must unite now in the face of this fascist violence, like never before to rid these United States of the last vestiges of slavery.
Lastly, we call for driving Donald Trump out of office by a mass movement of the people. This could lead to impeachment proceedings, but however it occurs, the aim of our movement must be against the commander in chief of this neo-fascist conspiracy against the Bill of Rights, Democracy and all oppressed people.
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
1325 S. Wabash Ave. Suite 105
Chicago IL 60605
312-939-2750
