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Hold Your Heads High Above the Concrete: Some Words on 3 Recent Student Arrests

By Sergey Turzhanskiy (Chicago SDS)  Posted by Kevin Gosztola (about the submitter)       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   2 comments
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On October 27, the Chicago Police Department attacked a student contingent en route to Union Park for a rally and march against the occupation of Iraq. After the police rammed the students’ ankles with their bicycles for blocks, 3 students were arrested with unnecessarily violent force. Students marched in the contingent from five or more different schools around the city, and were boldly attempting to put the spotlight on the looming threat of a U.S. attack on Iran; a threat that is very real, but not fully realized by the public, students, and even the anti-war movement. The student contingent stepped off from the University Center Dorms, after mobilizing in front of its newly installed Army Recruitment Center, a place of weekly protest for students from all over the city. The brutal arrest of these 3 students was a tactical and premeditated political attack on the growing student movement, and cannot be allowed to just be swept under the rug. We are determined to fight this.

The police attacked us because of what we represent. They attack us because we are part of a student movement that is united and growing impatient with the War on Terror, which promises no end for decades. We are disgusted with the disregard for International Law concerning genocide of whole peoples around the world, rights to trial, and the basic human right to not be subjected to torture. We are aggravated by the silencing of our professors and the arrival of recruitment centers to our campuses, which lie to us about benefits while 3847 betrayed young men and women have already died and 28385 have been injured, along with 1,099,372 dead Iraqis and Afghans. As the death toll grows, we are growing impatient and growing in number; growing in spirit. We are throwing that spirit into the streets, making the world know that we, our generation, has a mission and we will fight for it.

This is why they seek to crush us, this is why they see a need to bully our generation out of this struggle. This is why they force our bodies to the ground; so these bodies no longer bear the banner demanding “No War on Iran,” as our president, the first in American history to publicly appear in military uniform, threatens World War III and nuclear strikes on the people of Iran, all for the sake of empire. They do not want these mouths to reveal that it is in fact our president who sanctions the manufacture of thousands of new nuclear weapons.

The powers that be do not want these bodies to burst forward in the creation of a new world. A world that fosters life over death, love over wealth, truth over power. They strike at 3 students to strike fear in the hearts of all who yearn for peace, who act for justice. They strike because they know resistance is growing, that the people want their sons and daughters, wives and husbands, fathers and mothers back from harm’s way. Back from senseless war.

They strike because those who will never see their loved ones back grow desperate.

The state threatens us because they are afraid. Afraid because we are many and they are few. Because they are liars and we speak truth. They are afraid because you are on our side in your mind, and soon you will be by our side in the streets, joining the masses in our country who have already stepped forward. Joining the billions across the World who have had enough. Lifting your head from the concrete, we will be there to take your hand, but right now we need you to take ours. Join us in this political and legal battle, as we walk into court on December 7th to confront the unsubstantial and outrageous charges that attempt to justify the C.P.D.’s actions. This legal battle is a part of the struggle to stop an attack on Iran and to end the oppression of all people.

We need all kinds of support, from donations to pay for our legal defense to people in the streets demanding the drop of all charges, an end to the U.S. war on the world, and the prosecution of the Bush administration for war crimes.

It is dawn, the sun burns hot, and the day is yet to be decided. Decide it.

Our lawyer is charging us $2500 for representation in a jury trial. Our initial hearing is December 7th. Any donation you could make to this fee would be greatly appreciated and is much needed. Checks can be made out to our lawyer:

David C. Thomas
651 W. Washington #205
Chicago, IL 60661


Be There to Protest these Unjust Arrests
December 7th, 9am
3150 W Flourney
Take the Blue Line to Kedzie, and Walk SE

If you are interested in working on the defense network- please email sergey at sergey.turzhanskiy@loop.co
lum.edu or come to our first meeting, this Friday, November 9, 4pm, 525 S. State Street, lobby of the University Center dorm. We need help with putting together benefits, speaking engagements, and a major press conference!!
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Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof Press. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, "Unauthorized Disclosure." He was an editor for OpEdNews.com
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