OB Supports Groups Asking for Mobilization in Support of Egyptian Protesters

The following proposal was passed at the General Assembly of December 20, 2011:

Urgent Appeal to Occupy and All Social Justice Movements:
Mobilize to Defend the Egyptian Revolution
December 19, 2011

In recent days, protesters demanding civilian rule in Egypt have again been murdered, maimed and tortured by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Interior Security Forces (ISF).

The conspiracy, being brutally implemented in Egypt, is part of a global conspiracy to suffocate mass movements for socio-economic justice and is being done with direct assistance of the American government and the private interests which direct that government. We have word from friends in Egypt that SCAF, ISF and their hired thugs — armed by ongoing shipments of $1.3 billion in weapons from the U.S. government — plan to execute one by one all the leaders of the revolution, and as many activists as they can.

Accordingly, we need to ensure that people and organizers in the US and internationally are involved in closely monitoring the events unraveling in Egypt. By keeping track of the atrocities committed by SCAF and ISF, keeping track of those detained, tortured or targeted, and continuously contacting officials in Egypt and the US to demand accountability, cessation of the atrocities and justice, we can add pressure on SCAF, ISF and the forces they represent. In this way we may be able to play a role in helping save the lives of our Egyptian brothers and sisters.

Evidence of the conspiracy to execute the leaders and participants of Egyptian freedom movement, includes in very small part the following:

• Sheikh Emad of Al Azhar was killed by a bullet entering his right side from short range. This was seen at first hand by witnesses known to members of our coalition. Sheikh Emad was one of a small number of Azhar Imams issuing decrees in support of the revolution. His murder was no accident.
• Sally Tooma, Mona Seif, Ahdaf Soueif, and Sanaa Seif, all female friends and relatives of imprisoned blogger and activist Alaa abd El Fattah, and all known internationally for their political and/or literary work, were detained, and beaten in the Cabinet building.
• A woman protesting against General Tantawi, head of SCAF, was detained and then tortured by having the letter “T” in English carved into her scalp with knives.
• Detainees are being tortured while in courtroom holding pens. Two men (Mohammad Muhiy Hussein is one of them) were killed in those pens.These are only a small number of the horror stories we are hearing. And we continue to receive reports from Cairo about a massive army presence in Tahrir Square and the constant sound of gunshots.These are only a small number of the horror stories we are hearing. And we continue to receive reports from Cairo about a massive army presence in Tahrir Square and the constant sound of gunshots.

In every way, Egypt’s fight is our fight. Just like us, Egyptians are the 99%, fighting for social, political and economic justice.

The same 1% that arms the Egyptian dictatorship commits systematic violence in this country against the Occupy movement; antiwar and solidarity activists; and Arabs, Muslims, and other communities of color.

As the US Palestinian Community Network recently observed, “the same US-made tear gas rains down on us in the streets of Oakland, Cairo and Bil`in.”

Because of Egypt’s key strategic location, the fate of its revolution echoes across the world. Its success will bring us all closer to achieving economic and social justice. But its defeat would be a major blow to social justice movements everywhere, including Occupy.

In short, Egypt is key to the continued success of the Arab Revolution, and movements she has inspired.

For all these reasons, we ask Occupy and all U.S. social justice activists to join us in mobilizing to defend our Egyptian brothers and sisters by immediately organizing mass convergences on Egyptian embassies, missions, consulates, and at U.S. government offices, to demand:

• Cancel all US aid and shipment of military and police materiel to Egypt!
• Stop the murders, tortures and detentions!
• Release all detainees and political prisoners!
• Immediate end to military rule in Egypt!

Issued by:

Ad Hoc Coalition to Defend the Egyptian Revolution

Al-Awda NY: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition

Al-Nakba Awareness Project

Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace & Justice

Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians

Campaign for Peace and Democracy

Canadian Peace Alliance

Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights (CMPR)

Coalition of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, Egypt

CODEPINK

CODEPINK Maine

Community Organizing Center – Columbus, OH

EGALITE

Egyptian Association for Change- NY

Existence is Resistance

Fallout Shelter – Fallon, MO

Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq

Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment-GABRIELA USA

Ideograph

Individuals for Justice

International Action Center

International League of People’s Struggles LOC

International Socialist Organization

Jan25 Solidarity for Democracy Network

Labor for Palestine

League for the Revolutionary Party

Muslims for Peace, Justice, and Progress

National Lawyers Guild – New York City Chapter

No More Victims

National Lawyers Guild – Muslim Defense Committee – New York

New York City Labor Against the War

Occupy Burlington

Occupy Cafe

Occupy Dallas

Occupy Mobile, Alabama

Occupy Santa Ana

Occupy Schenectady

Occupy Terre Haute

Occupy Toronto

Occupy Washington, DC

Occupy Yerevan, Armenia

Organizacion Socialista Internacional – Puerto Rico

Palestine Solidarity Network – Bay Area

PeterCares House

People’s Video Network

Portland Labor for Peace and Justice

Progressive Democrats of America, Miami Chapter

Progressive Democrats of America, Ohio Chapter

Radio Free Maine

Raha Iranian Feminist Collective

Roots Report

Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network

San Jose Peace and Justice Center

Siegebusters Working Group

6 of April Youth Movement America

Socialist Action

Socialist Worker

Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Chicago

The T.E.L. That Foundation

United National Antiwar Coalition

US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel

US Labor Against the War

US Palestinian Community Network

Women Against Killing – Berkeley, CA

Workers World Party