------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Oct. 24, 2002 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
CHICAGO ACTION TELLS ASHCRIFT: DROP CHARGES AGAINST ARNOUT Dozens of protesters turned up the heat on Attorney General John Ashcroft when he appeared in Chicago Oct. 9. Ashcroft was in the Windy City to announce new indictments against Enam Arnout, president of the Benevolence International Foundation, a Muslim charity. Arnout has been in jail since April. Courts recently threw out earlier Justice Department charges that Arnout and his organization "support terrorism." Now Ashcroft and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald plan to charge Arnout with "racketeering" because Benevolence International raised funds to provide an X-ray machine and anti-landmine boots to agencies with ties to the former Taliban government in Afghanistan. With just two hours notice of Ashcroft's appearance, protesters crashed his news conference in the Dirksen Federal Building. They loudly charged Ashcroft with violating civil liberties and civil rights, scapegoating Arabs and Muslims, and fabricating charges against Arnout to heighten fear and aid the Bush administration's war drive in Iraq. The action was organized by the Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism. -Workers World Chicago bureau - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
