4/15 @ 5 (Pilsen): Defend Joe Callahan

[Orlando Sepulveda]

Defend Joe Callahan Joe is a supporter of immigrant workers, a trade unionist, and a community activist. He is currently facing serious charges of “smuggling” or “human trafficking”, brought by Canadian authorities in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Learn more about Joe’s case and how you can support his defense. Support Gathering & Social Saturday, April 14, 5 PM at: Calles y Sueños, “La Casa de Arte y Cultura” 1900 South Carpenter Street Pilsen, Chicago ~ Reception/ Program/ Social ~ Welcome a delegation of the Joe Callahan Support Committee from Minneapolis. Hear local immigration rights activists. Enjoy food and drink. Hear music by Linda Boyle, singer, songwriter, and activist. In July, 2011, following the departure from the United States of 2 Salvadoran immigrants who were seeking asylum to Canada, Joe Callahan was arrested, jailed, and charged with “aiding and abetting an immigration without a visa” and “providing false and misleading information.” While Joe was in jail for one month in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the Canadian authorities added a charge of “smuggling” or “human trafficking”. He still awaits trial. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 10 years. Joe works for immigrant rights. He is NOT a human trafficker. Joe is not a criminal. He is an activist. Support Joe in fighting these charges. Demand that all charges against Joe be dropped. Joe has been a Latin America solidarity activist for over 30 years. He has been a union activist for over 40 years including: the United Auto Workers, the Amalgamated Transit Union, United Steelworkers, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He opposes the death penalty, struggling against its reinstatement in Minnesota for the past 10 years. He has been anti-war since the Vietnam War. He resides in Minneapolis. He needs your support. The Support Committee is working to get people to attend Joe’s trial (not yet scheduled.) Send contributions to: Joe Callahan Support Committee; 2919 Polk St.NE; Minneapolis, Mn. 55418 For More information about Joe’s case: joecallah...@hotmail.com For more information on the April 14 gathering: defe...@gmail.com Joe Callahan Support Committee Support Joe Callahan On July 31, 2011, after two Salvadoran immigrants went to Canada to apply for asylum, long-time Twin Cities activist Joe Callahan was arrested by Canadian police at the Pigeon River border station. At the time Joe was alone in his car. The Canadian police used a backpack, maps and other items found in Joe’s car as the grounds for his arrest. Joe was charged with “aiding and abetting an immigration without a visa,” and “providing false and misleading information.” As a result of these charges, Joe was locked up in the Thunder Bay District Jail in cramped, crowded conditions where inmates are frequently forced to sleep on the floor, as Joe did for the first several days he was there. While Joe was in custody, the authorities added the charge of “smuggling” or “human trafficking.” This charge is much more serious and carries a maximum sentence of ten years. After one month Joe was released on bail and was allowed to return to the Minneapolis area, pending trial. He is restricted to the Twin Cities area as a condition of his release. Meanwhile, the prosecuting attorney, or “Crown Attorney,” as they are called in Canada, informed Joe’s defense attorneys that he is seeking a sentence of three or four years. The trial will be held in Thunder Bay , Ontario . The date has not yet been set. Joe is being represented by Mary Bird and Francis Thatcher, a prominent attorney in the Aboriginal rights struggle. Over the last thirty years Joe has been active in solidarity work for Central America and Cuba . He has been an active defender of immigration rights. He was also active against an attempt to reinstate the death penalty in Minnesota . His record in the fight for justice goes back to his youth. As a student he was active in the anti-Vietnam war movement. For four and a half years Joe worked for the Metro Transit System as a bus driver, and was a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union. He has spent his working life in blue collar, unionized jobs. Now, because of his legal difficulties, he has been forced to take a lower-paying position as a driver for a small bus company. Joe Callahan is NOT a human trafficker! Joe is NOT a smuggler! These charges against him are unfounded and they should be dropped. Joe is a political activist concerned about the rights of immigrants. He needs the help of all supporters of democratic rights. You can aid in Joe’s defense: § Send donations to: Joe Callahan Support Committee, 2919 Polk St. NE , Minneapolis , Mn 55418 § Circulate this letter and urge others to sign. New signers can sign via email to: joecallahansupport@hotmail.com § Attend Joe’s trial in Thunder Bay , Ontario . For more information contact: supportjoe.wordpress.com or joecallah...@hotmail.com In solidarity, Michael Rattner, Pres., Ctr for Constitutional Rights Michael Steven Smith, Esq. Co-host, Law and Disorder Jeff Mackler, Dir., Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu Jamal Roger Sheppard, Member, Local 105 IBEW (retired) Barbara Mutnick, activist, Queens , New York Cliff Conner, author, “A People’s History of Science” Marv Gandall, activist, Ottawa Canada Walker Jones, activist, Ottawa Canada Bruce Scheff, Chicago , IL Carol Hayse, LCSW Steve Echardt, Chicago Cuba Committee Chicago Committee Against Political Repression Norine Gutekanst, Organizing Coordinator, Chicago Teachers Union Carl Finamore, former President (ret), Air Transport Employees, Local Lodge 1781, IAMAW, and current delegate, San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO Sue Englander, Instructor, City College of San Francisco Jon Flanders, IAM 1145, delegate, Troy Area Labor Council Lynn K. Edwards, M.D., Matagalpa, Nicaragua Richard Robohm, biologist, Matagalpa, Nicaragua Steve Early, author and labor journalist Mark and Jolee Zola, Istanbul, Turkey Rodger Scott, AFT 2121 Executive Board Member & Past President; delegate, San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO Allan Fisher, AFT 2121 Anna Fisher, AFT 2121 Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary, AFT Local 1493, San Mateo (CA) Community College Federation of Teachers Dianne Feeley, Editor, Against the Current Alan Wald, Editor, Against the Current Malik Miah, Editor, Against the Current John Riddell, Toronto Suzanne Weiss, Toronto Art Young, Greater Toronto Workers’Assembly Linda Meissenheimer, Toronto Brad Sigal , Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition Marie Braun, Twin Cities Peace Campaign Dave Bicking, Green Party Alan Dale , Minnesota Peace Action Coalition Tracy Molm, Students for a Democratic Society Eric Angell, co-producer, “Our World in “Depth” Colleen McGilp, AFSCME (retired) Jess Sundin, Anti-War Committee Linden Gawboy, Committee to Stop FBI Repression Tim O’Brien, Hands Off Honduras Anh Pham, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition Bruce Nestor, Past President, National Lawyers Guild Joel Greenberg, Chicago, Il. Mark Satinoff, shop steward, IAM Local Lodge 1894, Queens, NY Timothy Jordan, architect, Minneapolis Jennie Eisert, Anti-War Committee Beth Shapiro, Women Against Military Madness Kay Pitney, activist, Minneapolis Note: Organizations for Identification Purposes Only Please circulate this letter as widely as possible to potential supporters. This letter has been approved by the Joe Callahan Support Committee.