On July 1, law enforcement in Los Angeles came to the home of immigrants’ rights activist Nadia Topete, to deliver a second subpoena ordering her to speak in front of a grand jury on July 8. Topete had been first subpoenaed to testify in June.
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression condemns this second subpoena of Topete and will fight against any attempt to jail her.
We now know that this grand jury is related to the anti-ICE activism in Los Angeles that took place last summer. We also have every reason to believe that this is an attempt to re-examine the case of Alejandro Orellana, another immigrant’s rights activist who participated in the anti-ICE protests last year. Orellana was charged with conspiracy to commit civil unrest. The bogus charges were later dropped.
Grand juries are anti-democratic instruments to secure indictments. You can’t have your lawyer present. You have no right to see evidence brought against you. You have no right to cross examine witnesses.
Grand juries, 99 times out of 100, result in indictments, and they are frequently used against activists. Not testifying against one’s fellow activists can mean jail time.
Nothing good comes from speaking in front of a grand jury.
Topete and Orellana are both members of the Centro Community Service Organization in Los Angeles. Neither did anything wrong by protesting against the ICE occupation of Los Angeles. Nor did Topete do anything wrong by not speaking about her activism in front of the grand jury.
We ask all fair-minded people to stand with Nadia. She has only ever done the right thing, which is to stand by the Chicano people and the people of Aztlán.
We call upon our supporters to dial into the office of Assistant US Attorney Michael Wheat and demand: Hands Off Nadia Topete!
Today: July 6, Monday, from 9am to 5pm Pacific Standard Time/11am – 7 pm Central Standard Time
1. Bilal Essayli, US Attorney Central District Office Line @ (714) 338-3500, press 0
2. Assistant US Attorney Michael Wheat @ (619) 557-5610Script:
“I am [NAME] calling from [STATE] and I am outraged that Nadia Topete could be jailed unless she testifies in front of the anti-democratic grand jury.
She did nothing wrong.I demand the grand jury investigation of immigrant rights activists be shut down.”“Hands Off Nadia Topete!”
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