International Day of Solidarity with the J20 Defendants

Monday, June 25 was an international day of action in solidarity with the J20 defendants, arrested in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2017. On J20, 230 people were mass arrested on felony charges during demonstrations against Donald Trump’s Inauguration. Most have been acquitted or had charges dropped, but 44 still face trial.

The IWW rallies at a US consulate in Toronto. Photo source: It’s Going Down.

In San Diego 30 people protested Monday at the north entrance of the Federal Office Building, at 880 Front Street, during the lunch hours of 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Many federal workers and officials and members of the public take lunch breaks at the cafeteria here while doing business at the federal building. Room 6293 of the Federal Office Building is the main office for the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of California. Federal court buildings are next door. The protest was organized by the IWW San Diego Local 13.

The international day of action was called on June 6, 2018 by the North American IWW General Executive Board and Defend J20 Resistance:

“For over a year, the US has been pressing felony charges–including “riot,” “inciting a riot,” and “conspiracy to riot”–against protesters who were arrested at the inauguration of Donald Trump. After a revelation that they had been withholding evidence from the defense, federal prosecutors dropped all charges against 10 defendants last week, including against members of our union. Today, the second J20 trial ended in a mistrial for three defendants and full acquittal for a fourth.

“The state is reeling from this defeat, and lashing out like a wounded animal as it retreats. 44 defendants are still awaiting trial. The hour is late; the time to act in their defense is now. We are calling for an international day of action in solidarity with the J20 defendants on Monday, June 25th….”

See the full call to action at https://iww.org/content/solidarity-actions-j20-defendants

For more background information on the J20 case:

June 25th Day of Solidarity Sees Action in 5 Countries

Report from Toronto. June 25th J20 Solidarity Day: