This resolution, also available in PDF format, is listed on National Lawyers Guild website, Bylaws and Resolutions page.

Submitted by: Charlotte Kates, charlotte.kates@gmail.com and Suzanne Adely, suzanne.adely@gmail.com

Whereas, the United States federal government has long engaged in political repression, imprisonment and persecution targeting Black liberation movements, revolutionary political movements, working-class struggles and anti-imperialist parties and organizations, and

Whereas, the U.S. federal government has in recent years expanded its use of FARA, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, in several cases that have primarily targeted Black liberation activists and Chinese Americans working for peace with China, and

Whereas, these cases include those of the African People’s Socialist Party and the Uhuru Movement, where three individuals have been charged with acting as foreign agents of Russia based on weak allegations that aim to criminalize basic international exchange and collaboration, and

Whereas, Boston-area trade unionist Li Tang “Henry” Liang, a Chinese American activist and union member who has advocated for peace between the US and China, has also been arrested and indicted under FARA; and

Whereas, there is a long history of using FARA and similar allegations to repress organizers in the United States seeking peace and justice, including the 1951 prosecution of W.E.B. DuBois and the prosecution of the Cuban Five, and

Whereas, these prosecutions create a chilling effect for internationalist and anti-imperialist organizing in the United States, particularly for those challenging U.S. unilateral coercive measures against Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Palestine, Zimbabwe and other targeted nations, in addition to those seeking peace with Russia, China and other nations;

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the National Lawyers Guild will actively work to expose and challenge the rising use of FARA by the U.S. government to target political dissent and in particular, anti-imperialist and anti-war organizing and communication, and

Be it further resolved, that the NLG will provide education, leadership and resources to movement lawyers to assist them in confronting FARA and defending their clients against repressive legislation and prosecutions, and

Be it further resolved, that the National Lawyers Guild calls for all charges to be dropped against the Uhuru/APSP 3, Li Tang “Henry” Liang and all similarly situated people, and

Be it further resolved, that the NLG demands an end to the use of FARA to target political activism working for Black liberation, peace with Russia, peace with China, advancing an antiimperialist program and other international issues at odds with U.S. foreign policy and unilateral coercive measures, and

Be it finally resolved that the National Lawyers Guild will cooperate with other organizations to strengthen and support the legal defense of activists unjustly charged with FARA violations, domestic terrorism charges and other politically motivated prosecutions in the United States.

Implementation of this resolution will be undertaken by the International Committee, which consents to this.