PLEASE FORWARD:
Your participation in demonstrations in 30+ cities across the country is essential to holding back the tide of repression: so please HELP get the word out quickly.
San Diego Demonstrates in Solidarity
Thursday @ 5pm at the Federal Building
STOP the FBI Witch hunts & 'Terrorism Warrants' against Socialists, Solidarity and Peace Activists!
Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892 - –1984) wrote about the apathy and inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power. "They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Last Friday, Sept. 24th the FBI raided the homes and offices of more than a dozen activists in 4 states and pursued others in at least 2 other states carting away in one case, 40 boxes of personal, computer and cell phone materials. The AP reported that the FBI served 'terrorism warrants on the accused. The witch hunt of these socialists, peace activists, Colombian and Palestinian solidarity activists should send shivers up our spines. The fact that these domestic solidarity activists are charged with support of "foreign terrorist organizations" for their contact with liberation movements is reminiscent of the FBI's persecution of the Black Panthers and other civil rights activists. This is the most blatant targeting of leftists and socialists since 'Tricky' Dick Nixon launched COINTELPRO red-scares decades ago.
We must stand as one! It should matter not if we agree with the political perspectives of the accused. An Injury to One is an Injury to All! Many peace activists have watched in horror as the Patriot Act and a massive, secret police and 'intelligence' infrastructure arose under the Bush Administration since 911. Now the growth shows no sign of slowing down under Obama. For example, IPS noted that the "New York Times reported this morning that the Barack Obama administration is drawing up legislation to make it easier for U.S .intelligence services to eavesdrop on the Internet, including email exchanges and social networks." Is the repressive power of the state too big to control?
Is our freedom and liberty threatened? Yes, but many of us feel that we are far more threatened by the construction of an INTERNAL police state, than by EXTERNAL enemies. The FBI raids are meant to have the effect of silencing solidarity and peace activists and squelching dissent and opposition to foreign occupations and the wars of aggression.
Your participation in demonstrations in 30+ cities across the country is essential to holding back the tide of repression: so please HELP get the word out quickly.
- Martin Eder for the San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice, Activist San Diego and FRSO/OSCL - San Diego
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From www.freedomroad.org/
The facts behind the
raid and grand jury subpoenas of activists in Minneapolis, Chicago, Michigan and North Carolina, we want to be clear about several things:
- The raid on multiple sites of an organization within our movement should alarm us all. It is part of a growing governmental trend targeting the left.
- The FBI continues to stretch beyond all meaning the designation of "terrorist" in order to make wide sweeps and go on fishing expeditions with seemingly very little hard facts. Too often the designation of "terrorist" has been applied to organizations and movements seeking freedom and independence. For example, the ANC was on the "terrorist" list right up until they won electoral victory in South Africa.
- These raids and arrests have the effect of stifling dissent and foreclosing democratic rights of minority viewpoints. We should be concerned, whether or not we agree with the politics of the targeted organization.
- Although the organization in question has a similar name to ours, we are different organizations. (We are officially Freedom Road Socialist Organization/Organización Socialista del Camino para la Libertad (FRSO/OSCL).) We were not targets in these raids.
- We will have more to say about the implications of these raids.
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From Indy Media http://twincities.indymedia.org/
UPDATE 4pm: The office of the Anti-War Committee was also reportedly raided earlier today.
See also: Search warrant PDF for Mick Kelly's residence and
subpoena to Chicago grand jury PDF (via TheUptake.org)
Earlier: Breaking: At least 4 Mpls homes raided Press Conference: 4pm, 2911 Park Ave., Minneapolis Community Meeting: 5:30pm, Walker Church Video [24m via TheUptake.org] See also: Fight Back News:
Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-War and Solidarity Activists' Homes | Video:
FBI at Hard Times,
Mick Kelly Interview - TheUptake
The social justice community in Minneapolis continued to respond Friday afternoon to the raids of several of its members homes, which started before 7am this morning.
(See previous TCIMC article--Minneapolis Houses Raided) Since then, a dozen activists have been served with grand jury subpoenas, including many in Minneapolis,
according to Fight Back News. It is believed the federal grand jury is centered in Chicago, and is investigating alleged ties to "foreign terrorist organizations"--a charge which activists have immediately dismissed as illegitimate and unjustified.
The
Star Tribune reported earlier today that according to an FBI spokesperson, a total of six homes were raided in Minneapolis and two in Chicago. This statement is unconfirmed by activists, who have identified at least four of the homes in Minneapolis--one above Hard Times Cafe in Cedar-Riverside, one north of Powderhorn Park, one on Park Avenue near Lake Street and one in Stevens Square. Antiwar leaders have said that other members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization were targeted with raids, surveillance and subpoenas in Michigan, North Carolina and potentially California.
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Associated Press --- By STEVE KARNOWSKI (AP) – 3 days ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqOR09wHcq7ZB-Bdb4D5ZIZUY5bAD9IEKUC01
FBI serves terrorism warrants in Minn., Chicago
By STEVE KARNOWSKI (AP) –
MINNEAPOLIS — The FBI said it searched eight addresses in Minneapolis and Chicago as part of a terrorism investigation Friday. Warrants suggest agents were looking for connections between local anti-war activists and terrorist groups in Colombia and the Middle East.
FBI spokesman Steve Warfield told The Associated Press agents served six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago.
"These were search warrants only," Warfield said. "We're not anticipating any arrests at this time. They're seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The homes of longtime Minneapolis anti-war activists Mick Kelly, Jess Sundin and Meredith Aby were among those searched, they said. All three were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago: Aby on Oct. 5, Sundin on Oct. 12 and Kelly on Oct. 19.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone. More... (good content)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqOR09wHcq7ZB-Bdb4D5ZIZUY5bAD9IEKUC01 -- Martin Eder 619-871-9354 = Cell
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