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<h2><font size=4><b>Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and
Solidarity Activists Homes</b></font></h2><font size=3>Subpoenas,
Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the country <br>
<a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes" eudora="autourl">
http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes</a>
<br><br>
By Staff | <br>
September 24, 2010<br>
Read more articles in
<a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/news/peoples-struggles">People's
Struggles</a> <br><br>
We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war
and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI
began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning,
Friday, September 24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time. The FBI handed
subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen
activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to
intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.<br><br>
"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The
goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement
against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for
repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke,
one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI. "They are designed to
suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to
pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and
Latin America." <br><br>
This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate
much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the
Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war.
The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many
of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National
Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized
that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible
terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who
support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin
America.<br><br>
The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be
pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or
organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with
many groups, including: the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a
Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia
Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National
Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian Political
Prisoner).<br><br>
Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose
homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing
expedition.”<br><br>
We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with those
individuals targeted by the U.S. Government. Activists have the right not
to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely refuse, just say
“No”.<br><br>
Please contact
<a href="mailto:info@colombiasolidarity.org">
info@colombiasolidarity.org</a> or
<a href="mailto:info@fightbacknews.org">info@fightbacknews.org</a> if you
would like to provide support to the targeted activists.<br>
****************************************************<br>
</font><h2><b>
<a href="http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/updated-info-least-four-minneapolis-houses-raided-activists-subpoenaed-national-fbi-terror-">
Updated Info--At Least Four Minneapolis Houses Raided, Activists
Subpoenaed in National FBI "Terror" Expedition Against Antiwar
Activists</a></b></h2><font size=3>Submitted by haloka on Fri, 09/24/2010
- 14:11 <br>
<a href="http://twincities.indymedia.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://twincities.indymedia.org/<br><br>
<br>
</a><i>UPDATE 4pm</i>: The office of the Anti-War Committee was also
reportedly raided earlier today. <i>See also:</i>
<a href="http://tc.indymedia.org/files/kelly-warrant-92210.pdf">Search
warrant</a> for Mick Kelly's residence and
<a href="http://tc.indymedia.org/files/kelly-subpoena-chicago-92210.pdf">
subpoena to Chicago grand jury</a> (via TheUptake.org)<br><br>
<b>Press Conference: 4pm, 2911 Park Ave., Minneapolis<br>
Community Meeting: 5:30pm, Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave S.,
Minneapolis<br><br>
</b>See also Fight Back News:
<a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes">
Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-War and Solidarity Activists'
Homes</a><br><br>
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.
<b>
(<a href="http://tc.indymedia.org/2010/sep/breaking-news-least-four-houses-minneapolis-raided-other-houses-michigan-nc-chicago-targete">
See previous TCIMC article--Minneapolis Houses Raided</a>)<br><br>
</b>Since then, a dozen activists have been served with grand jury
subpoenas, including many in Minneapolis,
<a href="http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes">
according to Fight Back News</a>. 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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
Grand juries are a mechanism historically used to repress and gather
information on unpopular social movements; no attorney or judge is
present in a grand jury interrogation. Activists who defy grand
juries risking imprisonment on civil or criminal contempt.<br><br>
Outside the raid above Hard Times Cafe, one person at the cafe as the
raid began said that he saw about a dozen FBI agents, some with large
guns, outside. Conflicting reports from the other raids indicate
that agents attempted to keep their presence low-key, without large
marked vehicles or heavily armed SWAT teams--although Jess Sundin told
the AP that a SWAT team entered her house first, then left to be replaced
by other agents. But outside Hard Times Cafe, a number of the
unmarked vehicles included at least one with an "official
business" sign from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms) in addition to the FBI.<br><br>
The mood outside the cafe and apartment was one of defiance, with
activists and supporters vowing solidarity in the face of
repression. Early in the afternoon, agents began to remove boxes
with unknown contents from the apartment, and eventually departed.
The search warrant for 1823 Riverside called for search and seizure of
such a laundry list of items, including electronic equipment, documents,
financial records, literature, and more, that "it might have well
just said 'everything'," someone remarked after seeing a
copy.<br><br>
The Uptake, in addition to almost every local corporate news outlet, was
present at two of the raids in the morning and
<a href="http://theuptake.org/2010/09/24/fbi-raids-peace-activist-homes-subpoena-them-for-grand-jury/">
posted a short video report on their site</a>. (Photo credit
above)<br><br>
No immediate information was available Friday afternoon about the raids
in Chicago. The FBI spokesman, however, said that like in the
Minneapolis raids, there were no arrests. He added to the
<a href="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/fbi-serves-search-warrants-here-in-terror-probe.html">
AP in Chicago</a> that there was no "imminent threat to the
community" - raising the question of how anyone could be suspected
of terrorist ties without an imminent danger. <br><br>
The answer, of course, lies in the increasing trend of the state in using
"terrorism" charges to justify repression against activists,
lately in Minnesota through the
<a href="http://greenisthenewred.com">Green Scare</a>, the
<a href="http://rnc8.org">RNC 8</a>, and as many have predicted might
happen, now against antiwar activists as well.<br><br>
<a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/103716104.html">Star Tribune
coverage</a> (with photos/video)<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
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