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<h1><font size=4><b>Minneapolis protest against FBI raids, Chicago grand
jury</b></font></h1><font size=3>By
<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/profiles/mary-turck">Mary Turck</a>
and <a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/profiles/alan-wilfahrt">Alan
Wilfahrt</a>,
<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/partners/tc-daily-planet">TC Daily
Planet</a><br>
<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/10/06/minneapolis-protest-against-fbi-raids-chicago-grand-jury" eudora="autourl">
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2010/10/06/minneapolis-protest-against-fbi-raids-chicago-grand-jury<br>
<br>
</a>October 06, 2010<br><br>
Protesters gathered outisde the FBI office in Minneapolis on October 5,
the day that <a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/39351">some
targeted Minnesotans had been subpoenaed</a> to appear before a Chicago
grand jury that is conducting a secret investigation. All grand jury
investigations are secret, with the government prosecutor and grand
jurors questioning witnesses, who are not allowed to have their lawyers
present in the room.<br><br>
The Minneapolis activists who were subpoenaed have
<a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/104345648.html">said they
refuse to testify</a>. Witnesses can assert their Fifth Amendment right
not to say anything that will incriminate themselves, unless they are
granted immunity from prosecution. In that case, refusal to testify can
result in imprisonment for up to 18 months.<br><br>
Those whose homes were<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/39351">
raided by the FBI on September 24 </a>were also subpoenaed and ordered to
bring extensive records with them:<br><br>
</font>
<dl>
<dd>For 2001 to the present: (1) all pictures and videos relating to any
trip to Colombia, Jordan, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, or Israel;
(2) all items relating to any trip to Colombia, Jordan, Syria, the
Palestinian Territories, or Israel;(3) all correspondence, including but
not limited to emails and letters, with anyone residing in Colombia,
Jordan, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, or Israel;(4) all records of
any payment provided directly or indirectly to Hatem Abudayyeh, the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine ("PFLP") or the
REvolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ("FARC"); (5) all
records of any telephonic or electronic communication with anyone in
Colombia, Jordan, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, or Israel; and (6)
any item related to any support provided to any designated terrorist
organization, including the PFLP or the FARC.<br><br>
</dl>More information and connections<br><br>
</b><a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/39683">Grand Juries: What
are they? How can we resist them?</a> Public meeting on October
10<br><br>
<a href="http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/node/39645">FREE SPEECH ZONE | Is
Progressive Dissent Public Enemy #1?</a><br><br>
FBI agents raided the homes of six activists in Minneapolis and two in
Chicago on September 24, seizing computers, cell phones, CDs, files and
papers. Protesters also asked that this property be returned to its
owners.<br><br>
The FBI has said that its investigation concerns "material support
to terrorists," and that it cannot commenet on grand jury
activities. The FBI agents were seeking evidence of ties to
"FTOs," or foreign terrorist organizations, including the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).<br><br>
In an October 4 press release, several of those targeted by the raids
explained their positions:<br><br>
<dl>
<dd>"We believe the FBI is targeting and investigating people for
their ideas. We think we have the right to this political speech.
You don't have to agree with our conclusions and ideas about these
international movements or even oppose the war, to agree that being
targeted for those views is wrong and a dangerous attack on our civil
liberties", stated Stef Yorek, whose home was raided on September
24th.<br>
<dd> <br>
<dd>Jess Sundin, another target of the raids, said, "These raids and
subpoenas are an attack on anti-war and other progressive movements. It
is an attack on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with
like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the government that their
actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for
more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military."
<br>
<dd> <br>
<dd>"Many people of conscience have traveled to understand our
government's role in places like Palestine and Colombia. We
went to learn about how Palestinians and Colombians experience
brutal repression from U.S. sponsored regimes and to bring their stories
back, so that Americans are connected to these people. Hearing
about the reality of U.S. military aid is not a crime, " stated
Meredith Aby.<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
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