[Peace-discuss] more on FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists Homes

Fri Sep 24 16:11:05 CDT 2010

More on today's FBI "terrorism" raids.   (Did you know Minnesota is a foreign country?
See the quote from the warrant, below.  Do we get the feeling this judge was acting
as a rubber stamp?)

Clips worth noting:

    "Please contact:   info at colombiasolidarity.org 
     or:               info at fightbacknews.org 
     if you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.

(I don't know anything about those organizations - does anyone else? -SL)

And:

    "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."

and -- in case the FBI contacts you --

    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”.

----- Forwarded message from Laurel Lambert Schmidt <laurel at pjep.org> -----

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:34:33 -0500
From: Laurel Lambert Schmidt <laurel at pjep.org>
Subject: [CoordinatingIL] [Fwd: [bethlehem_for_peace] FBI Raids on Anti-war
	and Solidarity Activists Homes]
To: list01 at npjep.org, coordinatingil at icjpe.org

>From an admin in NY, it seems like the raids were directed towards the 
Freedom Road Socialists. 
Laurel

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[bethlehem_for_peace] FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity 
Activists Homes
Date: 	Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:24:43 -0400
From: 	Joe Lombardo <jlombard at nycap.rr.com>
To: 	<projectsalam at lists.riseup.net>, "Muslim Solidarity Committee" 
<muslimsolidarity at googlegroups.com>, <antiwarupstateny at lists.riseup.net>, 
<nepajac at lists.riseup.net>, <bethlehem_for_peace at lists.riseup.net>, 
<nysnet at yahoogroups.com>, "Women Against War" <women_againstwar at yahoo.com>, 
<spadiscussion at yahoogroups.com>

A number of the activists whose homes were raided are from organizations 
that attended our national antiwar conference this summer. First they came 
for the Muslims,
then they came for...
Joe Lombardo
** *Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists 
Homes*

Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the 
country.

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, 
October 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. 

"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."

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. 

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). 

Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose 
homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing 
expedition.”

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”.

Please contact info at colombiasolidarity.org 
<mailto:info at colombiasolidarity.org> or info at fightbacknews.org 
<mailto:info at fightbacknews.org> if you would like to provide support to the 
targeted activists.

  - 30 -  

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/breaking-news-three-houses-minneapolis-raided-other-houses-michigan-nc-chicago-targeted

**Breaking News** *Three houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in 
Michigan, NC, Chicago targeted.*

Submitted by smiley on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:20

On Friday morning, three houses in the Minneapolis area are believed to 
have been raided by SWAT Teams. While we have few details right now, the 
F.B.I. appears to be targeting people associated with the Freedom Road 
Socialist Organization <http://www.frso.org/index.htm>. Besides the raids 
in Minneapolis, houses in Michigan, North Carolina and Chicago were also 
targeted.

Raids occurred at 1823 Riverside, above the Hard Times Cafe, and the 2900 
block of Park Ave. One other raid is reported, as well.  Outside Hard Times 
Cafe, three unmarked black SUVs (one with an Illinois license plate) sat in 
the parking area as of 10am, when a lawyer observed 8 FBI agents sitting in 
the residence examining materials.  Otherwise the scene was calm.

Agents had broken in the door there at 7am Friday morning, breaking an 
aquarium in the process.

The Federal search warrants appear to be focusing on seizing electronic 
devices, international travel, and allegeing "co-conspirators."  They do 
not authorize arrests.

The search warrant for 1823 Riverside, the residence of activist Mick 
Kelly, sought information "regarding ability to pay for his own travel" to 
Palestine and Columbia from 2000 to today.  The warrant hyped potential 
documents indicating any contacts/facilitation with FARC, PFLP, and 
Hezbollah - what it called "FTOs" or  "foreign terrorist organizations".  
It mentioned seeking information on the alleged  "facilitation of other 
individuals in the US to travel to Colombia, Palestine and any other 
foreign location ins upport of foreign terrorist organizations including 
but not limited to FARC, PFLP and Hezbollah".

The wording of the warrant appears to indicate the government seeks to 
create divisions among social justice and international soldarity activists 
by hyping alleged connections to what they call "foreign terrorist 
organizations."

The warant also sought information on "Kelly's travel to and from and 
presence in MN, and other foreign countries [sic] to which Kelly has 
taveleled as part of his work in FRSO [Freedom Road Socialist 
Organization", as well as materials related to his finances and the 
finances of FRSO, and all computer and electronic devices.

The federal warrant was signed by Judge Susan Nelson at 3:30pm yesterday, 
September 23.

*More information as this story breaks.  If you have info, please publish 
it to TCIMC as a comment or a new story.*

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*Comments*

*FW: FBI Raiding Homes of Members of Peace Community 
<http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/breaking-news-three-houses-minneapolis-raided-other-houses-michigan-nc-chicago-targeted#comment-15388>***

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:48.

FROM: Twin Cities Peace Campaign - Focus on Iraq MESSAGE: Dear Peacemakers, 
I have just been informed by Sarah Martin that the FBI are in the process 
of raiding the homes of Meredith Aby, Jess Sundin, and Mick Kelly. They are 
apparently accusing them of connections with a terrorist organization. The 
National Lawyer Guild attorneys are suggesting that we go to their homes 
immediately. Jess lives at 2911 Park Avenue South in Minneapolis. Meredith 
lives on 14th Avenue just off Lake Street. I believe it is on 14th; it is 
the street off 31st and Powderhorn Park that does not run through to Lake 
Street. Mick lives above the Hard Times Cafe on Riverside near Cedar. This 
is extremely shocking. We must stand together. I am going to one of their 
homes right now. My phone number is 612-275-2720. Peace in the struggle, 
Marie Braun

----- End forwarded message -----