[Peace-discuss] more on FBI Raids on Anti-war and SolidarityActivists Homes
E.Wayne Johnson
ewj at pigs.ag
Fri Sep 24 20:10:57 CDT 2010
The US Government seeks to test the resolve of the anti-war and
anti-government factions by persecuting them, and will resort to stronger
and stronger measures if the people continue to fight back.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart Levy" <slevy at ncsa.uiuc.edu>
To: <peace-discuss at anti-war.net>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 5:11 AM
Subject: [Peace-discuss] more on FBI Raids on Anti-war and
SolidarityActivists Homes
> 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.*
>
> • Local
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/category/relevance/local> conspiracy
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/alltags/conspiracy> FBI
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/alltags/fbi> Freedom Road Socialist
> Information
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/alltags/freedom-road-socialist-information>
> House raids <http://twincities.indymedia.org/alltags/house-raids> Police
> State <http://twincities.indymedia.org/alltags/police-state> Feature
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/features/feature>
>
> • 367 reads Printer-friendly version
> <http://twincities.indymedia.org/print/7443>
>
> *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 -----
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