[Peace] Fwd: FBI Raids homes

[C. G. Estabrook]

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

Urgent - Community Meeting tonight! 5:30 pm Walker Church 3104 16th
Ave S regarding the FBI Raids

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. 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 alleging
"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 in support 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 warrant also sought information on "Kelly's travel to and from and
presence in MN, and other foreign countries [sic] to which Kelly has
traveled 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.

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


http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/103716384.html?elr=KArks%3ADCiUo3PD%3A3D_V_qD3L%3Ac7cQKUiD3aPc%3A_Yyc%3AaU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P%3ADiUs

FBI raids homes of several Twin Cities war protesters

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: September 24, 2010 - 11:08 AM



The homes of several leaders of the Twin Cities antiwar movement were
raided Friday by the FBI in what an agency spokesman described as an
“investigation into activities concerning the material support of
terrorism.”

Search warrants were executed on six addresses in Minneapolis and at
two in Chicago, said FBI spokesman Steve Warfield.

Among the homes raided were the apartments of Jessica Sundin, who was
a principal leader of the mass march of 10,000 on the opening day of
the Republican National Convention two years ago, and Mick Kelly, who
was prominent in that protest and among those who announced plans to
march on the Democratic National Convention in Minneapolis, if the
city is selected to host it in 2012.

Ted Dooley, an attorney, said he had reviewed the search warrant
issued in the raid on Kelly’s apartment. “It’s a probe into the
political beliefs of American citizens and to any organization
anywhere that opposes the American iimperial design,” he said.

Steve Warfield, an FBI agent, declined to respond to Dooley’s comment.
He said in a statement Friday, “We are doing six federal search
warrants in Minneapolis that are related to an ongoing Joint Terrorism
Task Force investigation into activities concerning the material
support of terrorism. We are doing two search warrants in Chicago as
well.”

He said the raids were conducted at about 7 a.m., but he declined to
say who or what addresses were being raided.

Mick Kelly, who lives on the 1800 block of Riverside Av. in
Minneapolis, said in a telephone interview that the FBI kicked down
his door, handed him a search warrant and began inspecting his files.
He said eight FBI agents were involved in the raid.

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382