Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, covering a rally outside the McNamara Federal Building in downtown Detroit on September 28, 2010. The demonstration opposed recent FBI raids against anti-war activists. (Photo: Bryan Pfeifer)
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
cc: Vice President Biden, DOJ Inspector General Fine, the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Congressional Leaders, the Congressional Black Caucus, U.N. Secy Gen Ban, and members of the media
** Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
** Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell
phones, papers, documents, etc.
** End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.
I am writing to demand justice and an end to the FBI's continued
harassment of antiwar and international solidarity activists,
activists who are guilty of no crime but opposition to U.S. foreign
policy. On Friday, September 24, 2010 the FBI raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis. The FBI served subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to eleven activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.
The FBI also attempted to intimidate activists in California, Wisconsin and North Carolina. This is not the action of a lone prosecutor. The raids were coordinated nationally, spanned several cities, and many other activists have been visited and personally threatened by the FBI.
The FBI confiscated computers, email and mailing lists, cell phones ,
cameras, videos, books, and passports. This is a dangerous attack on the constitutional rights of free speech of every social justice,
antiwar and human rights activist and organization in the U.S. today.
The right to speak, meet and write opinions is guaranteed under the
constitution.
This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate their
time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and
Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. Grand Jury subpoenas investigating material support of terrorism are being used to silence highly respected and well known human rights activists. This is a dangerous national effort to shut down growing opposition to U.S. wars. It cannot be allowed.
The FBI and the Grand Jury are threatening courageous individuals who have written and spoken publicly to broaden understanding of social justice issues of war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These activists came together with many others to organize the 2008 anti-war marches on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
The FBI and the U.S. government must end this campaign of intimidation against anti-war and international solidarity activists. I am outraged at this disrespect of democratic rights. I ask that you intervene immediately to:
** Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
** Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell
phones, papers, documents, etc.
** End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.
Sincerely,
Abayomi Azikiwe
Editor, Pan-African News Wire
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