Supporters of anti-war activists whose homes were raided by FBI agents gathered, Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 in Minneapolis. The FBI searched eight addresses in Minneapolis and Chicago on Friday.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Emergency Demonstration Against FBI Raids on the Homes and Offices of Anti-War Activists in Minneapolis and Chicago
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 4:30 PM
McNamara Federal Building
477 Michigan at Cass, downtown Detroit
Contact: 313.671.3715
E-mail: admin@mecawi.org
URL: http://www.mecawi.org
Stop the Raids!: End U.S. Militarism and Home and Abroad
Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) joins the International Action Center in condemning the FBI raids on
anti-war and solidarity activists' homes on Friday, Sept. 24, and
supports the right of all social justice activists to defend the
rights of workers here at home and be in solidarity with those around
the world resisting occupation and military dictatorship. We stand in
solidarity with the raided activists and demand the Obama
Administration cease its curtailing of civil rights and civil
liberties.
Also in this email:
•Statement from the International Action Center
•Articles and videos on FBI raids, including interviews with anti-war
activists whose homes were raided. You may recognize some of these
activists - they were at the U.S. Social Forum in June and at the Tent
City last year at Grand Circus Park in Detroit.
•Link to the booklet, "If An Agent Knocks", which outlines what you
should do if you or your organization are targeted by the FBI.
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International Action Center - iacenter.org
The International Action Center condemns the FBI raids on anti-war and solidarity activists homes on Friday, October 24 and supports the
right of all social justice activists to defend the rights of workers
here at home and to be in solidarity with our sisters and brothers
around the world resisting occupation and military dictatorship. The
IAC urges full support of the activists targeted by the FBI and wide
distribution of the statement below issued by activists targeted in
the raids.
In solidarity,
Sara Flounders, Co-director, International Action Center
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release
24 September 2010
Contact: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612
Steff Yorek, 612-865-8234
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@colombiasolidarity.org or info@fightbacknews.org
if you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.
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At least four houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in Michigan,
NC, Chicago targeted
http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/breaking-news-three-houses-minneapolis-raided-other-houses-michigan-nc-chicago-targeted
From the Pan-African News Wire:
New Details on the FBI Raids Targeting the Freedom Road Socialist
Organization (Fightback)
Below are two addtional videos providing further details on the FBI
raids targeting the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (Fightback)
that took place in Minneapolis and Chicago on September 24, 2010.
Numerous organizations have issued statements denouncing the federal government's actions designed to intimidate activists working to halt U.S. imperialist wars in Latin America and the Middle-East.
Activists Statement on the FBI Raids Against Freedom Road Socialist Organization http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyG3dIUGQvQ&feature=player_embedded#!
FRSO Press Conference on FBI Raids on September 24, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrXZSfLUl9M&feature=player_embedded
Interviews With Anti-War Activists in Minneapolis Whose Homes Were
Raided by the FBI on September 24:
Below are two interviews with activists in Minneapolis whose homes
were raided on September 24, 2010 by FBI agents under the guise of a
"material support for terrorism" investigation. These actions have
been condemned by organizations across the United States.
Jess Sundin on FBI Raids Against Anti-War Activists in Minneapolis
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Opd3WuTZzWg&feature=player_embedded
Mick Kelly on the FBI Raids in Minneapolis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VihZt58Il
Y&feature=player_embedded
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If An Agent Knocks (the booklet)
What to do if you or your organization are targeted by federal law enforcement
http://www.ccrjustice.org/if-agent-knocks-%28-booklet%29
From the web page:
The Center for Constitutional Rights created If an Agent Knocks to
provide advice to activists likely to be targeted by FBI agents or
other federal investigators. Since its original release in 1989, If an
Agent Knocks has been widely circulated in progressive activist
communities across the country.
This guide includes both the timeless advice included in the original version and extensive updates to reflect the current state of the law and law enforcement tools. This updated edition also includes a comprehensive discussion of today’s technology, including cell phones, e-mail and web browsing. This guide should be seen as a resource for the information needed to protect yourself and other activists from government investigation and to empower you to continue the struggle.
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