FBI raids homes of antiwar activists

[Hannah Bell]

The FBI has confirmed that it carried out at least eight raids on the homes and offices of antiwar activists in Minneapolis and Chicago at 7 a.m. on Friday.

The FBI claimed to the seeking “evidence relating to activities concerning support of terrorism.” Though no arrests were made in the raids, subpoenas were issued to those targeted ordering them to appear before a Chicago grand jury on October 12. Federal agents confiscated computers and cell phones, in addition to thousands of documents, books, and letters. There are as yet unconfirmed reports that other raids also took place in Michigan and North Carolina.

The raids, carried out under the auspices of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), are a transparent attempt to intimidate political opponents of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They come on the heels of a Justice Department inspector general’s report revealing massive police infiltration and spying on antiwar groups and other political dissenters in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (See: “Report whitewashes FBI political spying”)

Among the groups evidently targeted are the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, Colombia Action Network, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and possibly the Arab-American Action Network...The political nature of the raids was barely concealed. The warrant to raid Kelly’s home specifically cited his membership in a group calling itself socialist, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO)... Both Kelly and Sundin participated in organizing mass protests against the Republican National Convention held in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2008. Also raided in Minneapolis early Friday were the homes of antiwar activists Meredith Aby and Anh Pham, as well as the home of Tracy Molm, a leader of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/sep2010/raid-s25.shtml

[mmonk]

1. I wonder if it could be related to this:

U.S. progressives meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

New York, NY - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met here, September 21, with 100 leaders and representatives of anti-war, labor, alternative media and Iranian and Palestinian solidarity organizations. Among the participants were Sarah Martin, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Margaret Sarfehjooy, board member of the Minneapolis-based Women Against Military Madness, former attorney general Ramsey Clark, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, Sara Flounders from the International Action Center, Brian Becker of the ANSWER coalition, Ramona Africa of the Free Mumia Coalition and Amiri Baraka, poet and activist.

[Hannah Bell]

2. i'd bet it is in some way. they're ramping up the hate for ahmadinejad, too, lately.

i've been wondering what's in the works.

[mmonk]

3. No telling.

I think another war will undue what's left of our republic.

[Hannah Bell]

4. war is the usual end game of depressions. i thought two was enough, maybe not.

so who's backing iran? russia? china?

whatever they're doing, i doubt they're doing it all alone.

[Go2Peace]

38. So, if they arrest peace activists for diplomacy with renegades, when do they arrest Carter

I mean really. Some here are labling them terrorists because they may have met with groups that included Palistinians and FARC.
Well, so did Carter and so do many business leaders and interests. The real question is why the selection against anti-war activists?

[Puregonzo1188]

39. They might as well arrest Jimmy Carter. They're investigating these activist under the material

support law. The one that was challenged by the Carter Center, along with the Center for Constitutional Law, ACLU, and Human Rights Watch. The one that was defended by Eric Holder and Obama's Department of Justice. The one that was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision.


This is what Former President Carter had to say about the law:

""The 'material support law' - which is aimed at putting an end to terrorism - actually threatens our work and the work of many other peacemaking organizations that must interact directly with groups that have engaged in violence. The vague language of the law leaves us wondering if we will be prosecuted for our work to promote peace and freedom."

The Carter Center's election monitoring/training in Lebanon could be considered material support, as they technically give "expert advice" to Hezbollah, hence why Carter was so opposed to this law.

Of course, as we all know it's a lot easier to go after Maoist than former Presidents. Nonetheless the message they're sending is loud and clear. And I'm sure it's effects will be felt for along time.

[boppers]

5. WSWS

No more needs to be said.

[The Magistrate]

6. Do You Seriously Think, Sir, These People Are A Threat To The Security Of The United States?

"Enquiring minds want to know!"

[boppers]

9. I would suggest, Ma'am, that there is a continuum.

Some people will kill for peace (as bizarre as that sounds), others would lay down their lives.

Other just make puppets and bang drums.

In all cases, it would be simplistic to assume, without additional information, that any one person, or group of people, are either benign, or a threat.

[The Magistrate]

10. That Is Not An Answer, Sir: Do You Seriously Think These People Pose A Threat To The United States?

[boppers]

16. Ma'am: Consider McVeigh. Peltier. Kaczynski.

Being a US citizen does not mean that you are immune from mental instability, or political violence.

Since I do not know them (those raided) personally, I cannot speak to their character individually.

I also did not know McVeigh, Peltier, Kaczynski, (etc.)

What I *have* read, however, is that they have admitted ties to those who advocate the use of force to overthrow governments in multiple nations. So, to do a quick question and answer:

Q. "Do You Seriously Think These People Pose A Threat To The United States?"
A. They might, based on their behaviors, actions, and associations, pose a threat. They might not. Since they *weren't* quietly arrested and spirited off, I would guess that this is a fishing expedition, based on a history of their past fishing partners.

[The Magistrate]

18. You Do Understand, Sir, That You Are Spouting Nonesense?

These people are involved in public organizing of protest actions against various social and government policies. They are certainly inconvenient to any government here,and in my personal view, a good deal of what they do is stupid and counter-productive. But it is not even tinged with serious possibility of violence. What is being sought in these raids is anything that can be used to bring a 'material support' charge, under a law whose definitions of that have become ludicrous, in order to have a pretext to crush a minor irritant, rather than to break up any actual threat of impending violence.

The situation bears no honest comparison to the items you reference. The first and third were 'lone wolf' killers, operating outside any group and without a trace of public profile; the second was a member of a group that had openly taken up arms, and done so from its foundation.

[boppers]

20. Ma'am: ITYM 'wolf'. not "wold".

We have grand juries for a reason.

[The Magistrate]

21. So, Sir, Nothing But 'Argumentum ad Typo'?

We have grand juries so prosecutors can indict ham sandwiches....

[boppers]

40. ...and we have trials to (hopefully) vindicate the unjustly accused.

That's how the system works.

[autorank]

45. Fine colloquy Magistrate

"They are certainly inconvenient to any government" - That captures the motive government bias or perhaps intentional
interference. We've had worse governments troubled by this "inconvenient" phenomenon called first amendment rights.
Wilson's harassment of Debs for opposing WWI and Nixon's harassment of anti war groups were full scale efforts. This
raid and the visits to Chicago teacher union leaders are mild but worthy of sharp attention and sharper questions.

[The Magistrate]

19. Deleted --- Doubled

"I have little respect for a man can only spell a word one way."

[Hannah Bell]

22. lol. yeah, i saw some of those radicals. most are over 50. some look to be pushing 80.

wow, scary stuff.

[boppers]

41. You think age prevents people from being violent?

Odd. My experience has not been the same.

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. You are comparing McVeigh to Peltier?

LOL

Nuff said.

[mmonk]

7. There is also Indy Media

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

[boppers]

11. Interesting FARC links, along with FRSO connections.

Looks like FRSO is the main target.

http://www.frso.org/

[mmonk]

48. Yes, they are the primary target.

[leftstreet]

8. The AP is reporting it also

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqOR09wHcq7ZB-Bdb4D5ZIZUY5bAD9IEKUC01

In fact, several media outlets are

[boppers]

13. Interesting wording in each report.

Thanks for the link!

[Radical Activist]

15. Thanks for that.

Regardless of their ideology, the source linked in the OP has a habit of embellishing stories.

[Hannah Bell]

boppers. nothing more needs to be said.

get your war on, boppers!

[Catherina]

24. Nope. Nothing more needs to be said about you. Nothing. n/t

[HughMoran]

12. dupe.

[ibegurpard]

17. so?

This isn't LBN
You don't find this worthy of a great deal of attention?

[avaistheone1]

14. What a country!

What a farce!

[malaise]

23. Frightening n/t

[Catherina]

25. The warning to Leftists and Arab sympathizers couldn't be clearer.

If you were just against the wars because it was fashionable to be against Bush, you're safe.

If you are against the wars because they're wrong and you're not buying them under a democratic administration, start shivering. The empire has no use for people with a consistent conscience who are intellectually capable of analyzing the instrinsic relationship between capitalism, war and oppression.

This occurred in 2010, not 2007.

The change is not for the better.

[Angry Dragon]

26. If they are so worried about terrorists

why are they not arresting the christians for talking about killing gays and the christians that support the killing of gays in foreign countries??

[boppers]

42. They're targets too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-harwood/downward-christian-soldie_b_523994.html

Extremists on both sides are taking hits.

[Go2Peace]

47. This law is idiocy and antidemocratic. If they really want to go after

those who give material support to terrorism throughout the world they would need to go after the monied elites and the power brokers, who make millions stoking up conflict and arming the hell out of these groups.

Funny how this law does not accomplish that? Instead it is incredibly useful at keeping little people in line.

And you support that? :rofl:

[TBF]

27. Absolutely chilling.

As you know the Palmer Raids occurred under a democratic president as well.

[madrchsod]

28. from the chicago tribune....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-fbi-terrorism-investigation-20100924,0,4070320.story

no arrest warrants

grand jury fishing expedition looking for the money trail.

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. What money trail?

If I have donated to some of these organizations, does that mean my house will soon be raided?

[madrchsod]

34. that`s what they are looking for...

[Junkdrawer]

29. Preemptive strike? Is there an "event" on the horizon?

Why else would they be hassling a moribund peace movement? :shrug:

[ibegurpard]

32. k&r

"if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to be afraid of" right??
:puke:

[indepat]

35. First they came for the (blank) but I was not a blank

[kenny blankenship]

33. Just wait 'til we have a Constitutional lawyer for President! He'll stop these "chilling effects"

Just wait 'til a Democrat wins the White House. Free speech will be restored and the peace movement will be respected.

[indepat]

36. Yeah, just wait

[Starry Messenger]

37. rofl

[boppers]

43. Are you saying there was no warrant?

The stories seem to indicate that this was a warranted search, which seems to imply that a judge found probable cause.

[Panaconda]

44. K&R n/t

[New Dawn]

46. Fascism is on the march, right here in the USA.

Wake up, sheeple.