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The ANSWER Coalition unequivocally condemns today’s FBI raids on the homes of anti-war and solidarity activists in Illinois and Minnesota,and the intimidation of activists there and elsewhere.
This morning,Sept. 24,teams of FBI agents from the “Joint Terrorism Task Force”served search warrants and grand jury subpoenas on the activists,allegedly relating to political speech in defense of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples. The FBI subpoenaed around a dozen activists to testify before a grand jury in Chicago in October. They confronted and intimidated activists in additional states as part of the operation.
Grand juries are notorious political tools used by the government against progressive activists when it lacks actual evidence against them.
The targeted activists have done nothing wrong. They are long-time organizers in the struggle for justice in the United States and against U.S. wars and repression abroad. They are leaders of organizations like the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee,the Palestine Solidarity Group,the Colombia Action Network and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization,among others. Many of the targeted activists helped organize the successful mass mobilizations at the RNC in Minneapolis,Minn. in 2008. Now,the government is attempting to implicate them in a bogus federal “terrorism” investigation. These allegations are baseless,reactionary and wrong.
The aim of the FBI raids is clearly the suppression of free speech and dissent. The government wants all activists to be afraid to speak out. And the Obama administration’s Justice Department is now leading the charge. But we cannot allow the government to stamp out the right of people to advocate for political beliefs that do not align with the aims of the Pentagon war machine. We cannot allow them to continue to erode our civil rights and civil liberties.
ANSWER encourages all anti-war activists to follow the example of the targeted activists if you are confronted by the FBI or other police agencies. The activists have refused to engage in conversations with the FBI about their political beliefs and anti-war organizing.
It is important for all activists and organizers to know your civil rights. People have the right to remain silent and to consult with an attorney. Even if the FBI shows up at someone’s home or office with a warrant,you are not required to engage in conversation. It is better to say to FBI or other law enforcement agents,“Let me have your contact information and my attorney will call you.”People will gain nothing by engaging in discussions with FBI officers.
ANSWER stands in full solidarity with our targeted sisters and brothers in the anti-war movement. We vow to struggle alongside them until the government harassment ends and they are completely vindicated.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
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Under J. Edgar Hoover in 1956 U.S. Government established COINTELPRO,the domestic (counter intelligence program) to harass lawful American activists. Government agents blatantly infiltrated lawful groups because they exercised their Constitutional right to speak out;then spread lies,framed Citizens,coerced,blackmailed,stole and falsified reports—violating countless laws. Some activists allegedly retaliated,breaking into the FBI office,removing secret files that exposed COINTELPRO then shared that information with the media. Despite the FBI claims that COINTELPRO no longer exists,it is believed but not confirmed it still operates under different names and among its assets are over eighty fusions centers,highly dependent on local informants for information.
According to this article,the FBI recently confirmed it is facilitating “raids” against the homes of antiwar activists,claiming they are “seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.” While most Americans have no sympathy for anti war activists that support terrorism or communist organizations,it is important to consider whether the FBI is executing raids with sufficient probable cause,otherwise any American could be selectively targeted to have their home taken apart by the FBI. What constitutes “material support” of terrorism? If you don’t believe that should concern you,consider the following:
The FBI recently asked for the power to obtain without warrants,Citizens’ “electronic communication transactional records” including email addresses they used to send communications. If the FBI’s request for (no warrant) Internet surveillance is granted,Americans to avoid federal conspiracy charges,may have to report to police (emails) received receive that might allude to anything illegal;that is because the FBI would not need a warrant to introduce emails into court as evidence. Similarly East German Citizens to avoid being arrested for support of criminal,subversive or terrorist activities had to report most every suspicious communication,turning ordinary Citizens into informants;undercover East German Stasi police would often in a social setting,tell East Germans Citizens something illegal;if the Citizen didn’t report it,he or she was arrested. East Germans were afraid to voice an opinion or talk to strangers.
The FBI request for no warrant Internet surveillance can’t be viewed separately:because if pending bills in Congress pass,the FBI will have the power to use warrant-less Internet surveillance to arrest and indefinitely detain Americans on (mere suspicion) not evidence,based on someone’s Internet Activity e.g. emails. Private information the FBI derives from warrant-less searches of emails and Internet Activity—including social websites and non-internet sources (informants) may be used by U.S. Government to target and arrest anyone based on mere suspicion. If COINTELPRO is any guide that would include government harassment,prosecution,blackmail or civil asset forfeiture that requires only a preponderance of civil evidence,little more than hearsay,perhaps because someone questioned or lawfully opposed a government policy.
Government can now use National Security Letters (NLS) to target’s someone’s clients,scaring off their customers and business associations,making it impossible to make a living;whether that was government’s intention that is often the result. It is problematic in the future,Citizens’lawful Internet Activity will be used by U.S. Government to detain and arrest Americans without probable cause? On March 4,2010,Sen. McCain introduced The “Enemy Belligerent Interrogation,Detention,and Prosecution Act of 2010.” McCain’s bill would eliminate several Constitutional protections allowing Government to arbitrarily pick up Americans on mere suspicion—with no probable cause. Under McCain’s bill,your political opinions,statements made on web postings,on the phone and in emails against U.S. Government and others could be used by authorities to deem you a “hostile” “Enemy Belligerent” to cause your arrest and indefinite detention.
U.S. activists and individuals under McCain’s bill would be extremely vulnerable to indefinite detention and prosecution,without right to legal counsel if (charged with only suspicion) of “intentionally or materially providing support to hostilities or an Act of Terrorism”,for example American activists can’t control what other activists might do illegally—they network by email or phone domestically and overseas. U.S. Government under McCain’s bill would need only allege that an individual kept in military detention,is an Unprivileged Enemy Belligerent,suspected of;having engaged in supporting hostilities against the United States;its coalition partners;or Civilians to indefinitely detained Americans without legal counsel.
McCain’s bill S.3081 is so broadly written lawful anti-war protesters and Tea Party Groups might be arrested and detained in military custody just for attending demonstrations;Government can charge attending demonstrations “materially supported hostilities.”
McCain’s bill mentions “non-violent acts”supporting hostilities in America including against U.S. government and or emanating from America against a Coalition Partner. Non-violent terrorist acts”are covered in the Patriot Act to prosecute Persons that support (coercion or intimidation to influence a government or to affect a civilian population.)
To compare government’s COINTELPRO with today’s government convert operations against American Activists access the following websites.
http://www.publiceye.org/liberty/War_at_Home/Glick_Overview.html
http://www.freewebs.com/fbicointelpro/