Minneapolis, MN – Three well-known Twin Cities anti-war and international solidarity activists, Tracy Molm, Anh Pham, and Sarah Martin have received word from the U.S. Attorney’s Office that that they will be called to appear in front of a Chicago Grand Jury.
Newark, NJ – On April 16, 2010 Fritz Louissant, a Haitian immigrant, was late on the rent at the motel where he lived in Rahway, New Jersey. He had been there four months. He had always before paid on time.
Orem, UT – Tom Burke from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera spoke to students at Utah Valley University, Oct. 27. The event, sponsored by the Revolutionary Students Union, brought in many students wanting to know more about the U.S.-held Colombian political prisoner, Ricardo Palmera and the situation in Colombia.
Chicago, IL – Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Illinois-Chicago staged street theatre in front of an FBI recruitment event here, Nov. 9. Dressed up as agents of the ‘Federal Bureau of Intimidation,’ activists handed out fliers against FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists who were raided on Sept. 24.
New York, NY – More than 150 movement leaders and concerned individuals packed a standing room-only hall at Saint Mark's Church in the Bowery on Nov. 6 for the first national meeting of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.
_Anti-war organizers targeted by FBI facing grand jury witch hunt _
Minneapolis, MN – Activists gathered at May Day Bookstore, Nov. 9, to make signs for the emergency protest that is planned for the day after anti-war and international solidarity activists are called to appear in front of a Chicago-based grand jury. Organizers say that if news of the call to appear is received on Friday, the protest will take place at 4:30, Monday, in front of the Minneapolis Federal Building.
Minneapolis, MN – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) hosted a panel discussion here Nov. 2 at the University of Minnesota. The panel was made up of six anti-war and international solidarity activists from the Minneapolis, all of whom were raided by the FBI on Sept. 24th and were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in Chicago. None of the affected activists have any charges against them; the FBI claims to be searching for evidence of “material support of terrorists.”
Milwaukee, WI – Colombia Action Network organizer Tom Burke came here Oct. 28 to speak about U.S. intervention in Colombia. Burke, who was served a Grand Jury subpoena in the FBI activist raids in late September, made strong observations on people’s movements both in the U.S. and Colombia.
Seattle, WA – The newly formed Seattle United Against FBI Repression organized a protest to coincide with the visit of President Obama, Sept. 21. Groups participating included Veterans for Peace, Voices of Palestine, Raging Grannies, Fellowship of Reconciliation, SNOW, International Socialist Organization, Freedom Socialist Party, Radical Women and many trade unionists.
Minneapolis, MN – On Oct. 23, anti-war and free speech activists made their presence felt outside of President Obama's speech at the University of Minnesota. A group of activists held banners on University Avenue, while others handed out more than 6000 flyers and got hundreds of signatures on postcards calling on President Obama to stop the FBI and Grand Jury attacks on the anti-war movement.
Minneapolis, MN – Over 150 people lined the sidewalks here Oct. 16 with protest signs and banners calling for an end to the war Oct. 16, the ninth anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Minneapolis, MN – A growing number of trade unions are taking a stand against the recent FBI raids and grand jury witch hunt against anti-war, international solidarity and labor activists. Ten of the 14 people subpoenaed are trade unionists who have been active members of AFSCME, SEIU, Teamsters, and Education MN. They’ve been on the front lines and picket lines supporting their sisters and brothers during strikes, contract campaigns and workplace struggles. They have been vocal supporters of workers’ rights around the globe and they’re now under attack for speaking out against U.S. foreign policy. But in the spirit of “an injury to one is an injury to all,” the labor movement is coming to their defense.
Chicago, IL – Over 1000 rallied and marched here at a regional anti-war demonstration Oct. 16. Protesters called for an end to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, an end to U.S. foreign aid to Israel and an end to FBI repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota legislature met in a ‘special session’ here, Oct. 18, to deal with flood relief for the southern part of the state. The legislators also had to face a determined delegation of people who were outraged about the federal government’s attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists. On Sept. 24, a series of raids, subpoenas and attempted interrogations began against activists around the country.
Duluth, MN – On Oct. 14, delegates to the 17,000-member Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body unanimously adopted a resolution of support for Midwest anti-war activists facing FBI and Department of Justice harassment. The resolution calls for a congressional inquiry into government spying and grand jury investigations of U.S. social movements and will be hand-delivered to U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken by Duluth Central Labor Body President Dan O’Neill.
I was subpoenaed to a federal grand jury in May of 1982 in New York City. It has left me as something of a specialist in an arcane, secretive and obsolete area of the law – one that has just reappeared with FBI raids, seizures of private papers, computers and subpoenas to compel testimony in Chicago, Minneapolis and other cities across the country.
Minneapolis, MN – FBI agents continued their campaign against anti-war activists in the Twin Cities on Oct. 8. Jennie Eisert, a member of the Anti-War Committee said, “FBI agents came to my work and wanted to talk to me about activists in the anti-war movement. I was called away from my desk and when I refused to talk to them, they tried to turn me against my friends and fellow activists.”
Minneapolis, MN – FBI agents in Minneapolis went to several homes, Oct. 6 and 7, continuing their campaign of harassment and repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
Fight Back! News is circulating the following video from Stephanie Weiner and Joe Iosbaker. Their home was raided by the FBI on Sept. 24, when over a dozen agents spent ten hours in their house, leaving with thirty boxes of their personal effects, documents, and children's artwork. Weiner and Iosbaker were among of the fourteen activists who were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago on Oct. 5.