Students for a Democratic Society Speaks Out Against FBI Raids
September 24, 2010 - 6:58pm
Tags:CointelproFBISDS Statements
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters across the country in the face of FBI repression of progressive causes. SDSers, along with members of the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera had their homes searched and documents and electronic devices seized.
"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."
Grace Kelley, an SDSer from the University of Minnesota, said “SDS at the U of M condemns the terror tactics used by the FBI to silence activists who organize against wars and for peace here in Minneapolis as well as across the nation. Tracy Molm from SDS at U of M was one of the activists whose house was raided. SDSers across the country need to stand up and condemn these raids and say that we will not be scared into silence, that we will continue to stand up and fight for what’s right”.
Several activists in Minnesota and Chicago have had papers, CDs, and cell phones stolen among other items; as well as being issued subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury. The FBI are apparently looking for evidence linking activists to "material support of terrorism" specifically liberation struggles in Colombia and Palestine. In addition to SDSers being harassed in Minneapolis, two SDSers in Milwaukee were also contacted by the FBI about their anti-war activism.
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. No arrests have been made – make no mistake, this is a fishing expedition by the FBI.
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”.
Show your support! Organize solidarity actions in your city demanding that the FBI halt all searches and seizures against progressive activists who have done nothing wrong. Contact your local media and let them know that we will not tolerate this kind of harassment from the government. And be aware – if the FBI knocks, you do not have to give out any information or answer any questions.
For more information, contact:
Grace Kelley, University of Minnesota SDS: 612.709.3424
Kas Schwerdtfeger, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee SDS: 262.893.2806
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Markin comment:
The following information is passed on from the Partisan Defense Committee. I do not have any more information on this situation at this time so any additional information would be greatly appreciated to get a better picture of the lengths the Obama government is prepared to go to stifle anti-war dissent. As always- Obama-Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All American And Allied Troops From Afghanistan And Iraq!
From The Partisan Defense Committee- Obama- Hands Off The Minnesota Anti-War Committee And Other Anti-War Activists
September 30, 2010
On September 24, the Obama administration launched a coordinated series of sinister FBI raids on homes of numerous leftists and anti-war activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. Among the targeted were a chief union steward in the SEIU, prominent members of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, the executive director of the Arab American Action Network, along with supporters of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Students for a Democratic Society. FBI agents seized boxloads of personal belongings including computer drives and papers. The menacing feds also issued subpoenas for the activists to appear before grand juries investigating activities in solidarity with the oppressed in the Middle East and Latin America.
On the day after these direct attacks on First Amendment Rights, the PDC wrote a letter of protest to Attorney General Eric Holder. As we pointed out, "From its inception under the Bush administration, the 'war on terror,' which initially victimized Arab and Muslim immigrants, set into motion repressive measures that also target leftists, trade unionists, and black people. Now the Obama administration is escalating these wholesale attacks on civil liberties with these neo-McCarthyite raids." We demanded that the subpoenas be withdrawn, no charges be pressed and that all belongings taken in the raids be returned immediately. Stop the witchhunt! Hands off the activists!
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