| Progressive Calendar 09.24.10 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: David Shove (shove001 tc.umn.edu)
|
|
| Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:48:52 -0700 (PDT) | |
P R O G R E S S I V E C A L E N D A R 09.24.10
FBI raids homes of prominent TC antiwar activists
1. Press/Mpls FBI raid 9.24 4pm
2. Palestine vigil 9.24 4:15pm
3. Denounce FBI raids 9.24 5:30pm
4. Green on Almanac 9.24 7pm
5. Rovics concerts 9.24 7pm
6. Furst/Simons - FBI raids homes of prominent TC antiwar activists7. Steff
Yorek - Press release about raid
8. Dave Bicking - URGENT: Solidarity against FBI raids in Mpls
9. ed - The DC message (haiku)
--------1 of 9--------
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:57:24 -0500 (CDT)
From: Women Against Military Madness <wamm [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Press/Mpls FBI raid 9.24 4pm
Press Conference
Friday, September 24, 4:00 p.m.
2911 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis 55407
Twin Cities peace organization, the Anti-War Committee, calls a press
conference in response to early morning raids by the FBI on local
residences.
--
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:34:58 -0500
From: Jess Sundin <jess [at] antiwarcommittee.org>
Subject: [AntiWarMN] Today at 4pm: Press Conference to Denounce FBI Raids
on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists Homes in Minneapolis and around Country
For Immediate Release
24 September 2010
Press Conference to Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-war and Solidarity Activists
Homes in Minneapolis and around Country
Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the
country.
Press Conference: September 24, 2010 4 pm
Location: 2911 Park Ave South, Minneapolis, MN
Anti-war activists and supporters will gather at 4pm at one of the homes
raided to speak out against the outrageous FBI raids that took place this
morning in Minneapolis and around the U.S.
Activists will 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 7:00 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.
"This is a blatant attempt by the FBI to silence activists who struggle
for peace and justice. Standing in solidarity with people fighting
against US imperialism is not a crime!" stated Meredith Aby of the
Anti-War Committee, one of the activist's whose home was raided.
"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 in Michigan. "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.
Press Conference is organized by the Anti-War Committee, and supporting
organizations WAMM, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Welfare
Rights Committee.
Press Contacts: Jess Sundin, 612-865-8234; Mick Kelly 612-296-5649; Deb
Konechne 612-816-4321
--------2 of 9--------
From: Eric Angell <eric-angell [at] riseup.net>
Subject: Palestine vigil 9.24 4:15pm
The weekly vigil for the liberation of Palestine continues at the
intersection of Snelling and Summit Aves in St. Paul. The Friday demo
starts at 4:15 and ends around 5:30. There are usually extra signs
available.
--------3 of 9--------
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:13:38 -0500 (CDT)
From: WAMM <wamm [at] mtn.org>
Subject: Denounce FBI raids 9.24 5:30pm
FBI RAIDS LOCAL PEACE GROUPS HOMES
Meeting tonight, Friday Sept. 24 Walker Methodist Church 5:30 pm
As you may have heard by now, several Minnesota peace activists' homes
were raided by the FBI today. The FBI seized phones, computers and
several boxes of records from leaders of the Anti-War Commiittee and
Freedom Road.
If you are able, please join us for a meeting to stand in solidarity with
our fellow peacemakers tonight at Walker Methodist Church, 3104 16th Ave.
South in Minneapolis at 5:30 prior to the David Rovics Concert. More
details to come at the WAMM Silent Auction on Sunday . Following is a
statement from the anti-war committee members that I have been asked to
share with you. Kim Doss-Smith, WAMM Director
-
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:21:48 -0500
From: Tom Dooley <fellowcommoditydooley [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Vs FBI raid 9.24 5:30pm
Police state raids in Minneapolis
Early this am Fri 9-24-10 FBI invaded several homes of people in the
Anti-War Committee and Freedom Road Socialist and perhaps others and
confiscated computers and other materials. This is apparentely
anti-terrorism stuff. There is an information and support meeting at 5:30
pm at Walker Church 31st and 16th Ave Mpls. Show up... do not be
intimidated by these anti-terrorist terrorists!
--------4 of 9--------
From: Amber Garlan <agarlan [at] hammclinic.org>
Subject: Green on Almanac 9.24 7pm
Annie Young will be on Almanac this Friday 9/24/10 at 7:00! Whenever
Almanac has a Green Party person on I always call the station to say how
much I enjoyed listening to that person.
"I will be appearing with Rebecca Otto and Pat Anderson on Almanac, TPT
(Channel 2) at 7:00pm, Friday, Sept. 24th. Please watch and spread the
news far and wide. We are in the last ½ hour."
- Annie Young Candidate, State Auditor Green Party Endorsed
--------5 of 9--------
From: Meredith Aby <awcmere [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Rovics concerts 9.24 7pm
David Rovics Benefit Concerts
Friday September 24th @ 7 PM @ Walker Community Church, 3104 16th Ave S,
Minneapolis
Saturday, September 25th @ 8pm @ Black Dog Cafe, corner of 4th & Broadway,
Lowertown, St. Paul
These two benefits are for the Twin Cities IWW and to support the Jimmy
John's Workers Union, $9 at the door, on Facebook: David Rovics Benefit
Concert. No one turned away for lack of funds.
--------6 of 9--------
FBI raids homes of several prominent members of Twin Cities antiwar
movement
By RANDY FURST and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune
Search warrants were executed on six addresses in Minneapolis and at two
addresses in Chicago in an "investigation into activities concerning the
material support of terrorism."
By RANDY FURST and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune
Last update: September 24, 2010 - 1:12 PM
The homes of six Twin Cities activists, including three prominent leaders
of the Twin Cities antiwar movement, were raided Friday by the FBI in what
an agency spokesman described as an "investigation into activities
concerning the material support of terrorism."
An FBI spokesman Steve Warfield confirmed that six Minneapolis homes were
raided this morning.
Among the homes raided were the apartments of Jessica Sundin, who was a
principal leader of the mass antiwar march of 10,000 on the opening day of
the Republican National Convention two years ago, and Mick Kelly, who was
prominent in that protest and among those who announced plans to march on
the Democratic National Convention in Minneapolis, if the city is selected
to host it in 2012. Neither has been arrested.
Kelly said in an interview this morning he had "absolutely not" been
involved in illegal activities.
A raid was also in progress at the home of Meredith Aby, another local
antiwar leader who was frequently the spokeswoman for the march on the GOP
convention. Sundin and another source said that a fourth raid took place
at the home of Tracy Molm, a leading activist in Students for a Democratic
Society, an organization at the University of Minnesota. The source said
raids occurred at the addresses of two other activists whose names he did
not disclose.
Supporters of Sundin, Kelly and Aby had gathered on the sidewalks outside
each of the residences.
Ted Dooley, an attorney, said he had reviewed the search warrant issued in
the raid on Kelly's apartment. "It's a probe into the political beliefs of
American citizens and to any organization anywhere that opposes the
American imperial design," he said.
Steve Warfield, an FBI agent, declined to respond to Dooley's comment. He
said in a statement, "We are doing six federal search warrants in
Minneapolis that are related to an ongoing Joint Terrorism Task Force
investigation into activities concerning the material support of
terrorism. We are doing two search warrants in Chicago as well."
He said the raids were conducted at about 7 a.m., but he declined to say
who or what addresses were being raided or any additional details.
According to one defense attorney, subpoenas were being issued for a
federal grand jury in Chicago. It was not clear who is being subpoenaed.
The raid on Kelly's apartment was on the 1800 block of Riverside Av. The
raid on Sundin's apartment was on the 2900 block of Park Av. Aby's home is
on the 3000 block of 14th Av. S.
Dooley said the search warrants cited a federal law making it a violation
to provide, attempt to provide or conspire to provide material support to
designated foreign terrorist organizations.
In the search warrant on Kelly's apartment, Dooley said, "It appears they
are looking into any connections, travel, etc., to Palestine and Colombia,
also around the United States," he said. He said that in Kelly's case, the
warrant mentions a political organization called Freedom Road Socialist
Organization.
Dooley said, "They are looking at any connection between him and 'FTO's,'
foreign terrorist organizations, including but not limited to FARC, PFLP
and Hezbollah," and any support, contact or association with those groups.
FARC is a revolutionary peasant organization in Columbia, and PFLP is the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Hezoballah is a political
and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon.
Dooley said the search warrant mentions documents, files, books,
photographs, videos, souvenirs, war relics, notebooks, address books
diaries journals, maps or any other evidence in electronic for that shows
Kelly's connections to those groups, and whether he supported or recruited
people or talked to them. It also mentions potential co-conspirators,
Dooley said.
Kelly said the FBI kicked down his door Friday morning.
He said his apartment is above the Hard Times Caf on the Minneapolis west
bank. He said he was at work when he got a call from Linden Gawboy, the
woman he lives with, who is also a prominent activist involved in protests
over foreclosures. She said she told him that the FBI had arrived, and he
said he returned to the apartment.
At 11 a.m., about fours hours after the raid began, the FBI was still
conducting its search. Kelly was sitting in the cafe while his attorney,
Dooley, and Gawboy watched the search upstairs. Kelly said the search
warrant said the FBI was investigating activists who travelled to
Colombia, Palestine and elsewhere. Kelly said he has not traveled to those
locations. He said he has been to Lebanon but does not believe that
country is mentioned in the warrant.
"To me this is harassment of antiwar activists and leaders who have spoken
against U.S. intervention in Latin America and the Middle East," he said.
Sundin said that at 7 a.m. a half-dozen FBI agents came into the house she
shares with her partner, Steff Yorek, and their daughter. They were served
with a search warrant and a subpoena to testify before a Chicago grand
jury. The warrant asked for items related to trips to Colombia and the
Middle east and related to the Anti-War Committee. They took papers,
computers, photographs, computers and Sundin's cell phone. "They're
targeting us because we've supported struggles for justice in other
countries, and we oppose the US government's military involvement in
places like Colombia and we've done so very openly," Sundin said. Sundin
said she has traveled to Colombia, but she has not done anything illegal.
She said she did not receive a "target letter" indicating she would
potentially be targeted for indictment by the grand jury. She said she she
has been an activist since 1991.
After 9/11, she said the government has taken greater liberties to overrun
the rights of those who speak out. "I am angry. I want people to know that
the government is targeting people for our ideas," she said. "The ideas
that they're targeting me for are ideas of peace and justice. I have and
always will support struggles all over the world for peace and justice
right down to my own neighborhood. To do that should not be a crime, and
to do that should not make me the subject of any investigation, and the
same goes for my friends and colleagues."
At Aby's home, police officers could be seen inside the house, although no
FBI agents were visible. Aby's cell phone was taken by law enforcement
agents, and Sundin's phone also was seized, Sundin said.
Attorney Bruce Nestor, who has represented antiwar organizations and
individual protesters, said he was in New Orleans, attending a convention
of the National Lawyers Guild and was notified by phone from activists
that federal agents showed up with a search warrant at Sundin's apartment
to seize documents, cell phones and computers.
"It appears to be an investigation and a claim of support for foreign
terrorist organizations," said Nestor. He said the organizations are
designated as terrorist by executive order of the president.
"There is no process whereby you can contest the designation," he said.
"Ever since these laws were passed in 1996, there is a concern that they
reach so broadly as to certainly chill or intimidate people in speaking
out on foreign policy or support for groups that oppose U.S. foreign
policy."
He said his apartment is above the Hard Times Cafe on the Minneapolis west
bank. He said he was at work when he got a call from Linden Gawboy, the
woman he lives with, who is also a prominent activist involved in protests
over foreclosures. She said she told him that the FBI had arrived, and he
said he returned to the apartment.
At 11 a.m., about fours hours after the raid began, the FBI was still
conducting its search. Kelly was sitting in the caf while his attorney,
Dooley, and Gawboy watched the search upstairs. Kelly said the search
warrant said the FBI was investigating activists who travelled to
Colombia, Palestine and elsewhere. Kelly said he has not traveled to those
locations. He said he has been to Lebanon but does not believe that
country is mentioned in the warrant.
"To me this is harassment of antiwar activists and leaders who have spoken
against U.S. intervention in Latin America and the Middle East," he said.
Sundin said that at 7 a.m. a half-dozen FBI agents came into the house she
shares with her partner, Steff Yorek, and their daughter. They were served
with a search warrant and a subpoena to testify before a Chicago grand
jury. The warrant asked for items related to trips to Colombia and the
Middle east and related to the Anti-War Committee. They took papers,
computers, photographs, computers and Sundin's cell phone. "They're
targeting us because we've supported struggles for justice in other
countries, and we oppose the US government's military involvement in
places like Colombia and we've done so very openly," Sundin said. Sundin
said she has traveled to Colombia, but she has not done anything illegal.
She said she did not receive a "target letter" indicating she would
potentially be targeted for indictment by the grand jury. She saijd she
she has been an activist since 1991.
After 9/11, she said the government has taken greater liberties to overrun
the rights of those who speak out. "I am angry. I want people to know that
the government is targeting people for our ideas," she said. "The ideas
that they're targeting me for are ideas of peace and justice. I have and
always will support struggles all over the world for peace and justice
right down to my own neighborhood. To do that should not be a crime, and
to do that should not make me the subject of any investigation, and the
same goes for my friends and colleagues."
At Aby's home, police officers could be seen inside the house, although no
FBI agents were visible. Aby's cell phone was taken by law enforcement
agents, and Sundin's phone also was seized, Sundin said.
Attorney Bruce Nestor, who has represented antiwar organizations and
individual protesters, said he was in New Orleans, attending a convention
of the National Lawyers Guild and was notified by phone from activists
that federal agents showed up with a search warrant at Sundin's apartment
to seize documents, cell phones and computers.
"It appears to be an investigation and a claim of support for foreign
terrorist organizations," said Nestor. He said the organizations are
designated as terrorist by executive order of the president.
"There is no process whereby you can contest the designation," he said.
"Ever since these laws were passed in 1996, there is a concern that they
reach so broadly as to certainly chill or intimidate people in speaking
out on foreign policy or support for groups that oppose U.S. foreign
policy."
Randy Furst - 612-673-7382
--------7 of 9--------
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:31:23 -0500
From: Kristin Dooley <kristintdooley [at] gmail.com>
From: Steff Yorek
Subject: Press release about raid
Press release that Steff Yorek put on her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/steff-yorek/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-on-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists/471194681677
=== 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 [at] colombiasolidarity.org or info [at] fightbacknews.org
if
you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.
--------8 of 9--------
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:18:38 -0500
From: Dave Bicking <dave [at] colorstudy.com>
To: Mpls-5thdistrictgreenparty [at] yahoogroups.com, discuss [at] mngreens.org
Subject: URGENT: Solidarity against FBI raids in Mpls
Dear Greens,
The bogus "War on Terror" has come home to Minneapolis. At least 5 houses
in south Minneapolis were raided by the FBI at 7am this morning. All are
the homes of long-term and well-known anti-war activists, mostly
affiliated with the Anti War Committee and SDS. No one was arrested, but
many received subpoenas to testify at a Grand Jury in Chicago. The
investigation is related to "material support to terrorist groups." The
people targeted have participated in trips to Colombia and/or Palestine,
in solidarity with the oppressed people there. They are innocent of
terrorism or connection to terrorism; their real "crime" is support for
the people of those nations who are resisting US imperialism.
We need a strong showing of support and solidarity RIGHT NOW. Two things
to come to today:
Friday, September 24, 4pm Press conference at one of the raided homes, at
2911 Park Ave., Mpls A large crowd would be very helpful.
Friday September 24, 5:30pm Mass meeting at Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave.
S., Mpls. This will be a chance to hear more news, sort out what has
happened, express our support, and just process, emotionally and
politically, what has happened today. The meeting will be followed by a
previously scheduled benefit concert by David Rovics, at the same
location.
The best and most up-to-date account of what has happened, and what will
follow, is at: http://tc.indymedia.org/
The Star Tribune story is at:
http://www.startribune.com/local/103716104.html?page=1&c=y
The raids today were quiet and discreet, mostly polite, with very little
damage or wanton ransacking, unlike the Gestapo tactics of the RNC raids.
They were carried out by roughly a half dozen FBI agents per house, with
one Mpls cop present. But a lot of material was confiscated: cell phones,
computers, passports, financial records, literature, etc. Most of the
people involved were subpoenaed to testify at the Grand Jury on October 12
in Chicago. Simultaneous raids were also carried out in Chicago and
elsewhere.
The people involved will need personal as well as political support, as
they re-establish their phone and computer access to the world, or need
child care, etc. I will send out news updates on this list. Anyone who
would like to "plug in" to support these folks can call or email me, and
I'll put you in contact. OR come to the meeting this evening. A support
statement is being drafted that will be presented and discussed at the
meeting, with a chance for people to sign on.
I hope Greens, individually, or even as a group, will show their support
against this repression, which continues to intensify under the Obama
administration. I am relieved that the RNC conspiracy charges against my
daughter were dropped just last week. Now this. It's not family, but
these are good friends and committed activists for peace and justice.
Solidarity was critical in having my daughter's charges dropped; these
folks need the same!
Dave Bicking
612-276-1213
--------9 of 9--------
The DC message
If we want a war
be good children. Shut up. Let
us have it. Or else.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- David Shove shove001 [at] tc.umn.edu
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