Sunday, December 5, 2010

FBI intimidation and harassment continues: two articles


The following articles are from Fight Back! News:


FBI Harassment of Anti-War Activists Continues in Twin Cities


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.


These visits come on the heels of massive Sept. 24 raids in Minneapolis and Chicago, which involved more than 70 agents of the FBI and other federal agencies. The raid targeted activists involved with many groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.



Fourteen anti-war activists and leaders who have been subpoenaed to appear in front of a federal grand jury meeting in Chicago have announced they will not cooperate with the proceedings.


Mick Kelly, whose home was raided Sept. 24, urges everyone in the progressive community to exercise their legal right to not answer questions put to them by FBI agents. “This is a witch-hunt against anyone who is standing up against war and injustice. Tell FBI agents you have nothing to say. Period.” said Kelly.


Still More FBI Harassment of Anti-War Activists in Twin Cities


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.”


Eisert continued, “They said that Jess Sundin, Meredith Aby and Mick Kelly had manipulated me and others in the anti-war movement. The only ones trying to manipulate me are these FBI agents.”


Sundin, Aby and Kelly were among those who had their homes raided and were served with grand jury subpoenas when the FBI moved against anti-war and international solidarity activists on Sept. 24.


Eisert said, “It is insulting that federal agents would try to make me talk to them by attacking the personal and political relationships that I’ve had with Jess and the others for more than ten years. To do this while I’m at work is harassment, plain and simple. These attempts to divide us will not work personally and it will not work in the movement.”


Jess Sundin said, “The FBI is clearly trying to carry out a smear campaign in order to divide the movement.” She added, “If that’s their aim, it’s going to blow up in their faces. We are people’s neighbors, co-workers and friends . A few lies by FBI agents cannot undo the years that we have invested in our community. Instead, it will make people all the more sure that this investigation is nothing more than a fishing expedition.”


Two other individuals in Minneapolis were also targeted by the FBI for visits earlier in the week. Local activists have continued to remind the community that they are not required to speak to FBI agents. They added that the FBI has tried using smear campaigns to damage movements in the past. Exposing these tactics to the light of day is the best defense.