These Times We Live In…

Old news for most activists, but it may be new to you. On September 24th, the FBI raided 7 homes of anti-war activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. They raided based on this law recently decided by the Supreme Court. “Former President Jimmy Carter criticized the decision, arguing that “The ‘material support law’ – which is aimed at putting an end to terrorism – actually threatens our work and the work of many other peacemaking organizations that must interact directly with groups that have engaged in violence. The vague language of the law leaves us wondering if we will be prosecuted for our work to promote peace and freedom.” ”

It’s very late and I have lots of commitments this week, so I cannot even begin to explain how…emotionally complex this situation has been. Anger at the powers that be for allowing such a violation of the rights of peace activists. Shock that they can actually do this.  Disappointment in our country for being so far from a perfection.

On Sept 24th, with no warning at all, 20+ FBI agents showed up at the door of two activists in Logan Square and presented a warrant to take anything going back to 2001. They spent 10 hours in their home, going through their things, computers, children’s artwork, and took 40+ boxes of it with them – much of it pre-dating 2001. Their attorney challenged them on taking pre-2001 items as they didn’t have a warrant for them, but the FBI agents there blatantly ignored that fact.

In addition to their homes being searched and property being seized for no cause at all, they are also being ordered to go before a grand jury. A grand jury is like no court you’ve likely heard of. There is no judge. You have no lawyer. You have no right to plead the 5th. You have no right to know what you’re being accused of. The “jury” is hand picked by prosecutors with no screening for bias like in a normal court of law. It is not open to press or outsiders. If you don’t testify, they can put you in jail indefinitely. And if you do agree to testify, you must answer every question. You cannot refuse anything – even if it violates your 5th amendment rights as noted above. If you fib, perjury. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I encourage you to read more about it here from an expert who knows the process all too well.

It may also be interesting to note that up until July 2008, Mandela and ANC party members were barred from entering the United States — except the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan — without a special waiver from the US Secretary of State, because of their South African apartheid regime era designation as terrorists. Many liberals and democrats today proudly share how they publicly supported Mandela back in the 80s. If this law was in place back then, many of them could have been deemed terrorists – for opposing South African apartheid. Radical is relative anyone? Mandela posters were as ubiquitous on campus back then as Obama support placards were on campuses in 2008.

The Chicago Tribune story from Sept 24th.

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Follow the details of this ongoing case here. Go learn what you can do to stop this injustice. Their civil liberties are our own. In solidarity…