Twin Cities INDYMEDIA Roundup: "Don't F*ck With Our Activists" - Community Responds to Raids

September 27, 2010 by Paul

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http://twincities.indymedia.org/2010/sep/roundup-dont-fck-our-activists-community-responds-raids

Over 150 people attended a community meeting at Walker Church Friday night, most on less than six hours notice, to begin to respond to Friday morning's FBI raids and subpoenas to local antiwar and international solidarity organizers. (See video of the meeting at right.) At the church, activists confirmed that five homes and the Anti-War Committee's office were raided.

Organizers also announced two upcoming events: a protest outside the Minneapolis FBI office, 111 Washington Ave. S., at 4:30pm on Monday; and a solidarity committee meeting on Thursday at 7pm, location to be determined. The subpoenas ask activists to appear before a grand jury in Chicago, where a solidarity vigil was held last night as a raid was still ongoing in that city, on or around October 19, reported a Chicago Indymedia post.

Those following international news on Friday noticed an eerie coincidence--or perhaps not. On Thursday, the Colombian military assassinated the #2 leader of the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, or FARC. On Friday, President Obama met at the U.N. General Assembly to schmooze with incoming Colombian President Juan Manual Santos, leading to clear suspicion of U.S. involvement in the assassination. FARC is among the resistance groups termed "foreign terrorist organizations" by the U.S. and is listed in the warrant for Mick Kelly's residence. Another bit of interesting timing: just earlier this week, the FBI's Inspector General criticized the FBI for lying to the Justice Department about raids and surveillence of peace groups after 9/11.

Videos: Friday Afternoon Press Conference | Mick Kelly Interview: Guns drawn, FBI raids peace activist's apartment, "Don't F*ck With Our Activists" (The Uptake) More: Original TCIMC Story | Fight Back News: Activists Denounce Raids | Nigel Parry: FBI Raids of Pro-Palestine Activist Homes | CIMC: Activists Respond in Chicago | Twin Cities Daily Planet coverage | World Socialist Web Site coverage Corporate Coverage: New York Times | Chicago Tribune Keep watching TC Indymedia for coverage of this ongoing story--receive breaking movement news text message alerts via @tcimc on twitter

Updates: At Least Four Minneapolis Houses Raided, Activists Subpoenaed in National FBI "Terror" Expedition Against Antiwar Activists

Submitted by haloka on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 14:11

*New Event* Rally to support activists targeted by recent raids - Mon. Sept. 27th - 4:30 pm FBI Office (111 Washington Ave S. - Downtown Minneapolis)

UPDATE 4pm: The office of the Anti-War Committee was also reportedly raided earlier today. See also: Search warrant PDF for Mick Kelly's residence and subpoena to Chicago grand jury PDF (via TheUptake.org) Earlier: Breaking: At least 4 Mpls homes raided

Press Conference: 4pm, 2911 Park Ave., Minneapolis
Community Meeting: 5:30pm, Walker Church Video [24m via TheUptake.org]

See also: Fight Back News: Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-War and Solidarity Activists' Homes | Video: FBI at Hard Times, Mick Kelly Interview - TheUptake

The social justice community in Minneapolis continued to respond Friday afternoon to the raids of several of its members homes, which started before 7am this morning. (See previous TCIMC article--Minneapolis Houses Raided)

Since then, a dozen activists have been served with grand jury subpoenas, including many in Minneapolis, according to Fight Back News. It is believed the federal grand jury is centered in Chicago, and is investigating alleged ties to "foreign terrorist organizations"--a charge which activists have immediately dismissed as illegitimate and unjustified.

The Star Tribune reported earlier today that according to an FBI spokesperson, a total of six homes were raided in Minneapolis and two in Chicago. This statement is unconfirmed by activists, who have identified at least four of the homes in Minneapolis--one above Hard Times Cafe in Cedar-Riverside, one north of Powderhorn Park, one on Park Avenue near Lake Street and one in Stevens Square. Antiwar leaders have said that other members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization were targeted with raids, surveillance and subpoenas in Michigan, North Carolina and potentially California.

Grand juries are a mechanism historically used to repress and gather information on unpopular social movements; no attorney or judge is present in a grand jury interrogation. Activists who defy grand juries risking imprisonment on civil or criminal contempt.

Outside the raid above Hard Times Cafe, one person at the cafe as the raid began [Video] said that he saw about a dozen FBI agents, some with large guns, outside. Conflicting reports from the other raids indicate that agents attempted to keep their presence low-key, without large marked vehicles or heavily armed SWAT teams--although Jess Sundin told the AP that a SWAT team entered her house first, then left to be replaced by other agents. But outside Hard Times Cafe, a number of the unmarked vehicles included at least one with an "official business" sign from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) in addition to the FBI.

The mood outside the cafe and apartment was one of defiance, with activists and supporters vowing solidarity in the face of repression. Early in the afternoon, agents began to remove boxes with unknown contents from the apartment, and eventually departed. The search warrant for 1823 Riverside [PDF] called for search and seizure of such a laundry list of items, including electronic equipment, documents, financial records, literature, and more, that "it might have well just said 'everything'," someone remarked after seeing a copy. [Grand Jury Subpoena PDF]

The Uptake, in addition to almost every local corporate news outlet, was present at two of the raids in the morning and posted a short video report on their site. (Photo credit above)

No immediate information was available Friday afternoon about the raids in Chicago. The FBI spokesman, however, said that like in the Minneapolis raids, there were no arrests. He added to the AP in Chicago that there was no "imminent threat to the community" - raising the question of how anyone could be suspected of terrorist ties without an imminent danger.

The answer, of course, lies in the increasing trend of the state in using "terrorism" charges to justify repression against activists, lately in Minnesota through the Green Scare, the RNC 8, and as many have predicted might happen, now against antiwar activists as well.

Star Tribune coverage (with photos/video)

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At least four houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in Michigan, NC, Chicago targeted

Submitted by smiley on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:20

Latest Update with videos - 9/25 a.m.

See TCIMC afternoon update -- At least four known houses were raided this morning including another location at Stevens Square. There were also at least two subpoenas served on activists. Keep on alert! Know your rights! Don't talk to the FBI!

Community Meeting tonight! 5:30 pm Walker Church - Video [24m via TheUptake.org]

On Friday morning, three houses in the Minneapolis area are believed to have been raided by SWAT Teams. While we have few details right now, the F.B.I. appears to be targeting people associated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Besides the raids in Minneapolis, houses in Michigan, North Carolina and Chicago were also targeted.