Protest FBI Raids and Harassment of Antiwar Activists

All stories represent the views of their authors and not necessarily Tokyo Progressive

United for Peace and Justice stands in solidarity with the anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI on Friday, September 24.  Homes in Chicago and Mineapolis were raide.  Doors were kicked in during the early morning raids and personal belongings including childrens’ artwork, posters of Martin Luther King, Jr, were taken, as well as cell phones, computers and boxes of paper records.  About a dozen activists from Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury. 

The FBI emphasized that no arrests were made, but that evidence was being collected regarding the possible ‘material support’ of terrorism.  The ‘material support’ statute is so broadly written that it can, and does, criminalize international peace-building activities whose only connection to terrorism is to reduce it.  

Only one week ago, the Justice Department’s own Inspector General released a report documenting political surveillance by the FBI.  Friday’s raids are the latest violations by a recidivist agency whose abuses have unfortunately recurred throughout its history.

The FBI’s raids threaten the First Amendment, our Peace Movement, and reflect the dangerous expansion of guilt by association pervading the Justice Department’s “counter-terror” prosecutions.  They cannot stand, and the FBI should be held accountable for any abuses.  Activists are encouraged to join demonstrations at FBI and/or Federal buildings in cities around the country:

Monday 9/27:
Minneapolis, MN – 4:30, FBI Office Monday, 111 Washington Ave. S.
 
Chicago, IL – 4:30 Fedeeral Building, Federal Plaza.
 
Kalamazoo, MI – 4:30 Federal Building, 410 W Michigan Ave
 
Salt Lake City, Utah – 9 AM at Federal Building
 
Durham, NC – 12 noon Federal Building, 323 E Chapel Hill St

Buffalo, NY- 4:30 pm at FBI Building – Corner of So. Elmwood Ave. & Niagara St.
Gainesville, FL – Monday, 4:30 PM at FBI Building
Boston, MA – 4 to 6, JFK Federal Building, Government Center
 
Tuesday 9/28:

NYC, NY –  4:30 to 6pm Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza,
 
Newark, NJ – 5 to 6pm Federal Building Broad Street
 
Philadelphia, PA – 4:30pm Federal Building, 6th & Market,
 
Washington DC –  4:30 – 5:30 FBI Building, 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW.
 
Boston, MA –  5 pm, JFK Federal Building
 
Detroit, MI –  4:30 pm McNamara Federal Building, Michigan Ave. at Cass

Raleigh, NC –  9 am. Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave
 
Asheville, NC –  5 pm Federal Building,
 
Atlanta, GA – Noon, FBI Building
 
Los Angeles, CA – 5 pm, Downtown Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles St

Tucson, AZ – 5 pm Federal Building
 
Wednesday 9/29:

Albany, NY -5 to 6 pm Federal Building