Statement from Friends for a Non-Violent World (FNVW)
Statement from Friends for a Non-Violent World
The FBI raids of anti-war activists in September, 2010, are symptomatic of a trend: the erosion of our fundamental democratic rights in the name of national security and the “war on terror.” In recent years, federal legislation, new Attorney General Guidelines and Supreme Court decisions have made it easier to both criminalize and curtail dissent. Both the Bush and Obama administrations have advocated for, upheld and applied broad and poorly defined federal law and regulations to limit civil liberties.
We expect our government to provide security for its citizens. We recognize the enormous complexities and challenges this entails. Unfortunately, during times of war or fear, our government has abridged constitutional rights. We feel called upon to speak out in defense of our First Amendment and constitutional rights, against the intimidation of advocacy groups, and urge the government not to replicate past injustices upon our own citizens or onto people abroad.
FNVW does not share the perspectives or approaches of some of the groups or activists who were raided. However, First Amendment rights ensure that citizens have a right to express and debate a variety of perspectives free from government scrutiny or interference.
We believe there must be an ongoing public discussion on how national security measures are impacting our democracy. We strongly oppose government efforts to criminalize speech and dissent through the broad interpretation of anti-terrorism law, which is inconsistent with First Amendment guarantees. We call upon our elected officials to restore our constitutional rights.
We urge all FNVW members to ask our Minnesota congressional delegation to:
· Call for Judiciary Committee hearings, similar to the Church committee hearings of 1976, to review the FBI’s implementation of anti-terrorism laws and ensure the First Amendment rights of advocacy groups.
· Work to redefine and limit the legal definition of “material support” so it is not inconsistent with First Amendment guarantees.
· Tighten the broad definitions of domestic terrorism in federal law and reclassify acts such as trespassing and vandalism.
We urge FNVW members to call the Attorney General’s office at 202-353-1555
and demand that he restore, promote and prioritize legislation which supports
constitutional rights and international standards, and to apply strict guidelines
prohibiting the surveillance and targeting of activists.
Bob Nechal, Board President
Erika Thorne, Interim Executive Director
Gail Daneker, Director of Peace Education
*******************************************************
Stay informed. Bookmark:
http://stopfbi.net/People have been subpoenaed to appear at the Federal Grand Jury in Chicago
on the next three Tuesdays, at least: October 5, 12, and 19. At least a dozen people in several cities have received subpoenas, including some whose houses were not raided. Two or three are supposed to testify tomorrow. To my knowledge, all are planning not to speak to the grand jury or answer any questions. At this point, they have that right under
the Fifth Amendment. That may change, if they are granted immunity. Most or all are not going to cooperate in this fishing expedition by the FBI.
It is quite likely that some are going to go to jail for contempt, without any real evidence of guilt of any crime.
Here is what YOU can do:
Call and/or email the President and the Department of Justice. You
should do this whenever you can, but we are especially calling for an
outpouring of support TODAY, the day before the first day of the scheduled
grand jury appearances. Your message for them and others should
concentrate on three main points:
a) End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists!
b) Return all materials seized in the raids!
c) Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists!
Contact information:
i) President Obama: 202-456-1111
email contact form:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact ii) U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder: 202-353-1555
email: askdoj@usdoj.gov
iii) DOJ Inspector General Glenn Fine: 202-514-3435 or 1-800-869-4499
email: inspector.general@usdoj.gov
Sign the national petition. Go to:
http://www.iacenter.org/stopfbi/ Donate! This all costs money, for legal defense, signs and banners,
etc. Also, the confiscated computers need to be replaced so that the AWC
and activists can continue their work.
To donate to the national support group, for legal defense, etc.:
http://stopfbi.net/donate/You can donate online, or send a check to the address listed there.
To donate to the local Anti War Committee (AWC), to replace their
computers and office equipment, and to help their ongoing work:
Donation may be mailed to AWC, 1313 5th St SE, Mpls, MN 55414. For a tax
deduction, you can make the check out to the Anti-War Committee Education
Fund. However you donate, please specify how you would like the funds to
be used. Or donate online at:
http://antiwarcommittee.orgInform yourself and spread the word. Feel free to forward any of my
emails. Go to the websites listed at the end of the news update.
Read more about the Supreme Court case that I believe led to these raids, at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holder_v._Humanitarian_Law_ProjectIt is quite brief, but it is up to date, and has good links, including links to
one of the search warrants and one of the subpoenas. It also has this
link to the text of the Supreme Court decision:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1498.pdfFor some history of the FBI, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CointelproYes, it is just Wikipedia, but it is quite thorough, with good links. The
FBI has been our enemy for a long time!! The purpuse and the tactics of
COINTELPRO continue today. NEVER talk to the FBI!
For some background on the uses and dangers of grand juries, see:
http://grandjuryresistance.org/ Continue the struggle! If we are intimidated, if we stop acting and
speaking, the FBI will have won.
Please help in any way you can.
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