FBI raids homes of several Twin Cities war protesters

FBI raids homes of several prominent members of Twin Cities antiwar movement

Search warrants were executed on six addresses in Minneapolis and at two addresses in Chicago in an "investigation into activities concerning the material support of terrorism."

By RANDY FURST and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: September 24, 2010

The homes of six Twin Cities activists, including three prominent leaders of the Twin Cities antiwar movement, were raided Friday by the FBI in what an agency spokesman described as an "investigation into activities concerning the material support of terrorism."

An FBI spokesman Steve Warfield confirmed that six Minneapolis homes were raided this morning.

Among the homes raided were the apartments of Jessica Sundin, who was a principal leader of the mass antiwar march of 10,000 on the opening day of the Republican National Convention two years ago, and Mick Kelly, who was prominent in that protest and among those who announced plans to march on the Democratic National Convention in Minneapolis, if the city is selected to host it in 2012. Neither has been arrested.

Kelly said in an interview this morning he had "absolutely not" been involved in illegal activities.

A raid was also in progress at the home of Meredith Aby, another local antiwar leader who was frequently the spokeswoman for the march on the GOP convention. Sundin and another source said that a fourth raid took place at the home of Tracy Molm, a leading activist in Students for a Democratic Society, an organization at the University of Minnesota. The source said raids occurred at the addresses of two other activists whose names he did not disclose.

Supporters of Sundin, Kelly and Aby had gathered on the sidewalks outside each of the residences.

Ted Dooley, an attorney, said he had reviewed the search warrant issued in the raid on Kelly's apartment. "It's a probe into the political beliefs of American citizens and to any organization anywhere that opposes the American imperial design," he said.

*Breaking News* At least four houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in Michigan, NC, Chicago targeted.

Fri, 09/24/2010 Twin cities Indymedia

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

Urgent - Community Meeting tonight! 5:30 pm Walker Church 3104 16th Ave S regarding the FBI Raids

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.

Raids occurred at 1823 Riverside, above the Hard Times Cafe, and the 2900 block of Park Ave. One other raid is reported, as well. Outside Hard Times Cafe, three unmarked black SUVs (one with an Illinois license plate) sat in the parking area as of 10am, when a lawyer observed 8 FBI agents sitting in the residence examining materials. Otherwise the scene was calm.

Agents had broken in the door there at 7am Friday morning, breaking an aquarium in the process.

The Federal search warrants appear to be focusing on seizing electronic devices, international travel, and allegeing "co-conspirators." They do not authorize arrests.

The search warrant for 1823 Riverside, the residence of activist Mick Kelly, sought information "regarding ability to pay for his own travel" to Palestine and Columbia from 2000 to today. The warrant hyped potential documents indicating any contacts/facilitation with FARC, PFLP, and Hezbollah - what it called "FTOs" or "foreign terrorist organizations". It mentioned seeking information on the alleged "facilitation of other individuals in the US to travel to Colombia, Palestine and any other foreign location ins upport of foreign terrorist organizations including but not limited to FARC, PFLP and Hezbollah".

The wording of the warrant appears to indicate the government seeks to create divisions among social justice and international soldarity activists by hyping alleged connections to what they call "foreign terrorist organizations."

The warant also sought information on "Kelly's travel to and from and presence in MN, and other foreign countries [sic] to which Kelly has taveleled as part of his work in FRSO [Freedom Road Socialist Organization", as well as materials related to his finances and the finances of FRSO, and all computer and electronic devices.

The federal warrant was signed by Judge Susan Nelson at 3:30pm yesterday, September 23.

More information as this story breaks. If you have info, please publish it to TCIMC as a comment or a new story.

Palestinian Detainees To Go On Hunger Strike

Friday September 24, 2010 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Approximately 7,500 Palestinian political prisons held by Israel will start, on Saturday September 25, a hunger strike demanding that Israel halt its violations and attacks against them, and to improve their living conditions.

File - Wissam Nassar/MaanImages

Riyadh al-Ashqar, head of the Media Department at the Ministry of Detainee in Gaza, called on the Palestinian people to act in solidarity with the detainees and to form a lobbying power that boosts the detainees in achieving their legitimate rights.

Al-Ashqar said that the detainees face unimaginable suffering in Israeli prisons, detention camps and interrogation centers, and added that Israel is readying to use ultimate force against the detainees should they hold a strike.

He held Israel and the Israeli Prison Administration (IPA) fully responsible for the lives of the detainees and added that dozens of detainees were recently wounded after being attacked by the soldiers who broke into their rooms and searched them.

Al-Ashqar demanded international human rights groups, mainly the International Red Cross, to intervene and to send probe committees that would observe the illegal Israeli measures and attacks against the detainees.

Furthermore, al-Ashqar called on the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, to withdrew from the talks with Israel as, according to him, such talks provide Israel with legitimacy to continue its crimes against the Palestinian detainees.

Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Palestinian Center for Defending the Detainees, said that, through their strike, the detainees want to send a message to the world to inform the International Community that they are deprived of their basic rights guaranteed by international law.

Alert: FBI Raids On Activists [Updated!]

September 24, 2010 by Jimmy Higgins firemtn.blogspot.com

I just saw a Facebook post from Steff Yorek, whom I have known for many years, in Minneapolis. It reads, in full,

The FBI is executing a search warrant on our house right now. The claim to be looking for evidence of material support for so-called Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The FARC and PFLP are mentioned by name. This is taking place in multiple cities across the country. I have been served with a warrant to appear before a Grand Jury. It's an outrageous fishing expedition.


Steff further reports that they have lawyered up--and clammed up.

I have no way of knowing how broad this attack is and whether it is limited to supporters of the Colombian and Palestinian struggles, or if other groups on the FTO list are included. Please post any further information you have as a comment, and if they knock on your door, warrant or no, remember that YOU ARE NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SAY ANYTHING TO THEM.

So don't.

UPDATE:

Early news stories say that six houses in Minneapolis and two in Chicago have been raided. No arrests at this point, but Grand Jury warrants served. A Facebook post reports workplace visits to harass activists as well.

This short description of your rights in such a situation, by the Center for Constitutional Rights, is a must read for everyone, even if you think you've never done anything that might attract the attention of the Feds.

Ernest Withers’ reports on Martin Luther King went to COINTELPRO command

September 22nd, 2010 Examiner.com

by Michael Richardson

The revelation by the Memphis Commercial Appeal that acclaimed
photographer Ernest Withers was an informant on the civil rights movement
to the Memphis office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has put
COINTELPRO back in the news.

Operation COINTELPRO was a vast, illegal and clandestine program ordered
by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to “disrupt” political activity that
Hoover felt undesirable. Spanning a number of years and targeting
thousands of individuals and groups nationwide, COINTELPRO came to
dominate FBI priorities in the 1960’s as Hoover stepped up his own private
war on American citizens engaged in political activity.

Hoover felt the growing black power movement was America’s most serious
domestic threat and targeted its leaders including Martin Luther King.
Although King preached non-violence, King’s high profile made him a
COINTELPRO target and the subject of close surveillance and
counter-intelligence plots.

Withers’ reputation will forever be marred by his stint from 1968 to 1970
as a COINTELPRO informant and his new exposure as an extortionist and
influence-peddler. As a state employee Withers pled guilty to extortion
of $8,500 from a bar owner. Withers was also fired as a local policeman
and narrowly escaped prosecution for attempting to arrange
cash-for-freedom deals for prisoners.

Withers’ Beale Street photography studio put him in the center of Memphis
black life and he became a human institution in the community. Working
the nightclubs after dark and his photo studio by day, Withers dropped
everything else when a civil rights event needed recording.

Withers reported to the Memphis FBI agent in charge of local COINTELPRO
duties, William Lawrence. There is no evidence that Withers was aware of
the secret COINTELPRO mandate or that he talked with anyone else higher in
the FBI chain of command. However, Withers’ reports were studied closely
at the highest level in Washington, D.C.

Although J. Edgar Hoover commanded daily operations in FBI headquarters
which he called the “Seat of Government” and read many of the reports sent
to him from around the nation, Hoover’s initials are absent from Withers’
reports. Instead, Hoover relied on a directorate to make summaries and
brief him on developments in cities and groups he was interested in.

Two names that do appear on the secret COINTRELPRO reports from Memphis
are William Sullivan and George Moore, who both show up on distribution
lists and initialed or signed the reports indicating they had read and
approved them.

Sullivan, long the third in command of the FBI, was chief architect of
COINTELPRO while Moore headed the “Racial Intelligence” unit of
COINTELPRO. Both men despised King, as did Hoover, and they followed
information supplied by Withers closely.

Hoover first ordered wiretaps and hidden microphones on King in the late
1950’s on the premise that King was a suspected Communist agent. Hoover
later ended the bugging of King when he became concerned of exposure.
Robert Kennedy, as Attorney General, ordered the next round of secret
monitoring of King to keep tabs on the civil rights movement.

Sullivan, on his own initiative, would order a third round of
eavesdropping on King in the mid-1960’s for political intelligence.
King’s “I Have A Dream” speech outraged Sullivan who wrote to Hoover that
King was “demagogic”.

Sullivan advised Hoover, “We must mark [King] now, if we have not done so
before, as the most dangerous Negro of the future in this Nation…..it may
be unrealistic to limit ourselves as we have been doing to legalistic
proofs or definitely conclusive evidence that would stand up in testimony
in court or before Congressional Committees.”

In December of 1963 Sullivan convened a headquarters meeting of various
FBI offices about the investigation of King. Sullivan told the assembled
agents that King was “unfit” and declared, “We must continue to keep close
watch on King’s personal activities.”

After King was named “Man of the Year” by TIME magazine, Sullivan gave his
own “trespass” order and arranged for the installation of microphones in
King’s hotel rooms. Sullivan began an aggressive bugging program sending
FBI sound teams and “black-bag” experts around the country as King
traveled.

Sullivan wrote a memo presaging the anonymous letter advising King to
commit suicide he is also presumed to have authored.

“We will at the proper time when it can be done without embarrassment to
the Bureau, expose King as an immoral opportunist who is not a sincere
person but is exploiting the racial situation for his own personal gain.”

During the time Withers was providing information to Lawrence, Moore and
Sullivan were using the secret reports in their campaign against
King--even after King’s 1968 assassination. Withers passed on information
that he gleaned while attending King’s funeral.

In January 1969, Moore sent Sullivan a memo warning of a move to make
King’s birthday a national holiday. Moore urged Sullivan to have material
ready from the hotel room tapes to play for the incoming Nixon
administration in an effort to stop the new national holiday.

Sullivan passed on Moore’s suggestion to Hoover and on January 23, 1969,
just three days in after Nixon’s inauguration, Hoover sent the Attorney
General designee, John Mitchell, a Top Secret memo.

“In view of this [national holiday plans] there is enclosed a document
regarding the communist influence on King during his career and
information regarding King’s highly immoral personal behavior. For your
information, a copy of this document is also being furnished to the
President.”

Eric McDavid's Appeal Has Been Denied

Dear friends,

It is with heavy hearts that we write to tell you that Tuesday, September 21st, the 9th circuit court denied Eric's appeal of his conviction and sentencing. Given all that has happened these past 4+ years, this news isn't shocking so much as it is maddening and upsetting. The state has, from the beginning, used dirty tricks and lies to hold Eric captive. As many have said, they wished to make an example of him...

And in that, at least, they have been successful. But not in the way that they might have wished. Because for us, Eric has been a constant example of strength, courage and integrity. Of staying the course, even when the deck is totally stacked against him. And of not losing one's Self in the midst of potentially crushing adversity.

This is a very difficult time for Eric and his loved ones. Please send Eric a note of support to let him know he is not forgotten. For more info on how to write Eric, you can visit his website at: www.supporteric.org

Yours,
SPS

PS
Eric's lawyer is pursuing a petition for a rehearing. This is not quite the end of the road as far as appeals are concerned. We will keep you updated on any progress.

If you would like to read the 9th Circuit's decision, it can be found here:

http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2010/09/21/08-10250.pdf

FBI spied on activists/ Imams gather in NY - Democracy Now

Democracy Now Sept. 21, 2010

Probe: FBI Improperly Spied on Activist Groupspartment probe has found the FBI
improperly monitored activist groups and individuals between 2001 and 2006. The
investigation covered FBI spying on the Thomas Merton Center, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, Greenpeace, The Catholic Worker, and a Quaker peace activist.
The FBI was found to have opened and extended the monitoring despite lacking grounds
to suspect unlawful activity. Some Greenpeace members were placed on a terrorism
watch list after agents wrongly designated their nonviolent civil disobedience as
"Acts of Terrorism." In one case, FBI Director Robert Mueller was found to have
provided Congress with false information in claiming a 2002 Pittsburgh antiwar rally
was monitored because of intelligence that persons with links to international
terrorism would be present. Investigators say Mueller’s false testimony was
unintentional because he was wrongly informed.

Muslim Leaders Denounce Islamophobia

Islamic leaders from across the United States have gathered in New York to discuss
growing Islamophobia in the wake of the controversy over the proposed Islamic
cultural center in Lower Manhattan. Speaking before the Islamic Leadership Council,
Nihad Awad of the Council of American-Islamic Relations criticized the campaign
against the Park51 project.

Nihad Awad: "We believe that the entire nation has been engulfed into
misunderstandings and misinformation. There has been a campaign against this project
that we believe was unfair and unnecessary. We also understand that there are some
legitimate concerns and fears that came out of the 9/11 tragedy, which all our
leaders here and Muslims nationwide and worldwide have condemned. So it is unfair to
associate this building, this community, with 9/11."

Celebrate the Life of Rev. Lucius Walker, Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!

Oakland: More Arrests, Court Support Requested

September 21, 2010 Oakland 100 Support Committee

We have received new info that as many as 14 of the roughly 70 people
cited and released for misdemeanors on July 8th, who were mostly rounded
up at random, are now having charges brought on them 10 weeks later. The
charges include remaining at the scene of a riot, unlawful assembly, and
rioting. Another 4 people were arrested last week on felony burglary
charges. The Oakland 100 Support Committee is reaching out to defendants
and their families to find out which defendants would like a show of
support and solidarity in the court room for their court proceedings.

WE ARE HEREBY CALLING ON THE GREATER COMMUNITY FOR JUSTICE FOR OSCAR GRANT
AND AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE TO COME OUT AND STAND WITH THOSE FOLKS
DEFENDING THEMSELVES IN THIS CURRENT STAGE OF REPRESSION, SOME OF WHOM
FACE MORE JAIL TIME THAN THE COP WHO KILLED OSCAR GRANT IN THE FIRST
PLACE!

Support Sara in pre-trial!
Come to court Weds 9/22 at 9am, Dept. 11 at the Rene Davidson Courthouse,
1225 Fallon.

Support Todd and Adrien in pre-trial!
Come to court Thurs Weds 9/28 at 2pm, Dept. 115 at the Wiley E. Manuel
Courthouse, 661 Washington.
more info here

Support Rickey in pre-trial!
Come to court Thurs Weds 9/30 at 9am, Dept. 115 at the Wiley E. Manuel
Courthouse, 661 Washington.
Based on a photo in which he is standing outside on Broadway St, the court
alleges that 21 year-old Oakland High grad Rickey committed 2nd degree
burglary. He has been jailed now for over 60 days, his bail set at
$45,000. FREE RICKEY!

Support Art in trial!
Come to court Tues 10/12 at 9am, Dept. 11 at the Rene Davidson Courthouse,
1225 Fallon.
Art Jackson, a 48-year old computer draftsman and Oakland resident spent
45 days in jail on a bogus 2nd degree burglary charge.

Courtroom solidarity: July 8th arrestees

from indybay.org

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/09/22/18659449.php

START DATE: Thursday September 23
TIME: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location Details:
Dept. 107 at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland (661 Washington at 7th
Street)
Event Type: Court Date
Folks are still being hauled into court in connection with the events of
July 8th (fthe day of the Mehserle verdict). If you are available, please
come out to the Wiley Manual Courthouse and show your solidarity with
those newly charged.

At least three arraignments will take place Thursday, September 23rd.
Another one is set for Thursday, September 30th, at 9am. The arraignments
will take place at 9am in Dept. 107 at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland
(661 Washington at 7th Street).

Of folks recently arrested, apparently four have been charged with
felonies. Three of them are still in custody. There are over a dozen folks
newly (?) charged with protest-related misdemeanors.


http://supporttheoakland100.wordpress.com/

MXGM & PEP Unity Brunch for the Cuban 5 This Sunday, September 26th, 2010 at 1pm

Join The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and The Popular Education Project to
Free the Cuban 5 for a special UNITY BRUNCH for the Cuban 5.

Sunday September 26, 2010
1pm
CSS 105 E. 22nd St. 4th FL Conference Room
Take the 6 train to E. 23rd St.

The Cuban 5 are five U.S. held political prisoners incarcerated for 12 years for
fighting against terrorism in both the United states and their homeland Cuba.
September 12th through October 12th is Free the Cuban 5 Month; a period of time
dedicated to raising awareness of their case and the U.S. government’s continued
hostile actions against the Cuban people. Come learn about a case that has the
support of people like Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, Angela Davis and many other
influential Artists and activists.

Program: Mission Against Terror: A 48-minute documentary, which shows the 45-year
history of terrorism against Cuba, and tells the story of the five men known as "the
Cuban Five" whose mission was to help put an end to that terror. Benjamin Ramos
Rosado, The Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5, will talk about the
current campaigns and actions in support of the Cuban 5.

Brunch will be provided For more info. contact: lalitc@mxgm.org