Support grows for activists facing FBI repression

Also see:

• Black Workers for Justice on FBI raids
• Labor Council resolution denounces FBI raids
• FIST ‘stands shoulder to shoulder’ with activists
• National Network on Cuba condemns FBI actions
• Solidarity from India

The movement is growing ever more united in defense of activists whose homes the FBI invaded on Sept. 24 in a coordinated attack on the anti-imperialist and anti-war movement.

Within 10 days of the initial home invasions, supporters held protest demonstrations in 43 cities, according to an International Action Center release, most in front of FBI, Department of Justice or other government offices. E-mail and telephone protests are set for Oct. 4 and a second wave of pickets and rallies is set for Oct. 5, which is the first day some of the raids’ targets are scheduled to appear before a grand jury in Chicago.

Pittsburgh, Sept. 28. WW photo: Kelly Valdez

The people who live in the seven homes the FBI raided are members or leaders of the Minneapolis Antiwar Committee, whose office was raided; the Palestine Solidarity Group; the Colombia Action Network; the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian political prisoner held in the U.S.); Students for a Democratic Society; and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Those subpoenaed to testify before grand juries pursuing government “fishing expeditions” face the possibility of being sent to federal prison if they refuse to testify, at least for the duration of the grand jury. While the possibility of repression is real, the FBI has been unable to isolate the activists politically, as these kinds of attacks have sometimes succeeded in doing in the past.

The activists and their supporters set up the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (StopFBI.net) to coordinate the protest actions and news about the case. As of Oct. 4, some 46 organizations had issued messages of solidarity, with links on the Stop FBI site.

Philadelphia, Sept. 28. WW photo: Joe Piette

In cooperation with the committee, the International Action Center has set up a petition campaign to support those under attack. As of 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, some 2,140 signatures had generated more than 200,000 messages to government figures demanding an end to the persecution of the activists. (iacenter.org/stopfbi)

One of those whose home was invaded, Jess Sundin, a leader of the Minneapolis Antiwar Committee, said: “These raids and subpoenas are an attack on anti-war and other progressive movements. It is an attack on our freedom to speak, our freedom to assemble with like-minded people, and our freedom to tell the government that their actions and policies are wrong. It is an attempt to clear the way for more wars and occupations of other countries by the U.S. military.”

Protests in dozens of cities

N.Y. Councilperson Charles Barron WW photo: John Catalinotto

It was apparent that the entire anti-imperialist, anti-racist and anti-war movement also saw it that way, as did progressive legal organizations like the National Lawyers Guild and the Committee for Constitutional Rights and numerous unions and labor councils.

Since the demonstrations Workers World reported in our last issue, there have been actions in dozens of cities. Among them were Houston, Atlanta, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadephia, Denver, New York and Detroit. Also Newark, N.J.; Gainesville, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee. The following summarizes some of the direct reports.

In Chicago, some 500 people picketed and chanted outside Chicago FBI Headquarters on Sept. 28, where they expressed special support for the three Chicago activists targeted. Among the crowd were trade unionists, students, and anti-war and Palestine solidarity activists, all outraged by the FBI raids. Stephanie Weiner and Joe Iosbaker, whose home was raided the morning of Sept. 24 and who are two of the 12 people handed subpoenas, were at the protest, joined by their son Tre, according to a story on FightBack.news.

In Tucson, Ariz., pedestrians and motorists passing by were hearing about the raids for the first time but were making encouraging comments to the people picketing the Federal Building, said Paul Teitelbaum. “When you say, ‘Stop the raids!’ in Arizona, most people think about ICE raids against the undocumented. The use of the FBI to target a different group within the working class demonstrates that it really is a class issue.”

In New York City on Sept. 28 nearly 200 people marched around the Federal Building and then gathered in front for a short rally initiated by the IAC. Charles Barron, the Freedom Party candidate for governor, made a sharp attack on FBI repression. Barron was among the dozen or so representatives of the New York movement who addressed the crowd.

In San Francisco on Sept. 28 more than 150 activists picketed in front of the San Francisco Federal Building in a protest organized by the United National Anti-War Committee. Reflecting the support from that city’s labor movement, Dave Welsh read a support statement from the San Francisco Labor Council. Darah from the Union of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University and Dr. Masao Suzuki, a professor from Skyline College and an activist from San Jose, also spoke, reports Judy Greenberg.

Supporters were also able to get out much information on this struggle at the massive workers’ gathering in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 2.