North Carolina organizers resist grand jury

More than 50 organizers and community members showed up at a rally in front of the Guilford County Courthouse in Greensboro, N.C., on July 31 in solidarity with Katie Yow, a local organizer subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.

Since Jan. 20, organizers and activists have faced scrutiny and intimidation from the state for taking up a banner of resistance at the U.S. presidential inauguration. Mainstream media played out narratives of “violent protestors” and “outside agitators” while, unsurprisingly, ignoring the violence of the police and the ongoing attacks waged on oppressed people by wretched politicians.

At the courthouse, Yow refused to testify and was notified by the assistant U.S. attorney that the government will ask the court to hold her in civil contempt. If charged, Yow could be jailed for up to 18 months.

These grand juries are called under the guise of investigating “organized criminal activity” and are used and held in secrecy to intimidate resistance fighters. Numerous activists and organizers have been targeted by grand juries for their participation in various social movements with the aim of isolating and dividing communities already under siege.

For more information about activities being organized to resist the grand jury and in defense of Katie Yow, visit ncresiststhegrandjury.com.