Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the country

The following is from a press release issued this afternoon in connection with the FBI raids at 7 AM today on anti-war activists in Minneapolis, Chicago, California and North Carolina.
Press Conference: September 24, 2010 4 pm
Location: 2911 Park Ave South, Minneapolis, MN

Anti-war activists and supporters will gather at 4pm at one of the homes raided to speak out against the outrageous FBI raids that took place this morning in Minneapolis and around the U.S.

Activists will denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, October 24, 2010, at 7:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.

"This is a blatant attempt by the FBI to silence activists who struggle for peace and justice. Standing in solidarity with people fighting against US imperialism is not a crime!" stated Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee, one of the activists whose home was raided.

"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI in Michigan. "They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America."

This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America.

Press Conference is organized by the Anti-War Committee, and supporting organizations WAMM, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Welfare Rights Committee.