Supporters of Academic Freedom Call for an Immediate End to the Investigation of Steve Kurtz and the Critical Arts Ensemble.

On June 15th, a grand jury convened to consider charges of bioterrorism against Critical Arts Ensemble member and University at Buffalo professor Steve Kurtz. The Critical Arts Ensemble Defense Fund organized a demonstration in Buffalo to demand an end to the investigation. About 200 demonstrators rallied in front of Buffalo city hall, two blocks from the grand jury location. Artists, civil liberties activists, and students from around the country picketed for about an hour with signs condemning attacks on free speech, the patriot act, and affirming the importance of academic freedom. Rallies in support of Kurtz were also held Tuesday in San Francisco, CA, Amsterdam, and Vienna.

Several news outlets have reported on the case. The Washington Post has an article detailing the raid on Kurtz home in Mid May.

Gregg Bordowitz, a professor at the art institute of Chicago and one of the organizers of the event, described the critical art ensemble as ”a group of artists who question the ways that government, science and industry often come together in ways that don’t benefit the interests of the public.” He told Indymedia that this case is about the ability to use art and ideas to initiate public debate peacefully.

Sharon Hayes, an artist from New York City, drove overnight with eight others in a van from New York City. Hayes described the work of Critical Arts Ensemble “The work of the Critical Arts Ensemble is so important in this particular historic moment because what CAE does, very very clearly, is they take highly specialized discourse, knowledge and information and they turn it into public, understandable information, facts and processes that a large public can understand.”

Many Local activists came to specifically protest the Patriot Act as an attack on constitutional rights. Joan Healy, a freelance writer from East Aurora, NY, walked the picket line carrying a sign that read “Repeal the Patriot Act Before They Start Burning Books.” She said that she feels “our country, the country she once knew is slowly slipping away.” While the specific charges are not known, according to the subpoenas, the FBI is seeking charges under Section 175 of the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989, which has been expanded by the USA PATRIOT Act. As expanded, this law prohibits the possession of "any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system" without the justification of "prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose."

The results of Tuesday's grand jury hearing are still not officially known. However, the FBI continues to subpoena witnesses for further grand jury hearings continuing at least until June 29th.