It's out of control, and it's all taking place as people smile and go shopping, and keep drinking the Obama Kool-aid of "Change We Can Believe." Freedom dies. What's important is not who these people are, but the fact that they were engaged in clearly protected speech when subpoenaed to explain their political views to a McCarthy like witch-hunt. This generation will be denounced and reviled as those who said nothing when they started coming to take them away. This is hard on the heels of Obama announcing an executive order for indefinite detention (of Guantanamo prisoners today, we don't know who tomorrow,) some weeks after the first wave of hippie-punching in the Twin Cities, and long after the administration claimed it had a list of American citizens it was giving itself the authority to assassinate Meanwhile Obama shores up his social liberal base with issues like DADT,
the repeal of which I wholeheartedly support, mind you, but we're talking about the First Amendment here.
Then congress sneaks through a $725 billion defense bill last week, an all time record high, without debate.
First they came for the unionists, and I said nothing...
Meanwhile Bradley Manning's mind goes to pieces in isolation before he is convicted of a thing, although Dick Cheney walks free after leaking a covert agents' identity which damages national security, and the Supreme Court allows prosecutions which outlaw peace activismwhich seems "coordinated with" the goals of groups listed as terrorist organizations. This could mean if I say, don't kill Palestinian children, and Hamas says don't kill Palestinian children, then I am coordinated with Hamas.
Then perhaps the most chilling development of all: a new website called wearethepeopleofthebook.com which "tracks" critics of US foreign policy who are merely private citizens expressing an opinion, especially regarding Israel, by putting their pictures and alleged views and associations on the Internet. We're talking about neighborhood peace groups and people like New Hampshire Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee, and Unitarian Universalists. Let's get this straight, pay very close attention here: If someone doesn't like your opinion now you can find your picture splashed all over the Internet and associated with Hamas. More Change You Can Believe. Take a look at the site. You might be on it. This is the kind of persecution of critics of US foreign policy which the McCarthyite climate has enabled.
I'm for the repeal of DADT as much as anyone else, but something big is going on.
This year, for the holiday season, people, let us stretch our hands and then our arms like a creature awakening, your freedom limbs, if you will. It's time to wake up. Call the White House. Freedom is something that gets easier to use each time you do it. It may not do any good. That's not why you're doing it. It's so, when your grown grandchildren are watching a documentary of the FBI raids on peace activists in the early 21st century, you can look them in the eye and say, before they even ask you, yes dear, I said something. Please, don't be an American Idiot (video below)
"OBAMA, CALL OFF THE DOGS ON ACTIVISTS! STOP THE REPRESSION."
White House:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
PRESS RELEASE: FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Expands Witch Hunt
The FBI came unannounced to knock on doors in Chicago this morning. FBI agent Robert Parker, under orders from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office, delivered a subpoena to Maureen Murphy. Murphy, like several other individuals served subpoenas, is an organizer with the Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago. In total, four new subpoenas were handed out in the Chicago area.
This continues the repression unleashed by Fitzgerald on the anti-war movement since September 24th, when fourteen subpoenas were delivered to anti-war, labor, and solidarity activists in coordinated raids involving more than 70 federal agents. Armed FBI agents raided homes, taking computers, phones, passports, documents, notebooks, and even children’s artwork. A total of 23 subpoenas have been served to activists around the country.
Maureen Murphy said, "Along with several others, I am being summoned to appear before the Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 25th, in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. We are being targeted for the work we do to end U.S. funding of the Israeli occupation, ending the war in Afghanistan and ending the occupation of Iraq. What is at stake for all of us is our right to dissent and organize to change harmful US foreign policy." Ms. Murphy is also the Managing Editor of the widely-read website, The Electronic Intifada.
In addition, three women in Minneapolis - Tracy Molm, Anh Pham, and Sara Martin - are still threatened with reactivated subpoenas by Fitzgerald’s office and new Grand Jury dates. Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression explained, "It is likely the three individuals, like all the others so far, will continue to refuse to take part in Fitzgerald’s witch hunt. Fitzgerald can then call for putting them in jail as long as he wants."
For more information: www.stopfbi.net