Are you an anti-war activist?
Are you ready to let the FBI rummage through your home thinking that you are "providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations, like Colombia?
Join us for a Day of Action around the country on January 25th, as groups stand in solidarity with anti-war activists who will appear before a Federal Grand Jury because of their activities.
It's about 7 AM and there's pounding on your family's front door. Who in the world could be there at this time of the morning?
Maybe there are 10 to 12 FBI agents ready to go through your stuff because of your previous activity advocating for human rights, especially if these actions have been directed at hot spots in the world, such as Palestine or Colombia.
This is what happened in eight homes and offices of peace activists in Chicago and Minneapolis, as well as in other cities in our country last fall. These people will be appearing before a Federal Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 25th because of their suspected activities of "providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations."
Coleen Rowley, a Times Magazine Person of the Year in 2002 and a former FBI special agent and whistle blower herself, is one of those who have been subpoenaed as a result of the search at her residence. She calls this organized raid an "Orwellian turn on domestic peace and social justice groups."
Another person whose home was systematically searched was the home of Joe Iosbaker, a steward for the SEIU trade union. Because of his passion for labor issues, he visited Colombia in support of laborers there who are not being allowed to organize under the country's current leadership. FBI agents went through his music collection, his children's artwork and his son's poetry journal. Joe is also a staff adviser for the Students of a Democratic Society at the University of Illinois.
This turn of events especially hits home for me because peace activists in the city of my alma mater in Iowa City, Iowa were followed for months in parks, libraries, bars, restaurants and even had their trash inspected in order for the FBI to file a 300 page report on their work.
Rowley on Democracy Now suggests that agents "look for real terrorists instead of peace groups." She also said, "Obama, two years later (after his inauguration) never appointed any people on any five seats of the board (Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board recommended by the 9/11 Commission), which is incredible in light of what's gone on, even including revelations of torture and warrantless monitoring."
If you, peace activist or not, are also concerned, please attend the Day of Action demonstration at the Federal Building in Downtown Asheville on Tuesday, January 25th, 4:30 PM. This event is an act of solidarity with other activists who will go before the Grand Jury on the same day.
As one suspect Mike Kelly said, "An injury to one is an injury to all!"