Secret FBI docs reveal attack on democratic rights of anti-war, international solidarity activists

[Newsjock]

http://www.stopfbi.net/2011/5/18/secret-fbi-documents-reveal-attack-democratic-rights-anti-war-and-international-solidarity

FBI agents, who raided the home of Mick Kelly and Linden Gawboy, took with them thousands of pages of documents and books, along with computers, cell phones and a passport. By mistake, they also left something behind; the operation plans for the raid, “Interview questions” for anti-war and international solidarity activists, duplicate evidence collection forms, etc. The file of secret FBI documents was accidently mixed in with Gawboy’s files, and was found in a filing cabinet on April 30. We are now releasing them to the public.

The raid at the Kelly/Gawboy home was one of the many coordinated raids at Minneapolis homes and the offices of the Anti-War Committee on September 24, 2010. Two additional homes were raided in Chicago. To date, 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists have received subpoenas to appear in front of a Chicago Grand Jury headed by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Taken as a whole, the secret FBI file shows the willful disregard for the rights of anti-war and international solidarity activists – particularly the first amendment rights to freedom of speech and association. The documents make it clear that legal activity in solidarity with the peoples of Colombia and Palestine is being targeted. The documents use McCarthy-era language, which gives one the feel that the 1950s red scare has returned. And finally, the documents show the chilling plans for the armed raid that took place at the home of Kelly and Gawboy on September 24, 2010.

The documents show that public advocacy for the people of Colombia was the genesis of the FBI investigation. The ‘Operations Order’ for the FBI SWAT Team states “The captioned case was initially predicated on the activities of Meredith Aby and Jessica Rae Sundin in support of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a U.S. State Department designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), to include their travel to FARC controlled territory.”

[gratuitous]

1. According to knowledgeable people

Mick Kelly and Linden Gawboy can just file a tort claim against the FBI for this baseless raid. That'll make it all better. In about three or four years, after the case against the FBI has been thoroughly due processed, a consideration the government isn't willing to extend to its own citizens.

The raid was in 2010, was it? I may have to do a more complete search, but somehow I don't recall candidate Obama promising to execute illegal raids of private homes on extremely thin (okay, non-existent) probable cause justifications. But that's prolly just 'cause I wasn't paying attention. It's really another promise kept! Liberals approve by 92 gazillion percent!

[Puregonzo1188]

2. I like to add that Reagan did similar things to the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El

Salvador.

Had them investigated for aiding a terrorist group. Spied on them for years, infiltrated meetings, tracked people who went to legal, permitted marches, etc.

They never found any evidence linking them to terrorist.

What a surprise.

[bvar22]

3. IIRC, this raid in Minneapolis was a pre-emptive strike...

...against people who "they" thought might commit a crime or cause "disorder" during the Republican Convention in St Paul.

[chill_wind]

4. K & R. n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

5. Well we must be doing SOMETHING right...........

if they're bringing back the "Red Scare".