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MINNEAPOLIS—”In an action registering a
significant response to the widespread and growing opposition to the
Obama administration’s latest assault on rights of free speech and
political expression, grand jury subpoenas issued to 14 antiwar
activists whose homes were raided by the FBI on Sept. 24 have been
withdrawn.
Picket lines at a score of FBI offices across
the country were organized almost immediately after the raids,
including a protest of 500 in Minneapolis. Especially significant in
light of the fact that many of the raid victims were union activists,
resolutions condemning the FBI and Department of Justice harassment
have been adopted by a growing number of labor organizations. On Oct.
14 the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body unanimously adopted a
resolution of support for the Midwest antiwar activists, characterizing
the raids and subpoenas as “a dangerous assault on free speech and
association.”
Earlier, on Oct. 1, the state convention of
AFSCME Council 5, representing 46,000 Minnesota state employees,
unanimously passed a resolution noting that four of the raid victims
were associated with AFSCME Local 3800 at the University of Minnesota
and expressing “our grave concern that these raids may be the beginning
of a new and dangerous assault on the First Amendment rights of every
union fighter, international solidarity activist or anti-war
campaigner.”
Chicago Teamster Local 705 passed a resolution
on Oct. 17 condemning the raids and noted that among those subpoenaed
were “Teamster Brother Mick Kelly from Minneapolis, as well as our
Brother Joe Iosbaker, Chief Steward of SEIU Local 73, who has walked
our ambulatory picket lines for the ‘Pain Ice Strike’ at University of
Illinois-Chicago.”
Other labor federations, including the San
Francisco Labor Council and the Troy Area Labor Council in upstate
New York, have also passed resolutions supporting the targeted antiwar
activists.
Most recently, 62 members of the Minnesota
state legislature signed a “Dear Colleague” letter addressed to
President Barack Obama, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and
the Minnesota congressional delegation. The letter states, “Minnesota’s
elected officials have frequently gone on record in defense of trade
unionists and others to educate, mobilize, and organize for the
legitimate goals of peace, justice, and solidarity with all working
people ...”
Jess Sundin, one of the targets of the FBI
raids, stated, “Minnesota legislators recognize us as leaders of this
state’s peace movement and they know we have the support of the labor
movement and their other constituents. Today many of them went on the
record to stand up in defense of our rights to dissent and expressed
their concern about FBI harassment of well-known community leaders. We
will carry their support with us as we call for action at the federal
level to stop this attack on our rights.”
On Oct. 23, President Obama’s campaign stop in
Minneapolis was met by picketers who protested his administration’s
attempt at repression of antiwar activity. On Oct. 30, Obama was faced
with more pickets at a campaign appearance in Chicago.
Activists are planning fundraising events
across the country to help those targeted by the FBI raids pay what
will surely be enormous legal bills. In Chicago activists are preparing
for a hip-hop concert fundraiser in late November headlined by
local artist Rebel Diaz.
It is obvious that in the face of this
impressive and growing solidarity the withdrawal of the subpoenas
represents at least a temporary retreat by the government as they
review their options.
There is, of course, no guarantee that
subpoenas will not be re-issued or that indictments of the raid victims
and others could be forthcoming from the grand jury. But the government
has already failed in what was certainly one of its primary objects—to
divide the antiwar movement and intimidate activists.
And the response, both by the victimized
activists and supporters, has set an invaluable precedent for future
attempts by the capitalist government to silence opponents of its
reactionary and criminal wars.”
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