Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Obama's Justice Dept Attacks Peace Groups as "Terrorist"
Under Democrat Harry Truman, it was the Communist bogeyman that was used to destroy the Left that had built the labor movement; today Democrat Barack Obama uses the terrorist bogeyman to try to destroy the peace movement, both actions for the same goals: To maximize the profits of the capitalist class. Here is the news from Twin Cities and Chicago Indymedia of FBI terrorism across the country.
From:
http://tc.indymedia.org/
Updated Info--At Least Four Minneapolis Houses Raided, Activists Subpoenaed in National FBI "Terror" Expedition Against Antiwar Activists
Submitted by haloka on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 14:11
UPDATE 4pm: The office of the Anti-War Committee was also reportedly raided earlier today. See also: Search warrant for Mick Kelly's residence and subpoena to Chicago grand jury (via TheUptake.org)
Press Conference: 4pm, 2911 Park Ave., Minneapolis
Community Meeting: 5:30pm, Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave S., Minneapolis
See also Fight Back News: Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-War and Solidarity Activists' Homes
The social justice community in Minneapolis continued to respond Friday afternoon to the raids of several of its members homes, which started before 7am this morning. (See previous TCIMC article--Minneapolis Houses Raided)
Since then, a dozen activists have been served with grand jury subpoenas, including many in Minneapolis, according to Fight Back News. It is believed the federal grand jury is centered in Chicago, and is investigating alleged ties to "foreign terrorist organizations"--a charge which activists have immediately dismissed as illegitimate and unjustified.
The Star Tribune reported earlier today that according to an FBI spokesperson, a total of six homes were raided in Minneapolis and two in Chicago. This statement is unconfirmed by activists, who have identified at least four of the homes in Minneapolis--one above Hard Times Cafe in Cedar-Riverside, one north of Powderhorn Park, one on Park Avenue near Lake Street and one in Stevens Square. Antiwar leaders have said that other members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization were targeted with raids, surveillance and subpoenas in Michigan, North Carolina and potentially California.
Grand juries are a mechanism historically used to repress and gather information on unpopular social movements; no attorney or judge is present in a grand jury interrogation. Activists who defy grand juries risking imprisonment on civil or criminal contempt.
Outside the raid above Hard Times Cafe, one person at the cafe as the raid began said that he saw about a dozen FBI agents, some with large guns, outside. Conflicting reports from the other raids indicate that agents attempted to keep their presence low-key, without large marked vehicles or heavily armed SWAT teams--although Jess Sundin told the AP that a SWAT team entered her house first, then left to be replaced by other agents. But outside Hard Times Cafe, a number of the unmarked vehicles included at least one with an "official business" sign from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) in addition to the FBI.
The mood outside the cafe and apartment was one of defiance, with activists and supporters vowing solidarity in the face of repression. Early in the afternoon, agents began to remove boxes with unknown contents from the apartment, and eventually departed. The search warrant for 1823 Riverside called for search and seizure of such a laundry list of items, including electronic equipment, documents, financial records, literature, and more, that "it might have well just said 'everything'," someone remarked after seeing a copy.
The Uptake, in addition to almost every local corporate news outlet, was present at two of the raids in the morning and posted a short video report on their site. (Photo credit above)
No immediate information was available Friday afternoon about the raids in Chicago. The FBI spokesman, however, said that like in the Minneapolis raids, there were no arrests. He added to the AP in Chicago that there was no "imminent threat to the community" - raising the question of how anyone could be suspected of terrorist ties without an imminent danger.
The answer, of course, lies in the increasing trend of the state in using "terrorism" charges to justify repression against activists, lately in Minnesota through the Green Scare, the RNC 8, and as many have predicted might happen, now against antiwar activists as well.
Star Tribune coverage (with photos/video)
Publish your reports
.Localantiwarantiwar committeeFBIFRSORaidSolidarityState RepressionFeature
Add new comment414 reads2 attachments
.*Breaking News* At least four houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in Michigan, NC, Chicago targeted.
Submitted by smiley on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:20
Update - At least four known houses were raided this morning including another location at Stevens Square. There were also at least two subpoenas served on activists. Keep on alert! Know your rights! Don't talk to the FBI
Urgent - Community Meeting tonight! 5:30 pm Walker Church 3104 16th Ave S regarding the FBI Raids
On Friday morning, three houses in the Minneapolis area are believed to have been raided by SWAT Teams. While we have few details right now, the F.B.I. appears to be targeting people associated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Besides the raids in Minneapolis, houses in Michigan, North Carolina and Chicago were also targeted.
Raids occurred at 1823 Riverside, above the Hard Times Cafe, and the 2900 block of Park Ave. One other raid is reported, as well. Outside Hard Times Cafe, three unmarked black SUVs (one with an Illinois license plate) sat in the parking area as of 10am, when a lawyer observed 8 FBI agents sitting in the residence examining materials. Otherwise the scene was calm.
Agents had broken in the door there at 7am Friday morning, breaking an aquarium in the process.
The Federal search warrants appear to be focusing on seizing electronic devices, international travel, and allegeing "co-conspirators." They do not authorize arrests.
The search warrant for 1823 Riverside, the residence of activist Mick Kelly, sought information "regarding ability to pay for his own travel" to Palestine and Columbia from 2000 to today. The warrant hyped potential documents indicating any contacts/facilitation with FARC, PFLP, and Hezbollah - what it called "FTOs" or "foreign terrorist organizations". It mentioned seeking information on the alleged "facilitation of other individuals in the US to travel to Colombia, Palestine and any other foreign location ins upport of foreign terrorist organizations including but not limited to FARC, PFLP and Hezbollah".
The wording of the warrant appears to indicate the government seeks to create divisions among social justice and international soldarity activists by hyping alleged connections to what they call "foreign terrorist organizations."
The warant also sought information on "Kelly's travel to and from and presence in MN, and other foreign countries [sic] to which Kelly has taveleled as part of his work in FRSO [Freedom Road Socialist Organization", as well as materials related to his finances and the finances of FRSO, and all computer and electronic devices.
The federal warrant was signed by Judge Susan Nelson at 3:30pm yesterday, September 23.
****
From:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/92027/index.php
Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the countryAuthor
CIMC repost
Date Created
24 Sep 2010
Date Edited
24 Sep 2010 03:19:07 PM
Rating
•Current rating: 0
License
This work is in the public domain. The following is from a press release issued this afternoon in connection with the FBI raids at 7 AM today on anti-war activists in Minneapolis, Chicago, California and North Carolina.
Press Conference: September 24, 2010 4 pm
Location: 2911 Park Ave South, Minneapolis, MN
Anti-war activists and supporters will gather at 4pm at one of the homes raided to speak out against the outrageous FBI raids that took place this morning in Minneapolis and around the U.S.
Activists will denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, September 24, 2010, at 7:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.
"This is a blatant attempt by the FBI to silence activists who struggle for peace and justice. Standing in solidarity with people fighting against US imperialism is not a crime!" stated Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee, one of the activists whose home was raided.
"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI in Michigan. "They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America."
This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America.
Press Conference is organized by the Anti-War Committee, and supporting organizations WAMM, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Welfare Rights Committee.
****
From:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/92028/index.php
FBI Raids Anti-War Activists In Chicago, Minnesota
Raids Are Part Of Material Terrorism Investigation
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
Click to enlarge
1 of 1
CBS
The FBI says its agents have served several search warrants in Chicago and in Minnesota, in a material terrorism investigation.
Minneapolis FBI Special Agent Steve Warfield tells The Associated Press that six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago were served about 7 a.m. Friday. Warfield says the FBI is seeking "evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The Chicago FBI confirmed that two federal search warrants were served. One was executed Friday morning and one remains active. The Chicago FBI only said the searches were in regard to an ongoing criminal investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Chicago U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randy Samborn also confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation." He also declined to provide details.
The attorney for a Chicago man says his northwest side home was raided by the FBI.
Melinda Power, an attorney for Joe Iosbaker, says the FBI arrived at his home early Friday. The investigators carried out boxes full of his possessions and loaded them into a white van.
Power says her client hasn't done nothing wrong. She said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the targets in the Minnesota raids included Jess Sundin, an organizer of a mass march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago. They also included Mick Kelly, who has announced plans for a march on the Democratic National Convention if Minneapolis is selected to host it in 2012.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism "pretty hilarious and ridiculous."
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
Sundin said she wasn't certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first "and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house," she said.
The agents took "computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs," Sundin said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
FBI Serves Search Warrants Against Iosbaker, WeinerCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
,
Click on image for a larger version
Click on image for a larger version
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/fbi-serves-search-warrants-here-in-terror-probe.html
FBI serves search warrants here against anti-war activists
September 24, 2010 7:07 PM | No Comments | UPDATED STORY
Federal agents today searched eight locations in Chicago and Minneapolis in an investigation into alleged connections between local peace activists and terrorist organizations in the Middle East and South America.
FBI agents searched the Logan Square home of activists Stephanie Weiner and her husband, Joe Iosbaker, throughout the day, Weiner said. The Jefferson Park home of Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, also was searched, his neighbors said.
Federal agents carry empty boxes as part of a search in the home of anti-war activists Friday. (Tribune / Phil Velasquez)
"The warrants are seeking evidence in support of an ongoing Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation into activities concerning the material support of terrorism," said Steve Warfield, spokesman for the FBI in Minneapolis, where six other homes were searched.
Warfield said there was no "imminent danger" to the public and said no arrests were made Friday.
Weiner, who said she and her husband for years have been active in labor causes and the anti-war movement, called the search an attempt to intimidate her and other activists.
"We aren't doing anything differently than we have in 20 years," said Weiner. "We believe (the investigation) is about harassing peace and justice activists and trying to silence and intimidate other activists."
Anti-war activists Joe Iosbaker and Stephanie Weiner at their Northwest Side home Friday. (Tribune / Phil Velasquez)
Chicago labor activist Tom Burke said he received a grand jury subpoena requesting any records of payments to Abudayyeh's organization as well as several Colombian dissident organizations. Burke is a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a group mentioned in subpoenas and warrants issued to activists.
Burke said he knows Weiner, Iosbaker and Abudayyeh from years of coordinating demonstrations and activities in Chicago, and that they all participated in anti-war rallies at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., with several activists whose homes were searched in Minneapolis.
Several of those targeted with warrants or subpoenas Friday are occasional contributors to Fight Back!, a socialist newsletter, Burke said.
"We pretty much all know each other," he said. "But as for giving money to terrorist groups, we barely have money to publish our magazine."
--Andy Grimm
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
cbs2chicago.com/local/fbi.terrorism.raids.2.1930188.html
FBI Raids Anti-War Activists In Chicago, Minnesota
Raids Are Part Of Material Terrorism Investigation
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
Click to enlarge
1 of 1
CBS
The FBI says its agents have served several search warrants in Chicago and in Minnesota, in a material terrorism investigation.
Minneapolis FBI Special Agent Steve Warfield tells The Associated Press that six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago were served about 7 a.m. Friday. Warfield says the FBI is seeking "evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The Chicago FBI confirmed that two federal search warrants were served. One was executed Friday morning and one remains active. The Chicago FBI only said the searches were in regard to an ongoing criminal investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Chicago U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randy Samborn also confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation." He also declined to provide details.
The attorney for a Chicago man says his northwest side home was raided by the FBI.
Melinda Power, an attorney for Joe Iosbaker, says the FBI arrived at his home early Friday. The investigators carried out boxes full of his possessions and loaded them into a white van.
Power says her client hasn't done nothing wrong. She said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the targets in the Minnesota raids included Jess Sundin, an organizer of a mass march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago. They also included Mick Kelly, who has announced plans for a march on the Democratic National Convention if Minneapolis is selected to host it in 2012.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism "pretty hilarious and ridiculous."
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
Sundin said she wasn't certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first "and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house," she said.
The agents took "computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs," Sundin said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/09/24/fbi-serves-terrorism-warrants-in-minn-chicago/
FBI serves terrorism warrants in Minn., Chicago
Staff
Local News, More 780 Headlines
9/24/2010
11:27 AM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The FBI said it searched eight homes in Minneapolis and Chicago as part of a terrorism investigation on Friday, and two subjects said the agency is targeting leaders of the anti-war movement.
Federal agents have searched eight homes in Chicago and Minnesota in an alleged terrorism investigation.
The FBI says it’s seeking “evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.”
The subjects of the searches are anti-war activists. And they say they’re being harassed.
Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser talked with two activists as their home was being searched.
There were two searches here in Chicago. Federal agents arrived early in the morning with search warrants that mentioned material support for terrorism and travel to Colombia and Palestine.
One search occurred at the home of Stephanie Winer and Joe Isobaker, in the Logan square neighborhood.
Compiters, books and papers were confiscated. Their entire home was scoured by agents, they say.
Some of what agents took left Winer confused. “We’re talking about a situation in which, on my counter pictures of Martin Luther King were put in evidence bags, she said.”
Winer thinks the government is trying to silence the peace movement, saying “we won’t allow this kind of harassment and this kind if repression to happen based on people being activists against US foreign policy around the world.”
She said she has had nothing to do with supporting terrorism. She’s an activist for peace, she said.
Joe Isobaker is her husband. We asked him: “Does it anger you? Does it frighten you?
Yes, he said “it frightens me, its very upsetting. It frightens my wife.”
And with that they ended the interview.
The other local raid occurred at the home of the executive director of the Arab American action network, Hatem Abudayyah.
The activists were served with subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury.
FBI spokesman Steve Warfield told The Associated Press agents served six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago.
“These were search warrants only,” Warfield said. “We’re not anticipating any arrests at this time. They’re seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.”
The home of Minneapolis anti-war activists Mick Kelly and Jess Sundin were among those searched, they told the AP.
“The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America,” Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism “pretty hilarious and ridiculous.”
Warfield said he couldn’t comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it’s an ongoing investigation. “There’s no imminent threat to the community,” he said.
The searches were first reported by the Star Tribune.
Sundin said she wasn’t certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first “and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house,” she said.
The agents took “computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs,” Sundin said.
Both Sundin and Kelly were organizers of a mass march on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in St. Paul two years ago, and recently appeared at a news conference to announce plans for another protest if Minneapolis is selected to hold the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Police estimated the peaceful march drew 10,000 protesters; organizers put the figure at 30,000. Other protests were marked by destructive acts by anarchists. More than 800 people were arrested during the four days of the convention, including Sundin and Kelly.
Sundin said they’ve already sought permits for 2012, “something I don’t think terrorists would do.”
The FBI’s spokesman in Chicago, Ross Rice, would only say two searches were conducted Friday in Chicago and that there were no arrests. He declined comment further.
Asked about the reports, the U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman in Chicago, Randy Samborn, confirmed warrants were served in the city “in connection with a law enforcement investigation.” He also declined to provide details.
Associated Press Writer Michael Tarm in Chicago contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
Videos on Link:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/FBI-Serves-Terroism-Related-Search-Warrants-in-Minneapolis-and-Chicago-103725009.html
TEXT:
Feds Raid Homes in Chicago, Minneapolis
By ALEX PEREZ, BJ LUTZ and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two addresses in Chicago and six in Minneapolis were searched as part of a terrorism investigation Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
There were no arrests, but the warrants suggested agents were looking for connections between local anti-war activists and terrorist groups in Colombia and the Middle East.
"These were search warrants only,'' said FBI spokesman Steve Warfield. "They're seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The attorney for Joe Iosbaker and his wife, Stephanie Weiner, whose northwest Chicago home was among those raided Friday, said her clients have done nothing wrong.
Melinda Power said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
Some of the items agents took left Weiner confused.
"We’re talking about a situation in which, on my counter pictures of Martin Luther King were put in evidence bags," she said, according to WBBM-AM.
Iosbaker works at the University of Illinois Chicago and is the chief steward for the Service Employees International Union Local 73.
A group of about 15 supporters stood outside the couple's Logan Square home Friday evening singing John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."
"I think it's disgusting," said Sarah Simmons of the raid on the home. She said she's known the couple for 15 years and "can guarantee they're not terrorists."
The other Chicago raid happened at the Jefferson Park home of of the executive director of the Arab American action network, Hatem Abudayyeh, his neighbors told the Chicago Tribune.
In Minneapolis, the homes of longtime anti-war activists Mick Kelly, Jess Sundin and Meredith Aby were among those searched, they said. All three were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago: Aby on Oct. 5, Sundin on Oct. 12 and Kelly on Oct. 19.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin said she believes the searches are connected with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee's opposition to U.S. military aid to Colombia and Israel, as well as its opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It's kind of outrageous that citizens of the United States could be targeted like this," Sundin said.
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
The searches were first reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The warrant for Kelly's home, provided by his attorney, sought evidence on travel he did as part of his work for the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and information on any travel to Colombia, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria or Israel. The warrant for Sundin's home was similar but included a slightly different list of targeted groups.
Kelly's warrant also said agents sought information on contact with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hezbollah. The U.S. government considers those three groups terrorist organizations.
"It appears to be a fishing expedition," said Kelly's attorney, Ted Dooley. "It seems like they're casting a huge seine or net into the political sea and see what they can drag up on shore and dry out. There's no rhyme or reason to it in a free society."
The federal law cited in the search warrant prohibits "providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations.''
"I'm having a hard time paying my rent," Kelly said. "There is no material support."
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a free-speech challenge to the law from humanitarian aid groups that said some provisions put them at risk of being prosecuted for talking to terrorist organizations about nonviolent activities.
Two groups use the name Freedom Road Socialist Organization, one based in Chicago and one in New York. They split several years ago, and the New York group said it was not targeted.
The website for the Chicago group , which describes itself as a "revolutionary socialist and Marxist-Leninist organization," shows Kelly and Sundin have been affiliated with it. Kelly edits FightBack!, a Minneapolis-based website and newspaper for the group.
Kelly's subpoena also commanded him to bring records he might have relating to the Middle East and Colombia, along with "all records of any payment provided directly or indirectly to Hatam Abudayyeh."
Kelly said he went to Lebanon two years ago for a Palestinian solidarity conference, and he's been on Colombian radio by phone from the U.S.
Sundin said she visited Colombia 10 years ago for a conference organized by a social movement there in opposition to U.S. military aid.
Aby said she went to Palestine in 2002 and Colombia in 2004 and 2006 to meet with activists. She said anyone who's an activist in those counties gets labeled as a terrorist.
Both Sundin and Kelly were organizers of a mass march on the first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago, and recently appeared at a news conference to announce plans for another protest if Minneapolis is selected to hold the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Police estimated the peaceful march in 2008 drew 10,000 protesters; organizers put the figure at 30,000. Other protests were marked by destructive acts by anarchists. More than 800 people were arrested during the four days of the convention, including Sundin and Kelly.
Other Minnesota anti-war activists whose homes were searched included Anh Pham, Sarah Martin and Tracy Molm, Dooley said. He said he didn't know whose homes were searched in Chicago.
The FBI's spokesman in Chicago, Ross Rice, would only say two searches were conducted Friday in Chicago and there were no arrests.
Asked about the reports, the U.S. Attorney's office spokesman in Chicago, Randy Samborn, confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation.'' He also declined to provide details.
Minneapolis coverage from the citizen journalism website, TheUptake:
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/FBI-Serves-Terroism-Related-Search-Warrants-in-Minneapolis-and-Chicago-103725009.html
http://tc.indymedia.org/
Updated Info--At Least Four Minneapolis Houses Raided, Activists Subpoenaed in National FBI "Terror" Expedition Against Antiwar Activists
Submitted by haloka on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 14:11
UPDATE 4pm: The office of the Anti-War Committee was also reportedly raided earlier today. See also: Search warrant for Mick Kelly's residence and subpoena to Chicago grand jury (via TheUptake.org)
Press Conference: 4pm, 2911 Park Ave., Minneapolis
Community Meeting: 5:30pm, Walker Church, 3100 16th Ave S., Minneapolis
See also Fight Back News: Activists Denounce FBI Raids on Anti-War and Solidarity Activists' Homes
The social justice community in Minneapolis continued to respond Friday afternoon to the raids of several of its members homes, which started before 7am this morning. (See previous TCIMC article--Minneapolis Houses Raided)
Since then, a dozen activists have been served with grand jury subpoenas, including many in Minneapolis, according to Fight Back News. It is believed the federal grand jury is centered in Chicago, and is investigating alleged ties to "foreign terrorist organizations"--a charge which activists have immediately dismissed as illegitimate and unjustified.
The Star Tribune reported earlier today that according to an FBI spokesperson, a total of six homes were raided in Minneapolis and two in Chicago. This statement is unconfirmed by activists, who have identified at least four of the homes in Minneapolis--one above Hard Times Cafe in Cedar-Riverside, one north of Powderhorn Park, one on Park Avenue near Lake Street and one in Stevens Square. Antiwar leaders have said that other members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization were targeted with raids, surveillance and subpoenas in Michigan, North Carolina and potentially California.
Grand juries are a mechanism historically used to repress and gather information on unpopular social movements; no attorney or judge is present in a grand jury interrogation. Activists who defy grand juries risking imprisonment on civil or criminal contempt.
Outside the raid above Hard Times Cafe, one person at the cafe as the raid began said that he saw about a dozen FBI agents, some with large guns, outside. Conflicting reports from the other raids indicate that agents attempted to keep their presence low-key, without large marked vehicles or heavily armed SWAT teams--although Jess Sundin told the AP that a SWAT team entered her house first, then left to be replaced by other agents. But outside Hard Times Cafe, a number of the unmarked vehicles included at least one with an "official business" sign from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) in addition to the FBI.
The mood outside the cafe and apartment was one of defiance, with activists and supporters vowing solidarity in the face of repression. Early in the afternoon, agents began to remove boxes with unknown contents from the apartment, and eventually departed. The search warrant for 1823 Riverside called for search and seizure of such a laundry list of items, including electronic equipment, documents, financial records, literature, and more, that "it might have well just said 'everything'," someone remarked after seeing a copy.
The Uptake, in addition to almost every local corporate news outlet, was present at two of the raids in the morning and posted a short video report on their site. (Photo credit above)
No immediate information was available Friday afternoon about the raids in Chicago. The FBI spokesman, however, said that like in the Minneapolis raids, there were no arrests. He added to the AP in Chicago that there was no "imminent threat to the community" - raising the question of how anyone could be suspected of terrorist ties without an imminent danger.
The answer, of course, lies in the increasing trend of the state in using "terrorism" charges to justify repression against activists, lately in Minnesota through the Green Scare, the RNC 8, and as many have predicted might happen, now against antiwar activists as well.
Star Tribune coverage (with photos/video)
Publish your reports
.Localantiwarantiwar committeeFBIFRSORaidSolidarityState RepressionFeature
Add new comment414 reads2 attachments
.*Breaking News* At least four houses in Minneapolis raided, other houses in Michigan, NC, Chicago targeted.
Submitted by smiley on Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:20
Update - At least four known houses were raided this morning including another location at Stevens Square. There were also at least two subpoenas served on activists. Keep on alert! Know your rights! Don't talk to the FBI
Urgent - Community Meeting tonight! 5:30 pm Walker Church 3104 16th Ave S regarding the FBI Raids
On Friday morning, three houses in the Minneapolis area are believed to have been raided by SWAT Teams. While we have few details right now, the F.B.I. appears to be targeting people associated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Besides the raids in Minneapolis, houses in Michigan, North Carolina and Chicago were also targeted.
Raids occurred at 1823 Riverside, above the Hard Times Cafe, and the 2900 block of Park Ave. One other raid is reported, as well. Outside Hard Times Cafe, three unmarked black SUVs (one with an Illinois license plate) sat in the parking area as of 10am, when a lawyer observed 8 FBI agents sitting in the residence examining materials. Otherwise the scene was calm.
Agents had broken in the door there at 7am Friday morning, breaking an aquarium in the process.
The Federal search warrants appear to be focusing on seizing electronic devices, international travel, and allegeing "co-conspirators." They do not authorize arrests.
The search warrant for 1823 Riverside, the residence of activist Mick Kelly, sought information "regarding ability to pay for his own travel" to Palestine and Columbia from 2000 to today. The warrant hyped potential documents indicating any contacts/facilitation with FARC, PFLP, and Hezbollah - what it called "FTOs" or "foreign terrorist organizations". It mentioned seeking information on the alleged "facilitation of other individuals in the US to travel to Colombia, Palestine and any other foreign location ins upport of foreign terrorist organizations including but not limited to FARC, PFLP and Hezbollah".
The wording of the warrant appears to indicate the government seeks to create divisions among social justice and international soldarity activists by hyping alleged connections to what they call "foreign terrorist organizations."
The warant also sought information on "Kelly's travel to and from and presence in MN, and other foreign countries [sic] to which Kelly has taveleled as part of his work in FRSO [Freedom Road Socialist Organization", as well as materials related to his finances and the finances of FRSO, and all computer and electronic devices.
The federal warrant was signed by Judge Susan Nelson at 3:30pm yesterday, September 23.
****
From:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/92027/index.php
Subpoenas, Searches, and FBI visits carried out in cities across the countryAuthor
CIMC repost
Date Created
24 Sep 2010
Date Edited
24 Sep 2010 03:19:07 PM
Rating
•Current rating: 0
License
This work is in the public domain. The following is from a press release issued this afternoon in connection with the FBI raids at 7 AM today on anti-war activists in Minneapolis, Chicago, California and North Carolina.
Press Conference: September 24, 2010 4 pm
Location: 2911 Park Ave South, Minneapolis, MN
Anti-war activists and supporters will gather at 4pm at one of the homes raided to speak out against the outrageous FBI raids that took place this morning in Minneapolis and around the U.S.
Activists will denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, September 24, 2010, at 7:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.
"This is a blatant attempt by the FBI to silence activists who struggle for peace and justice. Standing in solidarity with people fighting against US imperialism is not a crime!" stated Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee, one of the activists whose home was raided.
"The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes," said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI in Michigan. "They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America."
This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America.
Press Conference is organized by the Anti-War Committee, and supporting organizations WAMM, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Welfare Rights Committee.
****
From:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/92028/index.php
FBI Raids Anti-War Activists In Chicago, Minnesota
Raids Are Part Of Material Terrorism Investigation
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
Click to enlarge
1 of 1
CBS
The FBI says its agents have served several search warrants in Chicago and in Minnesota, in a material terrorism investigation.
Minneapolis FBI Special Agent Steve Warfield tells The Associated Press that six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago were served about 7 a.m. Friday. Warfield says the FBI is seeking "evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The Chicago FBI confirmed that two federal search warrants were served. One was executed Friday morning and one remains active. The Chicago FBI only said the searches were in regard to an ongoing criminal investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Chicago U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randy Samborn also confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation." He also declined to provide details.
The attorney for a Chicago man says his northwest side home was raided by the FBI.
Melinda Power, an attorney for Joe Iosbaker, says the FBI arrived at his home early Friday. The investigators carried out boxes full of his possessions and loaded them into a white van.
Power says her client hasn't done nothing wrong. She said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the targets in the Minnesota raids included Jess Sundin, an organizer of a mass march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago. They also included Mick Kelly, who has announced plans for a march on the Democratic National Convention if Minneapolis is selected to host it in 2012.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism "pretty hilarious and ridiculous."
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
Sundin said she wasn't certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first "and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house," she said.
The agents took "computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs," Sundin said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
FBI Serves Search Warrants Against Iosbaker, WeinerCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
,
Click on image for a larger version
Click on image for a larger version
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/fbi-serves-search-warrants-here-in-terror-probe.html
FBI serves search warrants here against anti-war activists
September 24, 2010 7:07 PM | No Comments | UPDATED STORY
Federal agents today searched eight locations in Chicago and Minneapolis in an investigation into alleged connections between local peace activists and terrorist organizations in the Middle East and South America.
FBI agents searched the Logan Square home of activists Stephanie Weiner and her husband, Joe Iosbaker, throughout the day, Weiner said. The Jefferson Park home of Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, also was searched, his neighbors said.
Federal agents carry empty boxes as part of a search in the home of anti-war activists Friday. (Tribune / Phil Velasquez)
"The warrants are seeking evidence in support of an ongoing Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation into activities concerning the material support of terrorism," said Steve Warfield, spokesman for the FBI in Minneapolis, where six other homes were searched.
Warfield said there was no "imminent danger" to the public and said no arrests were made Friday.
Weiner, who said she and her husband for years have been active in labor causes and the anti-war movement, called the search an attempt to intimidate her and other activists.
"We aren't doing anything differently than we have in 20 years," said Weiner. "We believe (the investigation) is about harassing peace and justice activists and trying to silence and intimidate other activists."
Anti-war activists Joe Iosbaker and Stephanie Weiner at their Northwest Side home Friday. (Tribune / Phil Velasquez)
Chicago labor activist Tom Burke said he received a grand jury subpoena requesting any records of payments to Abudayyeh's organization as well as several Colombian dissident organizations. Burke is a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a group mentioned in subpoenas and warrants issued to activists.
Burke said he knows Weiner, Iosbaker and Abudayyeh from years of coordinating demonstrations and activities in Chicago, and that they all participated in anti-war rallies at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., with several activists whose homes were searched in Minneapolis.
Several of those targeted with warrants or subpoenas Friday are occasional contributors to Fight Back!, a socialist newsletter, Burke said.
"We pretty much all know each other," he said. "But as for giving money to terrorist groups, we barely have money to publish our magazine."
--Andy Grimm
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
cbs2chicago.com/local/fbi.terrorism.raids.2.1930188.html
FBI Raids Anti-War Activists In Chicago, Minnesota
Raids Are Part Of Material Terrorism Investigation
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
Click to enlarge
1 of 1
CBS
The FBI says its agents have served several search warrants in Chicago and in Minnesota, in a material terrorism investigation.
Minneapolis FBI Special Agent Steve Warfield tells The Associated Press that six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago were served about 7 a.m. Friday. Warfield says the FBI is seeking "evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The Chicago FBI confirmed that two federal search warrants were served. One was executed Friday morning and one remains active. The Chicago FBI only said the searches were in regard to an ongoing criminal investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Chicago U.S. Attorney's office spokesman Randy Samborn also confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation." He also declined to provide details.
The attorney for a Chicago man says his northwest side home was raided by the FBI.
Melinda Power, an attorney for Joe Iosbaker, says the FBI arrived at his home early Friday. The investigators carried out boxes full of his possessions and loaded them into a white van.
Power says her client hasn't done nothing wrong. She said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the targets in the Minnesota raids included Jess Sundin, an organizer of a mass march on the opening day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago. They also included Mick Kelly, who has announced plans for a march on the Democratic National Convention if Minneapolis is selected to host it in 2012.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism "pretty hilarious and ridiculous."
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
Sundin said she wasn't certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first "and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house," she said.
The agents took "computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs," Sundin said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/09/24/fbi-serves-terrorism-warrants-in-minn-chicago/
FBI serves terrorism warrants in Minn., Chicago
Staff
Local News, More 780 Headlines
9/24/2010
11:27 AM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The FBI said it searched eight homes in Minneapolis and Chicago as part of a terrorism investigation on Friday, and two subjects said the agency is targeting leaders of the anti-war movement.
Federal agents have searched eight homes in Chicago and Minnesota in an alleged terrorism investigation.
The FBI says it’s seeking “evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.”
The subjects of the searches are anti-war activists. And they say they’re being harassed.
Newsradio 780′s Mike Krauser talked with two activists as their home was being searched.
There were two searches here in Chicago. Federal agents arrived early in the morning with search warrants that mentioned material support for terrorism and travel to Colombia and Palestine.
One search occurred at the home of Stephanie Winer and Joe Isobaker, in the Logan square neighborhood.
Compiters, books and papers were confiscated. Their entire home was scoured by agents, they say.
Some of what agents took left Winer confused. “We’re talking about a situation in which, on my counter pictures of Martin Luther King were put in evidence bags, she said.”
Winer thinks the government is trying to silence the peace movement, saying “we won’t allow this kind of harassment and this kind if repression to happen based on people being activists against US foreign policy around the world.”
She said she has had nothing to do with supporting terrorism. She’s an activist for peace, she said.
Joe Isobaker is her husband. We asked him: “Does it anger you? Does it frighten you?
Yes, he said “it frightens me, its very upsetting. It frightens my wife.”
And with that they ended the interview.
The other local raid occurred at the home of the executive director of the Arab American action network, Hatem Abudayyah.
The activists were served with subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury.
FBI spokesman Steve Warfield told The Associated Press agents served six warrants in Minneapolis and two in Chicago.
“These were search warrants only,” Warfield said. “We’re not anticipating any arrests at this time. They’re seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism.”
The home of Minneapolis anti-war activists Mick Kelly and Jess Sundin were among those searched, they told the AP.
“The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America,” Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin called the suggestion they were connected with terrorism “pretty hilarious and ridiculous.”
Warfield said he couldn’t comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it’s an ongoing investigation. “There’s no imminent threat to the community,” he said.
The searches were first reported by the Star Tribune.
Sundin said she wasn’t certain exactly what kinds of information the FBI was after or who else had been searched in either city.
An FBI SWAT team entered first “and looked for pointy things. And then they left and the FBI agents came in and looked through everything in the house,” she said.
The agents took “computers, several boxes of papers, everything related to data like discs,” Sundin said.
Both Sundin and Kelly were organizers of a mass march on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in St. Paul two years ago, and recently appeared at a news conference to announce plans for another protest if Minneapolis is selected to hold the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Police estimated the peaceful march drew 10,000 protesters; organizers put the figure at 30,000. Other protests were marked by destructive acts by anarchists. More than 800 people were arrested during the four days of the convention, including Sundin and Kelly.
Sundin said they’ve already sought permits for 2012, “something I don’t think terrorists would do.”
The FBI’s spokesman in Chicago, Ross Rice, would only say two searches were conducted Friday in Chicago and that there were no arrests. He declined comment further.
Asked about the reports, the U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman in Chicago, Randy Samborn, confirmed warrants were served in the city “in connection with a law enforcement investigation.” He also declined to provide details.
Associated Press Writer Michael Tarm in Chicago contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Re: SOLIDARITY VIGIL Against FBI Raids on ActivistsCurrent rating: 0
24 Sep 2010
by Repost
Reply to this comment
Videos on Link:
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/FBI-Serves-Terroism-Related-Search-Warrants-in-Minneapolis-and-Chicago-103725009.html
TEXT:
Feds Raid Homes in Chicago, Minneapolis
By ALEX PEREZ, BJ LUTZ and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two addresses in Chicago and six in Minneapolis were searched as part of a terrorism investigation Friday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
There were no arrests, but the warrants suggested agents were looking for connections between local anti-war activists and terrorist groups in Colombia and the Middle East.
"These were search warrants only,'' said FBI spokesman Steve Warfield. "They're seeking evidence relating to activities concerning the material support of terrorism."
The attorney for Joe Iosbaker and his wife, Stephanie Weiner, whose northwest Chicago home was among those raided Friday, said her clients have done nothing wrong.
Melinda Power said the FBI is "after people who are active in social justice."
Some of the items agents took left Weiner confused.
"We’re talking about a situation in which, on my counter pictures of Martin Luther King were put in evidence bags," she said, according to WBBM-AM.
Iosbaker works at the University of Illinois Chicago and is the chief steward for the Service Employees International Union Local 73.
A group of about 15 supporters stood outside the couple's Logan Square home Friday evening singing John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."
"I think it's disgusting," said Sarah Simmons of the raid on the home. She said she's known the couple for 15 years and "can guarantee they're not terrorists."
The other Chicago raid happened at the Jefferson Park home of of the executive director of the Arab American action network, Hatem Abudayyeh, his neighbors told the Chicago Tribune.
In Minneapolis, the homes of longtime anti-war activists Mick Kelly, Jess Sundin and Meredith Aby were among those searched, they said. All three were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago: Aby on Oct. 5, Sundin on Oct. 12 and Kelly on Oct. 19.
"The FBI is harassing anti-war organizers and leaders, folks who opposed U.S. intervention in the Middle East and Latin America," Kelly said before agents confiscated his cell phone.
Sundin said she believes the searches are connected with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee's opposition to U.S. military aid to Colombia and Israel, as well as its opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It's kind of outrageous that citizens of the United States could be targeted like this," Sundin said.
Warfield said he couldn't comment on whose homes were searched or give details on why because it's an ongoing investigation. "There's no imminent threat to the community," he said.
The searches were first reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The warrant for Kelly's home, provided by his attorney, sought evidence on travel he did as part of his work for the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and information on any travel to Colombia, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria or Israel. The warrant for Sundin's home was similar but included a slightly different list of targeted groups.
Kelly's warrant also said agents sought information on contact with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hezbollah. The U.S. government considers those three groups terrorist organizations.
"It appears to be a fishing expedition," said Kelly's attorney, Ted Dooley. "It seems like they're casting a huge seine or net into the political sea and see what they can drag up on shore and dry out. There's no rhyme or reason to it in a free society."
The federal law cited in the search warrant prohibits "providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations.''
"I'm having a hard time paying my rent," Kelly said. "There is no material support."
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a free-speech challenge to the law from humanitarian aid groups that said some provisions put them at risk of being prosecuted for talking to terrorist organizations about nonviolent activities.
Two groups use the name Freedom Road Socialist Organization, one based in Chicago and one in New York. They split several years ago, and the New York group said it was not targeted.
The website for the Chicago group , which describes itself as a "revolutionary socialist and Marxist-Leninist organization," shows Kelly and Sundin have been affiliated with it. Kelly edits FightBack!, a Minneapolis-based website and newspaper for the group.
Kelly's subpoena also commanded him to bring records he might have relating to the Middle East and Colombia, along with "all records of any payment provided directly or indirectly to Hatam Abudayyeh."
Kelly said he went to Lebanon two years ago for a Palestinian solidarity conference, and he's been on Colombian radio by phone from the U.S.
Sundin said she visited Colombia 10 years ago for a conference organized by a social movement there in opposition to U.S. military aid.
Aby said she went to Palestine in 2002 and Colombia in 2004 and 2006 to meet with activists. She said anyone who's an activist in those counties gets labeled as a terrorist.
Both Sundin and Kelly were organizers of a mass march on the first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul two years ago, and recently appeared at a news conference to announce plans for another protest if Minneapolis is selected to hold the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Police estimated the peaceful march in 2008 drew 10,000 protesters; organizers put the figure at 30,000. Other protests were marked by destructive acts by anarchists. More than 800 people were arrested during the four days of the convention, including Sundin and Kelly.
Other Minnesota anti-war activists whose homes were searched included Anh Pham, Sarah Martin and Tracy Molm, Dooley said. He said he didn't know whose homes were searched in Chicago.
The FBI's spokesman in Chicago, Ross Rice, would only say two searches were conducted Friday in Chicago and there were no arrests.
Asked about the reports, the U.S. Attorney's office spokesman in Chicago, Randy Samborn, confirmed warrants were served in the city "in connection with a law enforcement investigation.'' He also declined to provide details.
Minneapolis coverage from the citizen journalism website, TheUptake:
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/FBI-Serves-Terroism-Related-Search-Warrants-in-Minneapolis-and-Chicago-103725009.html
For more information:
http://tc.indymedia.org/
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$75.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network