N.C. Libertarians condemn FBI raids on anti-war activists
State party calls actions a "fishing expedition" to intimidate war opponents by Brian Irving
(libertarian)
Monday, January 3, 2011
The state Libertarian Party has issued a statement condemning the Sept. 24, 2010 raids by FBI agents on the homes of 14 anti-war activists in Minneapolis and other cities. They also called the issuance of grand jury subpoenas in the investigations a "fishing expedition" designed to justify prosecution of anti-war activism.
"It is now clear that these raids were simply intended to intimidate those who speak against the foreign wars that our country is currently pursuing, and constitute a fishing expedition' wherein the Department of Justice is using these grand jury subpoenas in an effort to discover or create actions or statements that will justify continued prosecution of these activists," said the statement posted on the party's website.
Matt Drew, chair of the Durham Libertarian Party, drafted the statement because he said he believes "these people are no more terrorists than I am."
"I got involved when someone I knew of but hadn't met before, Kosta Harlan, was interviewed by the FBI on the day of the raids. He didn't say anything, but was later followed, as was a friend of his that he met for coffee that day," Drew said.
"When I heard that he had been investigated, it really brought home how arbitrary this was -- it could have been me, or anyone else," Drew said. "
"Anti-war activists are about to go to jail on contempt charges simply because they won't answer the FBI's questions - the FBI is sing grand jury subpoenas to try to force them to testify."
Drew was also irked by the fact that the FBI seized property that still has not been returned. "It's been months now, and even the people who haven't been charged with anything or subpoenaed have not had their possessions returned," he said.
The LPNC statement called on President Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, the FBI and other federal agencies to "cease and desist" from using grand jury subpoenas to intimate people who are merely exercising their First Amendment rights. It also demands that the federal government "immediately return all of the confiscated items seized during these raids and pay for any required home repairs or damage done to confiscated items while in FBI custody.
The raids and subpoenas are part of an investigation into whether members of the peace movement provided "material support" for terrorism. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the broad application of federal law that criminalizes providing "material support" to any group designated a "foreign terrorist organization" by the federal government.
The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups opposed the ruling, which they contend thwarts the efforts of human rights organizations to persuade violent actors to renounce violence or cease their human rights abuses and jeopardizes the provision of aid and disaster relief in conflict zones controlled by designated groups.
Under the law, individuals face up to 15 years in prison for providing "material support" to designated terrorist groups, even if their work is intended to promote peaceful, lawful objectives. "Material support" is defined to include any "service," "training," "expert advice or assistance" or "personnel."
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Posted By: msfreeh
Date: January 3, 2011 11:31:21 PM
for more information about our conferences dealing with crimes committed by FBI agents to see a partial list of crimes committed by FBI agents over 1500 pages long
forums.signonsandiego. com/showthread.php?t=59139
to view a partial list of FBI agents arrested for pedophilia see
campusactivism. org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=29
Posted By: Logical Premise
Date: January 4, 2011 02:08:56 AM
for more information about conferences dealing with crimes committed by so-called "anti war protesters" abusing 1st Amendment rights to make money off of naive suckers , see randomlink.madeuplistofbooks.org
to view a partial list of truthers arrested for pedophilia see anotherrandomcollectionoftruthergarbage.org
I have to say, some of the "information" on these sites is complete utter bollocks. A lot of "resources" and "books" are published by private presses, and have been demolished even by critics of the government. Furthermore, most of your "anecdotes" are completely unsourced, a friend's sisters girlfriend's hairdresser said type "fact".
Let's stick to the truth:
1) Aid organizations want to help people.
2) Terrorist organizations extort food , medical supplies, trucks, gasoline, generators, and cash bribes from aid organizations to allow them to help people.
3) Yes, the aid organizations will be hindered. Guess what? Everytime you have to aid a terror organization to set up an aid camp, you are empowering the very terrorists causing the need for the aid camp in the first place.
Perfect example, Somalia. Warlords run everything. There are groups that estimate the main reason most of the smaller warbands are even still around is SOLELY due to aid groups who pay them off so they can continue their "mission".
People say , "don't you want to help the poor victims" -- to which I say-- "not if it only strengthens the bad guy". Strangulate the terrorists and the aid groups won't have to deal with this bullshit.
Instead you end up with a society that lionizes dopey young people trying to do something good without realizing they are playing into the hands of monsters. And folks? When something does blow up, the US will just use it as a pretext to go kill some more people with drones.
Anti-war protesting has rarely worked. It usually causes a lot of unnecessary friction, puts a lot of politically naive people into power who get corrupted even faster than usual once all their ivory tower fantasies hit real life, and ends up encouraging lawsuit farms like the ACLU, who is so messed up at least once it has taken both sides of the same issue.
