Dear family and friends,
Many of you will have heard about the FBI raids of peace and international solidarity activists’ homes on September 24th, and the grand jury subpoenas of activists around the country, focused in the Midwest. Some of you have not. I want to let you know that I was one of those raided by the FBI and given a subpoena to appear before a grand jury, which is investigating “material support of terrorism.” I am grateful for the support I have received from you so far, and am hoping for your continued support through this trying time. This is a very confusing attack on me and my fellow activists, so I hope this letter will help provide some insight into what has happened, and what might happen in the future. Many of you know a lot of this information, but some may not, and since I am sending this to a wide spectrum of supporters, I am going to over explain rather than risk leaving too many questions unanswered.
The Anti-War Committee: I am a founding member of the Anti-War Committee, whose office was also raided that day. As our name implies, we oppose wars perpetrated and financed by the United States, and work to change US policies of imperialism and war. In particular we have done work opposing US military aid and presence in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia and Palestine. We do not finance terrorists (or anyone—we barely make rent on our office). We have done nothing wrong. As a Committee, and as individuals, we are engaged in constitutionally protected activities of free speech and right of assembly (www.antiwarcommittee.org for more information).
Palestine & Colombia: We are particularly being targeted for our solidarity work with Palestine and Colombia. Ironically, the reason we do solidarity work with these people is because in Palestine and Colombia activists who work for social justice and who speak out against U.S. policy or against their repressive government (which is funded and supported by the U.S.) are targeted for oppression. I have seen this first hand. I went to Palestine in 2002 and saw how the Israeli government uses collective punishment (home demolitions, bombing of apartment buildings, cutting off food) to pressure Palestinians to stop demanding their own freedom. In Colombia in 2004 and 2006 I met with campesinos (peasants) who told me about massacres committed by government sponsored death squads conducted in order to push them off their land for oil companies or to silence them from protesting U.S. free trade policy. I have spoken out across the country about how our tax dollars fund this oppression and I thought I had the right to criticize governments that don’t allow organizing or speech.
Material Support of Terrorism: “Terrorists” are anyone the State Department decides should be on the “Foreign Terrorist Organization” list. There is no review, oversight or appeal of this decision. The FMLN (the current party in power in El Salvador) was on this list, the African National Congress (movement in South Africa fighting apartheid in the 80’s) was on this list. “Material Support” is not just about whether someone sends money to a designated “terrorist” organization. A recent Supreme Court ruling (Holder vs. Humanitarian Law Project) affirms that any form of communication with a designated “terrorist” is considered “material support.” In that case, the Humanitarian Law Project was trying to assist with setting up fair elections in Turkey and Sri Lanka, a project which necessarily involves discussions with all parties. Under this law, Jimmy Carter could potentially be charged with a felony for helping to organize fair elections in Lebanon, where he, of course had to coordinate with Hezbollah. The Justice Department claims that speech with anyone is ok, as long as it is not “coordinated,” but has refused to define what “coordinated” means. (more here:http://ccrjustice.org/holder-v-humanitarian-law-project)
The Grand Jury: Computers, files, papers, cell phones, and many other materials were confiscated in the raids. All that will be gone through to look for any connection to anyone or anything that might provide evidence of “material support.” At this point, we don’t know who they want to indict. Those of us who have been subpoenaed have been ordered to come to a grand jury hearing in Chicago, the first appearance being on October 5th. At that hearing, there is no judge and no lawyer. The prosecutor can ask anything they want, about who you know, what you think, who you’ve met, what you’ve said. The Department of Justice is “fishing,” trying to piece together random information in a witch hunt similar to the McCarthy era. If we refuse to put ourselves or others at risk by not speaking, we can be jailed for the duration of the Grand Jury. (http://grandjuryresistance.org/ for more information on grand juries, including how they have been used to silence activists throughout history).
Where we are: I, and many other activists, have pleaded the fifth, and chosen not to testify. I cannot in good conscience be a part of this judicial witch hunt. People who fight for peace and justice should not be called terrorists or have their lives turned upside down like mine has been. By refusing to testify I put myself at risk of going to jail. The next legal step is in the hands of the Department of Justice. They could cancel the Grand Jury. They could carry on, but decide not to bother with us. They could send us letters again, giving us the option to talk or go to jail. We don’t know when they will take the next step, or what it will be. We do know what our next steps will be. We will not be silent. We will not allow the harassment of activists to quiet our opposition to immoral policies. We will continue to speak out against the unjust investigation, the unjust law, and the unjust foreign policies of the US government. The peace community is strong, and are already showing amazing solidarity around the country. Some of you have seen this again and again over the decades and have played a role before. Some of us are young enough to be experiencing it for the first time, at least directly.What you can do: Regardless of how you feel about the political positions of myself, the Anti-War Committee, and other activists involved, please remember that we have done nothing wrong, and yet we stand a very real chance of jail time. If you would like to help, please do any or all of the following:
SPEAK OUT! Let others know what is going on, and ask them to take an action.
Sign the petition to stop the Grand Jury: www.iacenter.org/stopfbi
Monday October 4, Call Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General (202-353-1555) and President Obama (202-456-1111) to demand (1) End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists, (2) Return all materials seized in the raid (3) Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists. If you can’t make the call on Monday, any day will do.
Tuesday October 5, Hold a protest in your area, or join an already existing one. This is the first day of the subpoena hearings.Contact your representative and senators to change the material support law.
Donate to the Committee to Stop FBI Repression to fund our legal defense. Donate at stopfbi.net.
Anne and I have been overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from family and friends. I love you and appreciate your faith in me as I stand up for my convictions. I hope you’ll continue to stand by us as we defend our right to protest and organize for peace and justice.
Peace and solidarity, Meredith
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