Another Target
Yesterday I posted on the US government's program targeting an American citizen for assassination. Later in the day, I came across this news on another program targeting US citizens, those dangerous, dangerous terroristic peace activists around the country who have been protesting our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Sept. 24, the FBI raided the Minneapolis homes of five antiwar activists, including three leaders of the Twin Cities peace movement, as part of what it called a probe of "activities concerning the material support of terrorism." The Minneapolis office of an antiwar organization was also raided, protest leaders said. Raids were also conducted on two homes in Chicago.
No one was arrested in any of the raids.
Computers, cell phones and documents were seized. FBI officials said the federal search warrants in Minneapolis were related to an ongoing Joint Terrorism Task Force. [Emphasis added]
The feds didn't stop there. They issued subpoenas to 14 peace activists requiring them to appear before a Federal Grand Jury in Chicago. All 14 refused to appear, and, at least for now, the feds blinked and cancelled the subpoenas.
Now, I find it really interesting that the federal government has equated antiwar activism and protests against the policies in the Middle East which heavily favor Israel over the Palestinians with "the material support of terrorism." Exercising one's First Amendment rights are now apparently tantamount to terrorist activities, and therefore something to be squashed. The harassment has been stepped up
In other words, we have become our government's enemy.
Some change, that.
On Sept. 24, the FBI raided the Minneapolis homes of five antiwar activists, including three leaders of the Twin Cities peace movement, as part of what it called a probe of "activities concerning the material support of terrorism." The Minneapolis office of an antiwar organization was also raided, protest leaders said. Raids were also conducted on two homes in Chicago.
No one was arrested in any of the raids.
Computers, cell phones and documents were seized. FBI officials said the federal search warrants in Minneapolis were related to an ongoing Joint Terrorism Task Force. [Emphasis added]
The feds didn't stop there. They issued subpoenas to 14 peace activists requiring them to appear before a Federal Grand Jury in Chicago. All 14 refused to appear, and, at least for now, the feds blinked and cancelled the subpoenas.
Now, I find it really interesting that the federal government has equated antiwar activism and protests against the policies in the Middle East which heavily favor Israel over the Palestinians with "the material support of terrorism." Exercising one's First Amendment rights are now apparently tantamount to terrorist activities, and therefore something to be squashed. The harassment has been stepped up
In other words, we have become our government's enemy.
Some change, that.
Labels: Change, First Amendment, Terra Terra Terra
posted by Diane at 3:53 AM
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