Informer Found in Antiwar Committee's Midst

The Feds Go Fishing

By RON JACOBS

Back in September 2010, a series of FBI raids were conducted in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago and North Carolina.  These raids were conducted under laws pertaining to US citizens providing "material aid to terrorists" and targeted members of antiwar, leftist, and solidarity organizations.  Since the raids, various activists that were targeted have been subpoenaed to appear at a grand jury and have refused to do so.  By refusing, those subpoenaed are risking arrest for contempt.  However, as of this writing, none have been taken to jail yet.  As I wrote in an article first published in CounterPunch on September 27, 2010: "These raids are a clear and vicious attempt to intimidate the antiwar movement." and the grand jury "is a fishing expedition, as evidenced (for example) by the warrant asking for papers from no determined time."

The reaction of those whose homes were raided and their supporters was quick and determined.  The targeted activists, their attorneys, and local supporters held a couple of press conferences within days of the raids and original subpoenas and a national network organized protests at Federal Buildings in a number of US cities and towns.  Resolutions attacking the raids and subpoenas and pledging support for the activists and the right to organize were introduced and passed by a number of city councils and antiwar and labor organizations.  The office of the US Attorney for the Northern Illinois District under the direction of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald temporarily withdrew the subpoenas.  However, they were reinstated in December, leading to the aforementioned refusal of those subpoenaed to appear in front of the grand jury.  Several more subpoenas were served on other activists.  In fact, nine more activists have been ordered to testify before the grand jury on January 25, 2011 in Chicago.

A sidebar regarding Patrick Fitzgerald might be beneficial here. If that name seems familiar, it is because he is associated with many high profile cases. He helped prosecute Scooter Libby in the case known as the Valerie Plame affair.  For those who don't remember this case, it involved members of the George Bush White House releasing the name of a CIA agent to the media--a federal offense.  Although Libby was convicted of the crime, it has always been believed that others in the White House, including Vice President Cheney, were involved in its commission.  This demands the question as to why no one else was prosecuted and how much the prosecutor (Fitzpatrick) was involved in limiting the prosecution to one individual, thereby sparing the White House from a criminal investigation.  Patrick has also been involved in many other high profile cases, including the prosecution off Illinois governors Ryan and Blagojevich in separate corruption cases and a case involving torture by the Chicago police that resulted in the conviction of Chicago detective Jon Burge. 

In another investigation targeting leftist, anarchist and antiwar political activists in the Twin Cities, several homes and offices were raided before and during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.  If one recalls, that convention also saw the arrest of media members including Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, brutal attacks on protestors by police and private "contractors" working with police, and a lockdown against free speech activities in certain areas of the city.  Several hundred people were arrested  and many were beaten.  Nine organizers were eventually charged with acts of terrorism.  During their trial it became clear that the organizations these individuals were affiliated with had been infiltrated by government informers. 

Similarly, last week the AntiWar Committee (one of the organizations targeted in the September raids) of the Twin Cities discovered that they too had had an informer in their midst since 2008.  Going by the name Karen Sullivan, this woman claimed to be a single parent and a lesbian who did not get along with her child's father.  According to statements from members of the AntiWar Committee that appeared in the press, the group's members were sympathetic to her cover story and, despite an initial concern by some members, accepted and befriended the woman.  Also, since the AntiWar Committee (AWC) believed their meetings and activities to be covered by the first amendment and were always open to the public, there was little concern for secrecy.

"Ms. Sullivan" involved herself in AWC activities and meetings, even chairing some of them.  She was also one of three AWC members that traveled to Palestine.  As soon as they reached Israel, the members were told they would be detained unless they turned back.  Two chose to stay and were detained while "Sullivan" went back to the US.  It turns out that the Israeli authorities had prior knowledge of the visit and the intention of the group to meet with Palestinian women.  While no one in the group could figure out how this was so, it seems apparent now that the "Ms. Sullivan" had provided this information to her handler who had in turn provided it to US officials, who then passed it on to the Israeli government. 

In the wake of the January 8, 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona there have been calls by a number of politicians, media commentators and others suggesting the need for new laws limiting political speech in the United States.  Meanwhile, efforts are underway in Congress to renew sections of the PATRIOT Act that are due to expire soon.  History tells us that when laws designed to curb political are enacted  in the US, they are used primarily against groups and individuals on the left side of the political spectrum.  There is no need for more laws.  Instead, there is a need for more free speech.  Laws like the PATRIOT Act and The Effective Death Penalty and Anti-Terrorism Act of 1996 and the subsequent interpretation of those laws by the courts have criminalized political activities that were previously legal.  The investigation that led to the raids and grand juries discussed here are an example of this. 

The intention of the government in this and other similar investigations is to intimidate people into keeping silent so they can carry on their business with a minimum amount of attention from the public.  As the discovery of an informer in the AWC shows, they will stop at nothing in their attempt to silence protest against their imperial designs.  It doesn't matter if they get any convictions or even an indictment out of their fishing expedition.  If they have intimidated those who oppose imperial war and support people around the world in their struggle against military occupation, they will have accomplished their goal.  This is reason enough to support those currently targeted by the FBI in the investigations discussed here.  It is more than enough reason to attend the protests against the grand jury on January 25, 2011 around the US.

Ron Jacobs is the author of The Way the Wind Blew: A History of the Weather Underground. Jacobs’ essay on Big Bill Broonzy is featured in CounterPunch’s collection on music, art and sex, Serpents in the Garden. His first novel, Short Order Frame Up, is published by Mainstay Press. His most recent book, titled Tripping Through the American Night is published as an ebook.  Fomite (Burlington, VT.) is publishing his new novel, titled The Co-Conspirator's Tale in Spring 2011 He can be reached at: rjacobs3625@...

http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs01212011.html

Lynne Stewart’s message to Jan. 25 protests

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following message by Lynne Stewart to the Jan. 25 protests against the FBI and Grand Jury witch hunt that has been unleashed on anti-war and international solidarity activists. Lynne Stewart, a heroic and long-time progressive lawyer, is serving a ten-year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas for allegedly helping terrorists. Her courage and determination stand as an example to all of us who are working for peace, justice and equality.

Subpoenas

By Lynne Stewart

I began my career as a political movement lawyer. The government was rounding up the last of the diehard militants, many of whom had been underground, and prosecuting them as a part of the pincer movement.

They also subpoenaed anyone with any tangential relationship to those who had been arrested. I am talking about their daters, their lovers, their teachers, their religious leaders, their estranged relatives, those who had attended meetings, rallies etc.

All of these activities centered upon an expropriation in suburban New York of a Brinks armored truck and the people who were arrested then and later. Their purpose? To intimidate that branch of the movement that could be counted on to support militancy and troll for even the most insignificant crumbs of information that might be fitted together to enmesh suspects.

What happened? Most people who had been taped by the government lawyered up with movement lawyers, guided in part by the legal work of Bob Boyle and Guild lawyers who had written legal representation before Grand Juries which remains the standard on what to do and when to do it. A person subpoenaed is in the unenviable position of having only the vaguest idea of what the government may want and is faced ultimately with the choice of testifying against comrades or spending long months in jail.

They may even face a possibility of being indicted for contempt and facing a sentence that is completely up to a judge. In the face of this challenge in that day, I can only say that most people chose not to testify and to wait out the government. They gave up an existence as they were living it - jobs, relationships, and all that constitutes daily life, and they went to jail. And they stayed in jail for many months and they didn’t give in.

Now we are in another era - one that was not born from the euphoria and idealism of the 60s, and the government is once again arresting, subpoenaing and tormenting movement people, hoping they will become informants. And the reaction of the movement? We resist.

We stand strong with the resisters who elect not to become part of the same prosecution team that has terrorized the world. Now the so-called Department of Justice (ha!) has decided to focus on support groups of the world's peoples and also on eco-terrorism. Why? Because they can! It sends a message to the people that it’s dangerous; don’t join, don’t resist. That message must once again be shouted down, first by the resisters who will go to jail and second by us, the movement who must support them by always filling those cold marble courtrooms to show our solidarity and by speaking out so that their sacrifice is constantly remembered.

Our principle of non-collaboration has so far proved robust. There has been no wavering. Our support must continue to convince everyone involved that these are issues of principle. There can be no compromise. Resisters must be defended to the utmost of our strength and abilities.

Venceremos,

Love/Struggle,

Lynne Stewart

Carswell Federal Prison

http://www.fightbacknews.org/2011/1/25/lynne-stewart-s-message-jan-25-protests

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Re: Peace Ribbon panel
From:    "Jacque Betz" <jacque@...>
Date:    Wed, March 9, 2011 8:29 am
To:      "Lisa Karle" <lkarle@...>
Cc:      "Jacque Betz" <jacque@...>
          "Bob Hohl" <rhohl@...>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Lisa,
   Thank you so much for sending the photos.  The two panels that your
group made are really moving and brought me to tears.  52 people
massacred -- and Tomas -- so so sad.  War is such a waste of generates
such sorrow.
   Every time a read through the list at iraqbodycount.org I am struck by
the number of educators that have been killed.  University professors
seem to be a target.
   I am a recently retired high school science teacher and always felt that
teaching was a "calling" and that the finest people in the world are
teachers.  For Iraq to have lost so many teachers must be especially
difficult and I am so glad you have honored Rafah Butros Toma.
   Every day more and more people come to understand that war doesn't work.
  Let's be the generation that ends war!
   Again, thanks for the great photos.  You made my day!
Your pink pal for peace,
Jacque

> Jacque--
> Here is a link to some of the photos from Saint Mary's College's Peace
> Ribbon exhibit. We hosted a "Make Noise for Peace" event on Friday night,
> and there are a lot of pictures from that, too. You will also see the two
> panels we are adding (Our Lady of Salvation Church and Rafah Butros Toma).
>
> www.saintmarys.edu/~lkarle
>
> Thanks for all you do!
> Lisa
>
>
>
> Oh, those panels sound marvelous. They will be a wonderful addition to
> the Peace Ribbon Project. If there is anything you need to complete
> your panels, please let me know.
> Together we will create peace.
> Your peace pal
> Jacque Betz
>
>
> --
> Elizabeth M. Karle, MLIS
> Cushwa-Leighton Library
> Saint Mary's College
> Notre Dame, IN 46556
>

Hey CodePINKs,
   Sorry for the spam emails from me.  My account was hacked.  I changed my
password and hopefully that should cure the problem.
   Again, I apologize.
Jacque Betz

-Hi Pinks:
   Mark your calendar for April 13, Wednesday 4pm, corner of SE 1st and
University.  The Farmer's Market will be happening then, so come on down
and join in.
Jacque

PS:   Katie I think your original msg had Thurs in subject, not wed.

  --------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: 4/13 Thurs: Picket the McGurn and Collier Companies for their
stance on the 130 meal limit!
From:    "Katherine Walters" <katie.lynn716@...>
Date:    Thu, April 7, 2011 8:39 pm
To:      endthemeallimit@...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

*For Immediate Release*



Contact:

Sean Larson

Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW!

386-882-8788

EndtheMealLimit@... <gainesvilleiso@...>

* *

*Picket the McGurn and Collier Companies for their stance on the *

*130 meal limit! *

Organized by the Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW!



WHEN: Wednesday, April 13, 4:00pm

WHERE: On the corner of SE 1st St and University, then down to SE 2nd Pl and
1st St



Taking place on Wednesday, April 13th at 4:00pm (during Farmer’s Market) the
Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW! has organized a public rally at the
corner of SE 1st St and University.  At 4:30pm protesters will march down 1
st St to the corner of SE 2nd Pl and 1st St, where a picket will be formed.
This picket is against the McGurn Management Company and the Collier
Companies for their stance on the 130 meal limit targeting the St. Francis
House.



Both the McGurns and the Colliers have taken a public stance strongly in
favor of the 130 meal limit enforced at the St. Francis House.  The McGurn
Management Company and the Collier Companies are powerful property
management companies which appear very influential to the decisions made at
City Hall regarding this issue.  In the documentary *Civil Indigent, *Ken
McGurn describes homeless people downtown as crooks, criminals and rapists.
In emails to the Mayor and city commissioners, recently made public by the
Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW!,  Nathan Collier describes the homeless
as an army of occupying vagrants which have turned Downtown Gainesville into
a de-militarized zone.  Both individuals, in the capacity of representing
their companies, have persistently lobbied City Hall to maintain the 130
meal limit, or even do away with public food sharing for those in need
altogether.



“It’s an open secret that businesses like the McGurn Management Company and
the Collier Companies have a greater influence over the decisions made at
City Hall than the people of Gainesville.  Overwhelming condemnation for the
meal limit has come out from thousands of people in the community, and
dozens who are actively organizing against it—yet not a single resident from
the SE neighborhoods have come out for it, only powerful business interests.
We constantly hear about all these people who are concerned about the
“homeless problem” Downtown, but where are they?  I am protesting because
City Hall should serve the wishes of the many, not the powerful few, and
because I reject the prejudiced and callous views of the McGurns and
Collier’s of the world.” Joe Cenker, Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW!
member.



The Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW! is a broad community coalition
composed of dozens of local activists and with over 15 member organizations
on the local, state and national levels.  The Coalition will continue to
organize until the ordinance restricting how many people can be fed at any
one location is repealed.



##