Against the September 24th FBI Raids

Solidarity Statement from the North Eastern Federation of Anarchist-Communists The North Eastern Federation of Anarchist Communists (NEFAC) condemns the Federal Bureau of Investigations' raids on anti-war and anti-colonial organizers, which began the morning of Friday, September 24th in the Twin Cities and Chicago, and the intimidation of organizers across the country. The targets of these raids were those who oppose the racist and colonial oppression of people in Palestine, Colombia, and elsewhere. The raids are characteristic of a governmental department created to counteract popular movements. Since its formation, the FBI has targeted and silenced organizers in the United States who struggle to support and unite oppressed people for a better world. As one of the FBI's main strategies has been to divide movements for change into small ineffectual factions, we call on our brothers and sisters of all radical, revolutionary, and progressive backgrounds to come together in the streets and in front of FBI offices to demonstrate unity in the face of this repression. We will protest these aggressions as if they were committed against our own membership. We call on our anarchist comrades across the country and the world to put aside political differences with the socialists who were the targets of these particular raids. Anarchists, animal rights, and environmental activists have seen the results of the FBI's efforts to crush our struggles throughout the past decade. Thus, we know the shear weight of solidarity it takes to support the FBI's victims, and to maintain the spirits of those who the government wishes to silence. We encourage anarchists to stand with the victims of these actions, for it will only be a matter of time until the FBI targets anarchists again in their quest to silence those who dissent against the global capitalist system. Furthermore, we lend our support to those who will inevitably be resisting a summons to appear and testify before a Grand Jury. These brave individuals who will be sent to prison for refusing to cooperate in the FBI's witch hunt deserve the respect and solidarity of all who struggle for a better future. Lastly, in these dark times, we recall the words of Martin Niemöller (1892-1984), a German Protestant pastor during Nazi rule, who said, First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me. On Friday, the FBI came for socialists who support the struggles of the colonized people of Colombia and Palestine, labeling them terrorists. We call on our brothers and sisters across the country to stand together, now, because tomorrow, they may come for you. Related Link: http://nefac.net