Letter from AFSCME Council 31 to Attorney General Holder

*The following letter was sent from Henry Bayer, Director of AFSCME Council 31, to Attorney General Holder on May 19, 2011. Trade unions and labor organizations [representing over 700,000 workers](/solidarity-statements/labor) have come out strongly in opposition to the FBI raids and grand jury repression of antiwar and international solidarity activists.*

##Letter to Attorney General Holder from AFSCME Council 31 Director Henry Bayer

**May 19, 2011**

Dear Attorney General Holder,

As the Director of AFSCME Council 31 which represents more than 100,000 active and retired service workers in Illinois, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the September 24, 2011 FBI raids on anti-war activists.

One of those activists, Stephanie Weiner is a longtime member of our union and was a target of the raid.

As a trade unionist whose movement has a rich history of protest, I am very concerned when an activist’s home is invaded and is made subject to investigation.

Some of the sorriest chapters in our nation’s history have involved the suppression of dissent.

I would hope that as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, you would make it clear to everyone in the Department of JUstice, and to the entire law enforcement community that the suppression of dissent will not be tolerated on your watch.

This case should be resolved expeditiously and with full transparency, and I trust you will act to ensure that it is.

Sincerely yours,

Henry Bayer