Letter from Illinois Senator Richard Durbin

*This letter was received Jan. 10 by a supporter of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) who had contacted Senator Durbin’s office about our case. In early December, a delegation from CSFR had met with one of Durbin’s aides to brief him. CSFR has organized visits to Washington, DC or district offices of nearly 100 Senators and Congress persons, meeting with the legislators themselves or their aides. We have found that the sentiment expressed here is widespread. Hopefully, other legislators will speak out as well in our behalf.*

January 10, 2011

Dear _____________________:

Thank you for your message regarding the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raids that occurred in September 2010. I appreciate hearing from you and share your concerns.

On September 24, 2010, federal agents searched several homes of anti-war activists in Chicago and Minneapolis. In addition, nineteen people in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. I am troubled by the events that occurred as a result of this investigation.

Under Senate Ethics Rules, I cannot intervene in this matter while it is under investigation by the FBI. However, I will continue to monitor this case closely and will keep your views in mind.

I am committed to protecting our civil liberties and preserving our freedoms during both war and peace. We must not forget the painful lessons we learned in the past when we sacrificed liberty in the name of security. We should never again repeat mistakes like the internment mandates of World War II or the sweeping investigations of the McCarthy era.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator