Resolution and Letter to Senators Franken, Klobuchar, and President Obama signed by 62 Minnesota Legislators

The following is the text of a resolution and letter addressed to Senators Franken and Klobuchar and President Obama.

October 18, 2010

To all Minnesota Congresspersons, Senators Franken and Klobuchar and President Obama:

Below you will find a resolution which states we will not tolerate the recent FBI raids which seem designed to intimidate certain members of our community, particularly our trade union members and peace activists. We have prepared and signed this resolution because it’s of great importance to all the people of Minnesota that our freedoms to peacefully dissent are not infringed upon and are an important and protected part of our Minnesota Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.

We urge you to use your powers and influence to stop these arbitrary and capricious raids on our citizens.

A resolution memorializing the President of the United States and Congress to review the FBI
raids on Minnesota activists.

WHEREAS, a number of Minnesotans were issued subpoenas to appear before a grand jury in Chicago in October; and

WHEREAS, these Minnesotans have not been arrested or charged with any crime; and

WHEREAS, four of these Minnesotans are American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees members in good standing in the union; and

WHEREAS, FBI spokespersons have stated that the raids were prompted by the activities
of the four union members, and other individuals subject to the same raids; and

WHEREAS, these people are entitled to a presumption of innocence under the United
States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, every American has the constitutional right to advocate and organize for change of the foreign policy of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the recent report by the Department of Justice Inspector General soundly criticized the FBI for improperly targeting domestic peace and antiwar groups for investigation; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota's elected officials have frequently gone on record in defense of trade unionists and others to educate, mobilize, and organize for the legitimate goals of peace, justice, and solidarity with all working people; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota's elected officials disavow any practices or policies which threaten
the rights or civil liberties of trade unions and nonviolent peace organizations, and oppose both
attacks on traditional constitutional guarantees and the granting of wider powers to the FBI to
infiltrate or intimidate community groups, unions, and activists; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it expresses grave concern that the recent FBI raids are reminiscent of the Palmer Raids of the 1920s, the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, and the FBI's harassment of nonviolent civil rights and peace activists of
the 1960s and 1970s, and that these raids may be the beginning of a new and dangerous assault on the First Amendment rights of union activists and antiwar peace campaigners.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that, since no acceptable justification or evidence has been presented for these raids and subpoenas and
there is no reason to believe any are forthcoming, it urges Congress to review these arbitrary
and capricious raids. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that, in light of the Inspector General's recent report on the FBI investigation of certain domestic advocacy groups, we call upon the President of the United States to order an immediate investigation into the circumstances, motivation, and propriety of the judicial and FBI intimidation of these
Minnesotans. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Signed: