Solidarity from Lake Forest Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Lake Forest Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) stands in support of the 23 activists in their non-violent peace work who are currently under investigation for exercising their constitutionally protected rights to dissent from United States policies in the Middle East and elsewhere. Specifically, we support those people who have been the target of FBI raids and have been issued subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury because of anti-war activities or support of populations considered terrorists. We feel the investigations are unjustified.

We acknowledge that the world has dangerous people and organizations. However, the US government’s overreaching investigations undermine our democracy by attempting to curb the right to dissent peacefully and to suppress those who offer alternatives to US government policies.

Quakers describe a witness to the living truth—the Spirit within as it is acted out every day—as a testimony. To see “that of God in everyone,’’ underlies the reason Quakers are pacifists and why we work diligently to find alternatives to war and violence. Quakers have long supported those who held beliefs different from and sometimes in opposition to those in power. We will continue to support and join all those who seek justice and peace through non-violent actions.

We strongly urge that the federal government cease the harassment of these activists.