Support of Due Process for Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists

The following resolution was passed on March 10, 2011.

WHEREAS, on Friday, September 24, 2010, the FBI coordinated national actions when it raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis; served subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to 14 activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan; and intimidated activists in California, Wisconsin and North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, these activists were involved in many groups, including the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization; and

WHEREAS, these activists and many others came together to organize the 2008 anti-war marches during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul; and

WHEREAS, in December, 2010, 9 Palestine Solidarity activists in Chicago were also subpoenaed; and

WHEREAS, the subpoenas claim that the grand jury is investigating violations of the 1996 law on the issue of “material support” of “designated foreign terrorist organizations; and

WHEREAS, the FBI confiscated computers, email and mailing lists, cell phones , cameras, videos, books, and passports; and

WHEREAS, these raids and intimidations across the country, including in Durham, North Carolina, against activists who oppose U.S. foreign policy are a threat to our freedoms and are unconstitutional;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Hall Precinct of the Orange County Democratic Party of North Carolina calls on President Barack Obama, U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees to stop the FBI Campaign of repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists, halt the current grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists, and return all confiscated materials.