FBI rounding up activists in San Diego, SF

[Liberty Belle]

Cross posting, but this is important. I received this e-mail today notifying me of a meeting tonight to provide activists with information on an FBI investigation into local activists. At least 8 San Diegans have been ordered to testify before a grand jury. This is part of a nationwide sweep clearly aimed at intimidating those who dissent. There's a meeting tonight (Monday 6/27) and a protest tomorrow (6/28) in San Diego. Details below. Please help! -- LB

The San Diego FBI witch hunt is on. For some
background and overview of
the situation please check out:

http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/109378.shtml
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/109409.shtml
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/109438.shtml

Monday, June 27th there is a community forum on the
grand jury at 7pm
at
the First Church of the Brethren, San Diego. 3850
Westgate Place, San
Diego CA 92105. A number of those who have been
subpoenaed and/or have
already testified will also be there to talk about
their experience and
the politics surrounding these proceedings. There will
be several
attorneys there talking about the grand jury process
and a number of
long-time activists who will share their stories about
how grand juries
have been used in the past to break social movements.

The 28th will be the first big day. 12 noon press
conference at the
federal building (front and Broadway).We need to get a
lot of people at
the federal building to show support for those
subpoenaed and to show
our outrage at this attack and the growing repressive
atmosphere in
this
country. Bring signs and yourself.

You can do (4) four things right now!!!

1) We are calling on people to call their politicians
to pressure them
to inquire about this fishing expedition and about how
the patriot act
and the grand jury are being abused. Ask why is due
process being
thrown
out the window and why the FBI cant do a regular
investigation that
doesn't violate peoples civil liberties? Similar
pressure stopped a
similar grand jury in Iowa in its tracks recently. A
few of those
people are:

Rep. Bob Filner [phone]
Sen. Boxer [phone]
Sen. Feinstein [phone]
Donna Frye [phone]
City council: http://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/
[e-mail], [phone]

2) Give the media hell for every bad, hysterical
article they write
about this case!!! Also write letters to the editor in
support of the
San Diego activist community, etc.

3) Donate to the defense of those who have been
subpoenaed. The organic
collective is accepting donations for their defense
which could be a
long and ugly process. Those who plead the 5th and
refuse to cooperate
with this illegitimate process can be sentence to jail
for the duration
of the grand jury process (18 months, plus possible 6
months
extension).
People will also be missing work in order to appear in
court. Online
donations can be made at www.organiccollective.org or
alternate
arrangements can be made be emailing Rich at
[e-mail] or
Marisa (the partner of subpoenaed activists Rob
"Ruckus" Middaugh) at
[e-mail].

4) Talk with every person you know about this case and
the increasingly
repressive climate that we find ourselves living in in
America 2005.
for
more information visit sandiego.indymedia.org

See you Monday and Tuesday!!!!!!

[MindPilot]

1. Have you sent this info to Stacy Taylor? eom

[Liberty Belle]

2. I'll send it now. Good idea.

[jilln]

3. do they have lawyers?

If so, I have a brief about using the 1st Amendment in grand juries that I would be happy to fax to any lawyer. If the witnesses are given immunity, they will no longer have their 5th Amendment right.

[Liberty Belle]

4. Pm me. I'll give you an e-mail to forward the doc.

[shance]

5. Post this in General Discussion - needs more exposure.

n/t

[Liberty Belle]

7. I already did, thanks. Does anyone in other cities know

where else this is happening, besides those areas mentioned in this e-mail? Or what's happened to anyone else who testified?

[sam sarrha]

6. The END is near...

[OffWithTheirHeads]

8. Just called up Boxer and Vichy Dem Di-Fi

told them both that this will not stand. I will not see my country turned into Nazi Germany by Bushhitler. I am willing to take up arms if necessary to defend the nation from this tyranny!

They said thanks for the call. I asked the clerks what the senators were planning on doing about this. They said neither has issued a statement yet. I said I certainly hoped to hear one soon.

Guess it's time to visit the gun store. I never thought I would see it come to this. How truely sad.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Bump

Let us know what's happening.

[Liberty Belle]

10. I have a little bit more info....

Went to part of tonight's meeting, but couldn't stay long because I had to ride with someone who left early.

The activists subpoenaed were from a variety of groups including environmental, animal rights, gay rights, and at least one voting rights advocate. Those involved seemed to feel the investigation originated around a fire blamed on ELF, an environmental group. Others targeted may have been roped in after attending a public meeting for activists of all stripes that happened to be on the night of the fire.

I hope to speak later with the voting rights advocate, an acquaintance, to see if I can get more info. I am hoping she was targeted for other organizations in which she may belong, and not because of the electoral reform work we've both done--all legally, I might add. Still, I can't help but feel a bit rattled by all of this.

I learned that those summoned before the grand jury have been granted immunity before testifying, which means that they can't take the fifth and may be compelled to answer ALL questions or face jail for up to 18 months.

This shouldn't happen in America.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Thank you

It won't be the first time.

Bear in mind, your friend might not be able to say very much.

[bliss_eternal]

12. Has anyone forwarded this info to Air America, yet?

Thanks so much for letting us know. This is insane and total bullshit. I don't live in San Diego--but I'm backing you guys up in spirit. Please keep us posted!

Stay strong!

:patriot:

[Liberty Belle]

13. Yes. Stacy Taylor has it locally and has already interviewed

one activist who received a subpoena.

The local TV news ID'd another as a "voting rights activist." Wonder if it's an attempt to tar election reformists as wild-eyed extremists.