FBI anti-terrorist task force raids homes of anti-war activists in Twin Cities and Chicago

Six homes or apartments of anti-war activists, members of the Twin Cities anti-war movement were raided by the FBI this morning, 6 in the Twin Cities area and two in Chicago according to the information I can gather at the moment. I just spoke to Marie Braun in Minnesota and she told me that they raided the homes this morning and took computers, cell phones and other items belonging to anti-war activists. An FBI spokesman described the event as an “investigation into activities concerning the material support of terrorism.”

The agents went in around 7 am and left about four hours later. As well as accusations of “material support for terrorist groups in Syria, Palestine and Columbia” trips some of those involved took to Columbia and the Middle East were used an excuse for the raids. Pictures and cds were taken by the FBI.

Randy Furst writing in the Star Tribune describes events:
"Among the homes raided were the apartments of Jessica Sundin, who was
a principal leader of the mass march of 10,000 on the opening day of
the Republican National Convention two years ago, and Mick Kelly, who
was prominent in that protest and among those who announced plans to
march on the Democratic National Convention in Minneapolis, if the
city is selected to host it in 2012.


Ted Dooley, an attorney, said he had reviewed the search warrant
issued in the raid on Kelly’s apartment. “It’s a probe into the
political beliefs of American citizens and to any organization
anywhere that opposes the American iimperial design,” he said.


Steve Warfield, an FBI agent, declined to respond to Dooley’s comment.
He said in a statement Friday, “We are doing six federal search
warrants in Minneapolis that are related to an ongoing Joint Terrorism
Task Force investigation into activities concerning the material
support of terrorism. We are doing two search warrants in Chicago as
well.”
http://www.startribune.com/local/103716104.html

This is all I know right now but we must keep an eye on this and support these activists. They will use the accusation of “terrorism” toward any group that questions or more importantly actively opposes US foreign policy that is carried out in the interests of the corporations.

Check out the local twin cities media, including Indymedia to keep informed.