Nationwide Conferences Spotlight Threats to Political Activism

Warning that civil liberties and constitutional rights are being eroded by ambiguous counterterrorism laws, thousands of anti-war and other activists participated in conferences across the country during February 2011. Organized by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, the conferences featured speakers discussing the impact of the Sept. 24, 2010 FBI raids on activists and subsequent grand jury subpoenas on constitutional rights and described other attempts by the government to suppress political activism.  The conferences were held in several U.S. cities, including Chicago, Oakland, New York, and Chapel Hill (click on the city to view its conference report).

“From the time the FBI first knocked on my door, it was clear that this was all about our ideas and political beliefs,” said Jess Sundin, an activist whose home was raided in September and spoke at the conference held in Chicago. “They were after flyers, address books and information about political events.”

• The adverse impact of the Supreme Court decision in Holder vs. Humanitarian Law Project on international activism. 
   
• The breadth of the Patriot Act powers and rampant FBI violations of the law between 2001-2008. 
   
• How the material support of terrorism laws are being used to attack activists for their First and Fourth amendment activities. 
   
• Infiltration of an anti-war group in Minneapolis by government agent posing as an anti-war activist.