October 3, 2010

In a qualitative escalation, the Obama administration has for the first time used the “war on terror” against socialists in the United States. On September 24, the FBI conducted a series of coordinated early-morning raids at homes and offices in Minneapolis, Chicago, Michigan, and North Carolina. The political police seized computers, passports, books, documents, cell phones, photos, financial records, diaries, maps, and other materials. In one case, children’s artwork was confiscated. The warrants were issued under a 1996 statute signed into law by President Clinton making it a crime for U.S. citizens to provide “material assistance” to any organization designated by the government as “terrorist.” The raids centered on members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (Fightback). The warrant for one of those targeted, Michael Kelly, authorized seizure of materials related to “Kelly’s travel to and from and presence and activities in Minnesota, and other foreign [sic] countries to which Kelly has traveled as part of his work in FRSO; Kelly’s ability to pay for his own travel from the United States to Palestine and Colombia, and for travel within the United States from 2000 until present, including all materials related to Kelly’s personal finances and finances of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (“FRSO”). When one of those targeted didn’t open the door fast enough to suit the FBI thugs, they smashed the door down so violently it flew across the room and broke an aquarium. The designation of any group as “terrorist” by the State Department is completely arbitrary, made without public explanation and without any recourse by any U.S. citizen. In the past the African National Congress, the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Irish Sein Fein were so designated, and then un-designated when that suited the U.S.  “Providing material assistance” is also a completely arbitrary term and can be interpreted in any way the government wants. The nine robed reactionaries of the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that merely talking to designated groups equals providing material support, in a case where pacifists wanted to persuade such groups to adopt non-violence. Those whose homes were raided have been active in many groups, including the Twin Cities [Minneapolis and St, Paul] Antiwar Committee, whose offices also were raided. This committee participated in a national antiwar conference in July, attended by 800 activists, which formed the United National Antiwar Committee and called for antiwar demonstrations next spring. Some of those targeted helped organize demonstrations at the Republican national convention in 2008 in Saint Paul, and were among many arrested in a police riot against the demonstrators. Charges were later dropped, but these new attacks give the authorities another bite at the apple. By targeting socialists, the Obama administration hopes to intimidate wider circles. Tom Burke, one of those whose home was raided, said, “The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes. They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the antiwar movement, and pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America.” Things are just getting better and better. Guess I won’t be wearing my Obama t-shirts any time soon.