Coleen Rowley at St Scholastica 3/22

UPDATE 3/22: Coleen Rowley's lecture has been POSTPONED on account of the blizzard. It has been rescheduled to TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 7:30pm

Tuesday, March 22  April 12

7:30 pm

College of St Scholastica - Mitchell Auditorium

"Obama's Response to Terrorism"

         with Coleen Rowley

Free and open to the public

Sponsored by the Alworth Center 

         for the Study of Peace and Justice

 

Our friend Coleen Rowley is returning to Duluth to give the closing lecture of the Terrorism and Human Rights series at the College of St Scholastica. A retired, 23-year veteran of the FBI, Rowley was honored by TIME Magazine as a Person of the Year in 2002 for blowing the whistle on pre-9/11 intelligence lapses. We don't want to give away her talk, but it's safe to say she'll tear U.S. war policy and intelligence gathering to shreds as anti-democratic and counter-productive. Don't miss her... we're sure you'll learn something new from our favorite agent-turned-activist.

While you're at it, check out these other fine speakers coming to our area:

Thursday, March 17

7:30 pm

College of St Scholastica - Mitchell Auditorium

"Dying to Drive the Foreigners Out"

      with Robert Pape

Dr. Pape is the director of the University of Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism and a leading international authority on the psychology of suicide terrorism. Check out his article "It's the Occupation, Stupid" for Foreign Policy here.

Saturday, March 26

7:00 pm

College of St Scholastica - Burns Wellness Center 249

"The Perils of Military Presence in Our Urban Communities"

      with Art Laffin

Art Laffin is an author, longtime peace activist and member of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Community in Washington, DC. He has participated in numerous nonviolent actions for disarmament and upholding the rights of the homeless, prisoners, immigrants and victims of torture. Sponsored by the Duluth chapter of Pax Christi - the international Catholic peace movement. Free and open to the public.

Central Labor Body, Duluth DFL condemn government attacks on anti-war movement

On Thursday, October 14, delegates to the 17,000-member Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body unanimously adopted a resolution of support for Midwest anti-war activists facing FBI and Department of Justice harassment. The resolution calls for a congressional inquiry into government spying and grand jury investigations of US social movements, and will be hand-delivered to US Senators Klobuchar and Franken by DCLB president Dan O'Neill today.

Delegates noted that a large number of the people targeted are longtime labor organizers, among them three members of AFSCME local 3800 and a member of Teamsters local 320 at the UofM and a member of Education Minnesota.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, October 19, the Executive Committee of the Duluth Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party adopted a similar resolution which was forwarded to other DFL party units in the state.

For more information about the case, visit the Anti-War Committee or the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. The National Lawyer's Guild also provides helpful Know Your Rights materials for activists.

Duluth Central Labor Body resolution
in support of Midwest anti-war activists

Whereas on September 24, 2010, the FBI carried out coordinated raids on the homes and offices of anti-war and trade union activists in Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, during which agents confiscated computers, mailing lists, cell phones, passports, political literature, correspondence and children’s drawings; and served subpoenas to 14 people to testify before a federal grand jury about alleged material support for foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs); and

Whereas from the Palmer Raids to J Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO, the FBI and Department of Justice have long histories of exploiting public fears in order to disrupt trade union, civil rights and anti-war organizing; and

Whereas four days prior to the September 24 raids, the Office of the Inspector General of the United States revealed that the FBI has systematically and illegally spied on political activists; that FBI director Robert Mueller lied to Congress about details of the surveillance; and that agents frequently confuse civil disobedience with “domestic terrorism”; and

Whereas on June 20, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Holder v Humanitarian Law Project to uphold a provision of the USA Patriot Act that defines material support for FTOs so broadly as to include legitimate humanitarian work, journalism and international solidarity;

Therefore be it resolved that the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body denounce the September 24 FBI raids and grand jury investigation of Midwest anti-war and trade union activists as a dangerous assault on free speech and association; and

Be it further resolved that the DCLB call on Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to request a full and transparent Senate investigation of post-9/11 FBI surveillance of social movements and the use of expansive anti-terror laws to criminalize dissent; and

Be it finally resolved that the DCLB forward this resolution to Midwest-area labor councils and the AFL-CIO and urge these organizations to similarly condemn FBI and DOJ attempts to intimidate and disrupt grassroots social movements.

Terrorism and Human Rights at CSS

Tonight, the Alworth Center for Peace and Justice at the College of St Scholastica launches its 2010-2011 lecture series. The theme is "Terrorism and Human Rights" and features an incredible lineup of intelligence experts, journalists and authors, including Good Muslim, Bad Muslim author Mahmood Mamdani. NAWC is working with the Center to co-host the final event of the lecture series on March 21 with FBI whistle-blower Coleen Rowley.

	Combating Terror with Intelligence with Michael Sheehan Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium Free admission
	The Roots of Mideast Terror with Mahmood Mamdani Thursday, October 28, 2010, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium Free admission
	Dying to Drive Foreigners Out with Robert Pape Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium Free admission
	The War on American Ideals with Jane Mayer Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium Free admission
	Obama’s Response to Terrorism with Coleen Rowley Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Mitchell Auditorium Free admission

Anti-war movement unites against DOJ repression

Hundreds of people rallied in Minneapolis, Chicago, Duluth and other Midwest cities on Monday to denounce FBI and Department of Justice intimidation of anti-war and Left organizers. At the Duluth Federal Building, World War II combat veteran and longtime activist Andy Anderson read a NAWC statement of solidarity with activists who were targeted in weekend raids in Minneapolis and Chicago (see below); and Rev. John Pegg of Witness for Peace explained how accusations of terrorist ties have been used to discredit peaceful social movements both in Colombia and, increasingly, in the US. NAWC steering committee member Joel Kilgour called on Senators Franken and Klobuchar to intervene with the DOJ on behalf of the Midwest anti-war movement; and for the Duluth police to refuse to cooperate with any federal investigation of local activists. For media coverage of the event, see the Northland News Center and the Duluth News-Tribune.

The weekend raids represent a disturbing trend, initiated under Bush and continued under the Obama Administration, to discredit and criminalize anti-war and justice movements under the guise of combating terror. Key to this strategy, as it was during COINTELPRO and the Palmer Raids, is to divide our movements. While the DOJ under both Bush and Obama have made a habit of surveilling and harassing groups like School of the Americas Watch, the Catholic Worker, PETA and Greenpeace, it has targeted anarchist and socialist organizers with very public smear campaigns designed precisely to push the anti-war movement to the margins.

We must not be intimidated or divided. Whatever political differences we may have -- Republicans, Democrats, Greens, anarchists, socialists, libertarians, pacifists -- we will stand together and fight the erosion of our basic rights to organize, assemble and think freely. Our best next move is to continue our activism, undaunted and undivided.

September 26, 2010
Northland Anti-War Coalition Statement on FBI raids

On Friday, September 24, FBI agents raided four homes of anti-war and social justice activists in Minneapolis, the offices of the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee (AWC), two homes in Chicago, and others in Michigan and North Carolina. All of the activists targeted have been involved in legal, open political work against U.S. wars and for solidarity with the people of Palestine and Latin America. None have yet been charged with any crime. Reports indicate that this raid was more than a year in the making, and it follows on the heels of a U.S. Justice Department investigation revealing that the FBI has been illegally spying on activists in the peace and social justice movements for several years. Activists had their computers, cell phones, other personal effects, and even their children's art work carted away for probing by the Feds.

These raids appear to target activists for their political affiliations and ideas. The fact that an organization very similar to the Northland Anti-War Coalition, in the same state, had its offices raided should give all Northland activists pause. Whether or not we personally agree with the politics of those under investigation, all activists are potential targets, and we must stand in solidarity with those who are victimized, lest we be next.

The FBI says it is looking for ties between the targeted activists and so-called Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Many local residents in various organizations, secular and religious, have visited the Middle East and Latin America and met with groups that have perspectives at odds with U.S. authorities'. Equating peace and justice solidarity with support for terrorism is false and sets a chilling precedent, betraying the democratic principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The Northland Anti-War Coalition rejects the criminalization of solidarity, anti-war and social justice activism.

We reject the notion that the United States Government has a right to arbitrarily label foreign organizations "Terrorist" based not on their tactics, but on whether or not their aims conform to U.S. foreign policy.

We demand that the FBI return everything taken from the raided homes and office and that the Obama Administration issue an apology to the targeted activists.

We refuse to be intimidated by the FBI's actions. We call on all people of conscience in the Twin Ports area to join us in a protest for money for jobs and schools, not for war on October 11, 5 p.m. in front of the Historic Old Central High School and 6:15 p.m. in front of City Hall.

FBI targets Midwest anti-war movement!

This morning, the FBI raided at least four Minneapolis homes and the offices of the Anti-War Committee, purportedly to investigate "activities concerning the material support of terrorism." The targeted activists include organizers with Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the Anti-War Committee -- which only weeks before had announced its intention to march on the 2012 DNC. No one was arrested, but agents seized computers, political literature and financial records.

Take Action:

__ Emergency Rally __

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
4:30 pm

DULUTH FEDERAL BUILDING

__ Contact __

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
202-353-1555 or AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

Senator Amy Klobuchar
(toll free) 888-224-9043

Senator Al Franken
(Duluth office) 218-722-2390

**Stop the repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
**Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc.
**End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

The raids come days after revelations of FBI surveillance of anti-RNC activists in Iowa in 2008 and expansive spying operations targeting environmental and anti-war activists -- including the Duluth Catholic Worker -- during the Bush years.

The raids are part of a year-long investigation of the anti-war movement. At least 13 organizers in Minneapolis, Chicago and elsewhere have been subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. The FBI appears to be targeting the Midwest anti-war movement -- not for any illegal action, but because of the political beliefs and associations of some of its organizers.

No activity up north... so don't be paranoid. But as always, know your rights.

photo: Twin Cities Indymedia

FBI spied on activist groups; Duluth Catholic Worker mentioned in report

The Justice Department's office of the inspector general issued a report yesterday criticizing FBI surveillance of anti-war, animal rights and environmental groups under the Bush Administration. The report reveals that from 2001 to 2006, the FBI spied on PETA, Greenpeace, the Thomas Merton Center, individual Quakers and members of the Catholic Worker movement; and it accuses FBI director Robert Mueller of lying (ahem, providing inaccurate information) to Congress about the agency's surveillance of a Pittsburgh anti-war rally. The report further decries a Hoover-like politicization of FBI field reports, including irrelevant details of what agents describe as the "communistic" ideology of the Catholic Worker.

Guess who shows up on page 151 of the report? Our own Duluth Catholic Worker, surveilled along with other activists during a protest at Offut Air Force Base in Omaha in 2003.

Remarkably, the IG downplays the FBI's numerous violations of the 1st Amendment as an "ill-conceived project on a slow work day," and suggests that some civil disobedience actions carried out by both Greenpeace and the Catholic Worker do indeed fit the definition of "domestic terrorism."

In other words: Bush may be gone, but the Constitution hasn't made a comeback.