The FBI raids squash the free speech rights of antiwar activists. On September 24, 2010, the FBI invaded houses and offices in Minneapolis/ St. Paul, Chicago, and North Carolina in search for evidence of involvement in terrorism. In reality, it is believed that they were truly raiding these locations to intimidate those involved in the antiwar movement. They were trying to scare individuals, who opposite the war, into silence. One of the individuals whose home was invaded was Mick Kelly and he expressed his belief that these raids were about harassing antiwar organizations.
This is not the first time that incidents like this have occurred in the United States. Since the Patriot Act has been passed, it has put limitations on antiwar organizations; for example, protests now have a “free speech zone” in which they can protest their opinions on issues like the war, if they do not follow these guidelines they will be arrested. Different actions have been put forth to put limitations, intimidate, and criminalizes individuals that oppose the war. This can partially be accredited to the lack of media coverage. The mainstream media needs to start reporting on all the issues out there and not just select what the government would approve of.
Title: The FBI Raids in Context
Source: CounterPunch, 9/27/10; Antiwar, 9/24/10
Author: Ron Jacobs
URL: http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs09272010.html
Student Researcher: Gina Uliana
Faculty Evaluator: Keith Gouveia, Sonoma State University