Lies and Liberty
Patriots face Lies and the Hammer of Federal "law"
The oppression and intimidation of Minneapolis, of Minnesota, and of democracy continues.
Below is copied from the Dept of Justice June 16 indictment of men and women here in Minneapolis and beyond who as citizens, lawfully watched, witnessed documented the ICE surge that spread fear and intimidation like a plague. Spread fear and intimidate, was the purpose. It still is. This indictment is of people supposedly associated with an organization that does not exist—Antifa—but the people indicted are real. Some of those indicted apparently took direct action against ICE and HSA agents in the surge. Blocking vehicles; Following vehicles, communicating with others where ICE was and where going.
15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, Indicted
The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges.
“As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.”
____________________________________
Picture below—masked agents spray peaceful protestors outside the building where the 15 were being indicted and held. No warning. No conversation. Just this—
Law enforcement deployed chemical irritants at a protest Tuesday afternoon outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul.First responders were called to the protest to help people who were impacted by the irritants.
“
First responders were called to the protest to help people who were impacted by the irritants.
“They opened the door to yell at us that we were protesting too loud,” a protester named Jules told KARE 11 following the incident. “Luckily, people were watching the window, so ... some of us were able to put on masks, but a lot of us didn’t bring gear because we weren’t expecting to get maced today.”
Kat Abughazaleh, one of the six charged for protesting at Broadview Jail in Chicago— — she was also running for Congress at the time — posted this on social media Tuesday about the charges in Minnesota.She wrote, quote, “As the government raids 'antifa groups' [quote-unquote] in Minneapolis with the SAME charges levied against myself and the rest of the Broadview Six, we need to be asking how they got this indictment. And as charges (hopefully) get dropped, we must remember the process is the punishment,” Even though all the charges against the Broadview 6 were dropped—the emotional,time, money costs are real.
The process is the punishment.
The purpose is: Shut Down Dissent.
Among the charges is conspiracy—a wide net that can haul in anyone on a chat group—any media—who was in contact with someone DOJ has charged.
In a statement, the ACLU of Minnesota said the organization is monitoring and investigating the situation and that the prosecution of observers and protestors “should be carefully scrutinized for retaliatory motives.”
“Prosecution of a small number of people as punishment for exercising their First Amendment rights can chill people from exercising those same rights,” the statement reads in part. “Given this administration’s history of misrepresenting the facts regarding their conduct toward observers and protestors during Operation Metro Surge, Minnesotans should demand transparency and reserve judgement until we fully understand the facts in this case.”
These 15 people have been charged, but the people who were responsible for the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have not been charged, and the federal government is not cooperating with state officials in investigating their death.
Resources and Sources—of accurate info, ways to support and help.
Law for the People since 1937
https://nlgmn.org/
National Lawyers guild Minnesota
The National Lawyers Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest progressive bar association and was the first one in the US to be racially integrated. Our mission is to use law for the people, uniting lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers to function as an effective force in the service of the people by valuing human rights and the rights of ecosystems over property interests. T
The NLG is dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. Our aim is to bring together all those who recognize the importance of safeguarding and extending the rights of workers, women, LGBTQ people, farmers, people with disabilities and people of color, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends; who seek actively to eliminate racism; who work to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them; and who look upon the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
For more information see the national NLG website.
is is achieved through the work of our members, and the Guild’s numerous organizational committees, caucuses and projects, reflecting a wide spectrum of intersectional issues. Guild members effectively network and hone their legal skills in order to help create change at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
https://www.aclu-mn.org/
This morning, the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security announced charges against 15 individuals stemming from Operation Metro Surge.
The ACLU of Minnesota is monitoring and investigating the situation. While we do not yet have all of the information about these charges, the criminal prosecution of observers and protestors should be carefully scrutinized for retaliatory motives. Prosecution of a small number of people as punishment for exercising their First Amendment rights can chill people from exercising those same rights.
“Minnesotans have the right to observe, document, and peacefully protest federal overreach into our state and abuses against our neighbors,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Catherine Ahlin-Halverson. “We brought Tincher v. Mullin to halt the government’s unlawful policy of retaliation against observers and protesters for exercising their First Amendment rights. We will continue to use every available means to defend people whose liberties are threatened and whose voices are suppressed.”
“It’s critical that Minnesotans know and are prepared to exercise their rights,” said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Alicia Granse. “You have a right to refuse to speak with federal law enforcement, to refuse them entry without a warrant, and to have an attorney present.”
Sahan Journal—professional, independent, Minneapolis based.
https://sahanjournal.com/
Sahan Journal is a nonprofit digital newsroom covering issues that affect diverse communities in Minnesota. Your donations make our work possible. Support us now.
Make Your Voice Heard.
Defend Democracy.
Create Change.
Minnesota 50501 “Fifty-Fifty-One” is a grassroots, non-partisan 501(c)4 nonprofit organization dedicated to building connections, relationships and bridges across Minnesota resulting in a stronger, more representative democracy built on community, equity, and justice for all.
https://mn50501.org/
Great article. Love this, "the process is the punishment". I have felt this sentence many times sith this administration. Thanks for sharing David.
Thank you for sharing this, David. I agree with Kitty. This is terrifying.