[nlc] FBI subpoena of political membership records (fwd) (fwd)

This forward is about peace activists in the NLG who are being arrested 
and tried as terrorists.  The NLG is starting a letter writing campaign 
to local media combined with a press release.  If anyone is interested 
in supporting the letter writing I can send a copy of a sample letter. 
We are trying to get this underway in the early part of this week.
jessie

----------------------  Forwarded Message:  ---------------------
From:    "LINDA RAMIREZ" <[email protected]>
To:      "NORML Legal Committee" <[email protected]>
Subject: [nlc] FBI subpoena of political membership records
Date:    Fri, 6 Feb 2004 17:19:43 -0500

Address messages for this group to '[email protected]'
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from linda ramirez, florida




Fourth activist in D.M. ordered to testify
The federal probe also focuses on a November antiwar forum held at Drake
University.
By JEFF ECKHOFF and MARK SEIBERT

02/06/2004


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A federal investigation expanded Thursday as prosecutors subpoenaed a
fourth peace activist to appear before a grand jury and secured a court
order forbidding Drake University officials to discuss a demand for
information about a November antiwar conference on campus.

Federal authorities so far have refused to disclose what the
investigation is about or what laws might have been broken. But an
officer with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force served a subpoena to
Wendy Vasquez of Des Moines on Thursday morning.

Vasquez, an antiwar activist who visited Iraq in 2002, was surprised.

"Just the whole idea that somebody would think I'm a terrorist is
ludicrous," she said.

Vasquez's summons was the latest grand jury subpoena issued as part of a
federal investigation that includes three other antiwar activists, as
well as records of an activist legal group at Drake.

Vasquez was among dozens of activists who attended a Nov. 15 conference
at Drake called "Stop the Occupation! Bring the Iowa Guard Home!"

The conference was hosted by the Drake Chapter of the National Lawyers
Guild. The event was followed the next day by a demonstration at the
Iowa National Guard Headquarters in Johnston where 12 protesters were
arrested.

On Wednesday, federal investigators subpoenaed three activists involved
that weekend. Elton Davis, Patti McKee and Brian Terrell have been
ordered to appear in Des Moines before a federal grand jury on Tuesday.

Davis and Vasquez were arrested at the Nov. 16 demonstration, which
Terrell also attended. McKee, who could not be reached for comment, is
listed as an organizer of the conference.

Federal prosecutors have refused to discuss the investigation or the
purpose of the grand jury.

But Thursday morning, at the request of the U.S. attorney's office in
Des Moines, U.S. District Judge Ronald Longstaff issued an order under
seal - meaning its contents are secret.

Sources say the order prohibits Drake employees from commenting about a
separate subpoena demanding university records.

The Drake subpoena asks for all records relating to the Nov. 15
conference. It also demands information about leaders of the National
Lawyers Guild, location of the guild's offices and any annual reports
since 2002.

Part of the subpoena asks for "all records of Drake University campus
security reflecting any observations made of the November 15, 2003,
meeting, including any records of persons in charge or control of the
meeting, and any records of attendees of the meeting."

The National Lawyers Guild is a New York-based organization that
regularly involves itself in social activism and the defense of
protesters. A guild official vowed that the group will fight the
subpoena "with everything that we have."

"It's a clear First Amendment violation and a clear attempt to
intimidate lawful expression," said Heidi Boghosian, the guild's
executive director. "We have no intention of turning anything over."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Vanderschel said Thursday that he could
"neither confirm nor deny the existence of any ongoing investigation."

"I'm not able to provide any further comments," he said.

Drake officials also declined to comment when asked about the existence
of a gag order.

Terrell, one of the activists who has been subpoenaed, was skeptical
about the effort to silence Drake employees. "What they're doing is
they're claiming it's to protect the privacy of students," he said.





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