The Clipboard: FBI wants info on antiwar protestors

From an article¹:

Federal officials have refused to say why they want information about the conference, the legal group that hosted it and four Des Moines-area peace activists involved.

But officials with the National Lawyers Guild, host of the Nov. 15 conference, said they intend to move Monday to block the subpoena, one of five delivered this week by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Bruce Nestor, a Minneapolis lawyer representing the guild, said he will argue that the subpoena has a "chilling effect on the rights of people to associate with the National Lawyers Guild and with the rights of our members."

Four of the subpoenas went to Des Moines peace activists, who were told to appear Tuesday before a federal grand jury. One went to Drake University, asking for information about the anti-war conference and records of the National Lawyers Guild local chapter.

The U.S. attorney's office in Des Moines convinced a judge Thursday to issue an order under seal - described by peace-movement sources as a gag order - to prohibit Drake employees from talking about the document search.

The subpoena demanded records from campus security reflecting any observations of the Nov. 15 conference, including "any records of persons in charge or control of the meeting, and any records of attendees of the meeting." Drake University President David Maxwell declined to comment Friday on how the university would respond.

Meanwhile, members of the Iowa congressional delegation and legal experts expressed concern about the appearance that the government is investigating activists involved in peaceful opposition to war.

"I don't like the smell of it," said Sen. Tom Harkin, adding that he did not know details of the investigation. "It reminds me too much of Vietnam when war protesters were rounded up, when grand juries were convened to investigate people who were protesting the war." (link)

Now it really is official. The FBI has never heard of the First Amendment. What is this country coming to?

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Complete text of the article, Group fights anti-war inquiry, by Jeff Eckhoff and Mark Siebert

Lawyers worked Friday to derail a federal grand jury investigation into an anti-war conference held three months ago at Drake University.

Federal officials have refused to say why they want information about the conference, the legal group that hosted it and four Des Moines-area peace activists involved.

But officials with the National Lawyers Guild, host of the Nov. 15 conference, said they intend to move Monday to block the subpoena, one of five delivered this week by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Bruce Nestor, a Minneapolis lawyer representing the guild, said he will argue that the subpoena has a "chilling effect on the rights of people to associate with the National Lawyers Guild and with the rights of our members."

Four of the subpoenas went to Des Moines peace activists, who were told to appear Tuesday before a federal grand jury. One went to Drake University, asking for information about the anti-war conference and records of the National Lawyers Guild local chapter.

The U.S. attorney's office in Des Moines convinced a judge Thursday to issue an order under seal - described by peace-movement sources as a gag order - to prohibit Drake employees from talking about the document search.

The subpoena demanded records from campus security reflecting any observations of the Nov. 15 conference, including "any records of persons in charge or control of the meeting, and any records of attendees of the meeting." Drake University President David Maxwell declined to comment Friday on how the university would respond.

Meanwhile, members of the Iowa congressional delegation and legal experts expressed concern about the appearance that the government is investigating activists involved in peaceful opposition to war.

"I don't like the smell of it," said Sen. Tom Harkin, adding that he did not know details of the investigation. "It reminds me too much of Vietnam when war protesters were rounded up, when grand juries were convened to investigate people who were protesting the war."

The Nov. 15 conference was called "Stop the Occupation! Bring the Iowa Guard Home!"

Organizers widely advertised their intention to hold the conference and then demonstrate the following day outside the Iowa National Guard headquarters in Johnston.

A flier was sent to the Des Moines Police Department and media outlets. A Des Moines television station shot video footage.

On Friday, the Iowa Civil Liberties Union entered the case and plans to represent one of those subpoenaed. Two other activists are scheduled to meet with a lawyer Monday.

Officials with the civil liberties group wonder whether the investigation is being conducted under the Patriot Act, controversial legislation designed to expand the government's ability to pursue domestic terrorists.

Michael Greenberger, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security at the University of Maryland, tracks counter- terrorism efforts nationwide.

"Without knowing the details," Greenberger said, "these facts tend to evidence exactly the kinds of things that people are worried about with regard to the Patriot Act and other prosecutorial excesses. It seems like people are being challenged for their free-speech rights."

Other members of Iowa's congressional delegation want to know more.

Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Des Moines Democrat and member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he understands the need for secrecy when dealing with matters of national security.

"However, I am increasingly concerned about Attorney General John Ashcroft's disregard for explaining the actions of the Justice Department to the public," Boswell said.

Officials with the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C., said they would return a telephone call Friday, but failed to do so.

Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Kiron, said it appeared the government was using significant resources to investigate a relatively minor protest.

"It definitely has my attention, and I will be asking questions," King said.

reference=http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4788993/23473647.html