Update on the Witch-Hunt

In late July of this year, several anarchists in Portland, Seattle, and Olympia were subpoenaed to testify before a Federal Grand Jury set to commence on August 2nd at the Federal Courthouse in Seattle.  The target of the investigation is presumed to be the vandalism that occurred during the May Day protests in downtown Seattle on May 1st, 2012.

August 2nd was the first day subpoenants were expected to appear before their inquisitors.  Only one showed up.  No one cooperated.  After hitting this brick wall of silence, the Grand Jury scheduled its next round of interrogations for August 30th.   But at the last minute, it was rescheduled for September 13th.

That day, Leah Plante (Portland) and Matt Duran (Olympia) went into the Federal Courthouse. Only one of them came out again.

Over a hundred people gathered outside the building, holding a support rally.  Department of Homeland Security agents were scattered throughout the area, most of whom had guns with live ammunition.  Inside, both Leah and Matt made it clear they would say nothing to the inquisitors.  Leah was eventually dismissed but the inquisitors kept Matt.  People outside soon learned there would be a contempt hearing in the courthouse regarding Matt’s refusal to testify.  In a rare move by the feds, something that has not happened since McCarthy’s Red Scare, the contempt hearings were closed to the public.  Within a few hours Matt was being stolen out of the courthouse in a blue van with blackened windows.

Metropolis: The George Jackson Brigade

Carnival of Liberation Occupies Autonomia Social Center

On August 19^th, a group of people marched from the northern end of the Central District down 23^rd Avenue to the old Autonomia social center.  The bottom floor of the building has remained unused since the social center was forced to close in the fall of 2011 due to harassment and repression from the gentrifiers, the police, and the city of Seattle.

When the group arrived at the building they found food waiting and the door open.  After listening to a short speech people entered the space, ate food, listened to music, and hung out on the street corner.  The police remained nearby but did not interfere with the festivities.  About two hours later, the occupiers of the building chose to leave rather than inevitably get arrested in the days or hours to come (although it is unclear if people did in fact choose to stay the night).

The event contributed to the increasing polarization between virulent yuppie-gentrifiers and the rest of the population. For example, a posh bo-bo couple flipped off the occupiers and were met with insults in return, while a man who used to come to Autonomia welcomed everyone back to the neighborhood and was met with thanks.

The atmosphere of the event was generally positive and there was no repression to dampen people’s spirits.  It is hoped that people will continue occupying buildings, ideally with the intention of holding them.

-A cell of the Invisible Army

Below is the speech that was given in front of the old Autonomia:

This building here once housed the Autonomia social center, but it was destroyed by the city of Seattle and the gentrifying neighbors who wanted it gone.  While it existed, the social center provided free clothes, food, and social events to the neighborhood and the wider area.  Now this space is empty and unutilized.

People often asked what we would do without police, laws, or capitalism.  Our answer, very simply, is this.  We will take back our lives from those who would take them from us.  This is the alternative.  What we are doing now is but the smallest glimpse of the world as should exist, a free world without money, without an economy, without capitalism.  We do not need the market, the government, the police, or their laws.  We are free people, and we will remain so. 

We wish to express solidarity with our comrades in Oakland, Parnell’s Market, the EZLN in Chiapas, Pussy Riot in Russia, and every rebel who fights in the international struggle against the capitalist world system.

Our bodies are our best weapons, our true weapons.  Remember how to use them.  Stay, eat, dance, hold the space, call your friends, and remember that we all possess the power to alter the world around us.  Never forget that power and hold onto it as long as you can.

Anarchist International

May Day 2012

Statement from Grand Jury Subpoenant: “I Tell Em, Slow Down, You Know You Can’t Catch Me.”

I would like to start by saying that I send nothing but love and unbreakable solidarity to my alleged subpoenaed non-cooperating comrades, especially Leah. Whether we called each other friends in the past or have never even met, through this experience our struggle is even more connected.

About two weeks ago I received some information that led me to believe that the FBI was searching for me in order to serve a subpoena. While in all actuality, and in the eyes of the court, this is nothing more than someone playing a cruel joke on me, I remain very startled. So startled, that i decided I should get out of town for a while, to a place where I would feel more safe. Luckily, I have more than enough support from my friends and loved ones to make this situation bearable. I want to thank all the comrades and friends who have helped through the beginning of this rough situation. Whether they be on the West Coast, East Coast, or anywhere else in the world.

My hesitation at even the thought of participating in Grand Jury does not have anything to do with “rights” or “justice”. While yes, technically a Grand Jury would be a violation of my civil rights, I do not want spend time on getting caught up on words that have such little meaning to me. I have no desire to view myself as a victim, or someones whose rights have been violated. Instead, I understand that the state views myself and my comrades as enemies, and they will do whatever they can to stifle our struggle, providing they can get away with it. The gathering of this Grand Jury is not surprising or unexpected, but that does not make it hurt any less. I completely understand that others in a similar situation want to exercise their rights to be kept out of prison, and I will absolutely stand by whatever the other allegedly subpoenaed comrades chose to do. Different people chose to resist in different ways and this is fine, as long as everyone remains non-cooperating I see no problem with any decisions that my comrades would make.

Hunting Witches in the Pacific Northwest: On the Grand Jury Targeting Anarchists

On August 2nd, 2012, a large group of people converged on the Federal Courthouse on Stewart Street to support those who were summoned to appear before a Federal Grand Jury* recently convened in Seattle. In the week prior, six people had been subpoenaed by the Grand Jury to answer questions and give testimony regarding unknown subjects. Based on a warrant to search a house in Portland which mentioned “anarchist literature” and “destruction of government property,” many assume that the Grand Jury is investigating the attack on the old Federal Courthouse in downtown Seattle during the May Day protests.

In Portland on July 25th, the FBI stormed a house with one of its paramilitary units and seized computers, literature, and other materials before serving one man with a subpoena. On the same day, two other Portland homes were raided, but the intended targets no longer lived there. Elsewhere, the Feds successfully served two subpoenas, one in Olympia and another in Portland. Three other subpoenas have been issued but the Feds have been unsuccessful in their attempts to locate the intended recipients. All of the subpoenants have decided not to cooperate with the Grand Jury and could therefore face federal prison-time for their courageous silence in the face of this latter-day inquisition.

The comparison of the Grand Jury with the Inquisition is not a cheap one, nor will it be used by this author for shock value. The Grand Jury is simply the most recent incarnation of a very old counter-insurgency method. When rebellion becomes a contagion, the authorities use invasive, violent “investigations” to route out, isolate, and eventually punish trouble-makers. The obvious intent is to discipline uncontrollable elements through fear and brutality.