This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
More than ever now, US policy aims to crush dissent, destroy political opposition, and subvert democratic freedoms. On June 21, 2010, the Supreme Court's Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project ruling advanced that disquieting agenda. In a 6 - 3 decision, the Roberts court upheld the "material support" statute's constitutionality (18 USC, 2339B), making it a crime to support any State Department-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), no matter how unwarranted.
At the time, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) argued that:
"the challenged provisions violate the First Amendment insofar as they criminalize the provision of forms of support such as the distribution of literature, engaging in political advocacy, participating in peace conferences, training in human rights advocacy, and donating cash and humanitarian assistance, even when such support is intended solely to promote the lawful and non-violent activities of a designated organization."
Holder's Justice Department disagreed, claiming the statute imposes guilt by association, harming innocent people for the illegal acts of groups they supported. Further, it doesn't require showing intent to support terrorism or other illegal activity.
CCR countered saying, "the statute was unconstitutionally vague, and that the Secretary of State's power to designate groups was too broad, giving the executive too much discretionary power to label groups 'terrorist' (with or without proof) and turn their supporters into outlaws."
With High Court approval, Holder, like his predecessors under Bush, has run rough shot over constitutionally protected freedoms, making anyone for right over wrong vulnerable to criminal prosecution and imprisonment. It's why now, more than ever, America is a police state, a disquieting judgment, putting even activist writers and media hosts at risk, as well as anyone against state extremism.
A Final Comment
After September 24, rallies and protests took place in dozens of US cities against the thuggish FBI raids. On September 27, hundreds mobilized outside its Chicago and Minneapolis offices. On September 28, the Chicago Sun Times headlined, "Protesters target FBI raids," saying:
"Hundreds of protesters gathered outside FBI offices in Chicago and Minneapolis on Monday, bearing signs and shouting chants condemning recent searches of homes and offices of anti-war activists in both cities."
The Minneapolis Star Tribune published a similar report, using an AP story, not its own, that quoted one of the targets, Minnesotan Mick Kelly, saying:
"We have provided no material support. I can't stress that long enough or loud enough, and honestly I don't believe that's why we're facing this scrutiny."
It's for the above-cited reasons - to crush opposition to state-sponsored roguishness abroad and at home, as well as discourage potential new resisters.
An earlier article quoted Merriam-Webster's police state definition, saying it's "characterized by repressive government control....(the) arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police," and in America, the FBI, CIA, and other oppressive agencies, targeting innocent people instead of protecting them.
Post-9/11 especially, George Bush took that route. In less than two years, Obama outdid him, adopting the worst of his policies, establishing more of his own, and accelerating America faster on the road to despotism. Chicago and Minneapolis raids signal worse to come unless mass outrage erupts to stops them. Otherwise, midnight or pre-dawn raids will be the norm on whatever grounds authorities charge against which there's no defense, a possibility too nightmarish to allow.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
7
3
3
