During the Red Scare it didn’t matter if you actually were a commie: merely associating with one or having similar political views was used as grounds for harassment (not that the scare-mongering was justified against card-carrying communists, either, in any way). The guilt by association tactic of the Red Scare is alive and kicking in the Green Scare as well, with activists being hauled before “eco-terrorism” grand juries. The activists aren’t accused of committing any crimes. But they either have to testify– and answer questions about their political associations and political beliefs, both protected by the First Amendment– or risk jail time.
Below is an email I just received about one such case in San Francisco, where an activist is fighting the “eco-terrorism” witch hunt.
Contempt Hearing for Nadia Winstead, Friday, November 17th
Nadia Winstead is scheduled for a contempt hearing on Friday, November 17
at 11am. There will be a demonstration in support of her resistance to the
grand jury preceding the hearing.WHEN: Friday, November 17th, Demonstration: 10am, Hearing: 11am
WHERE: In front of the San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate (between Polk and Larkin)*Court support will take place in Judge Illston’s court room on the 19th floor.
Please join Nadia and her supporters in their stand against this unjust grand jury!
Background:
Nadia and several other animal rights advocates were originally subpoenaed to testify before a San Francisco federal grand jury investigating animal-and eco-liberation activists in late May of 2005. After numerous hearings and motions, Nadia appeared before the grand jury in August 2006, asserting her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. She was granted immunity, but still refused to talk. At the end of the day, she was dismissed from the grand jury pending further action. In September, at a preliminary contempt hearing, Nadia filed a motion for disclosure of illegal electronic surveillance. The motion was denied.