A bit from yet another lovely press release that just came across the transom:
Last week, the ACLU reported they received documents that reveal the FBI
“is targeting peaceful political activists for harassment and building
files on constitutionally-protected political activities and
associations that have nothing to do with terrorism or other criminal
activity.” Apparently, they are particularly interested in Food Not
Bombs, a non-violent activist group that opposes the government’s
prioritization of war and military programs over social programs. This
year, Food Not Bombs is celebrating its 25th anniversary of sharing
vegetarian food and organizing for peace. This global movement was
started by seven anti-nuclear activists after the May 24, 1980
occupation attempt to stop the construction of the Seabrook Nuclear
Power Station 20 miles north of Boston. There is growing evidence that
U.S. Intelligence agencies, using the cover of fighting terrorism, have
been spying on non-violent legal political movements like Food Not Bombs
because of their ability to inspire opposition to war and poverty.
During the past 25 years, Food Not Bombs has grown to hundreds of
autonomous chapters all sharing free vegetarian food with hungry people
and protesting war and poverty. The movement is active in the Americas,
Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia. In the past few
years, Food Not Bombs groups have been working to end to the occupations
of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. They also support actions against
the globalization of the economy, restrictions to the movements of
people and the destruction of the earth. Tel Aviv Food Not Bombs is
supporting efforts to open the wall between Israel and Palestine. Food
Not Bombs groups in Slovakia helped start animal rescue shelters in 24
communities. The Copenhagen chapter won the Danish Peace Award. Food Not
Bombs sets up kitchens at many anti-globalization protests and its
UnFree Trade Tour of 60 cities in North America (1997) inspired the
"Battle of Seattle" in November 1999.
Apparently, what's needed next is for some right-wingers to start a new group: Bombs, Not Food.
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Jessica Clark is a writer, editor and researcher, with more than 15 years of experience spanning commercial, educational, independent and public media production. Currently she is the Research Director for American University’s Center for Social Media. She also writes a monthly column for PBS’ MediaShift on new directions in public media. She is the author, with Tracy Van Slyke, of Beyond the Echo Chamber: Reshaping Politics Through Networked Progressive Media (2010, New Press).
