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December 10, 2007 and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act On October 23, the U.S. House passed House Resolution 1955—a throwback to anti-radical and anti-labor witchhunts—by a 404-6 margin. If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the Act would establish a ten-member National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, to study and propose legislation to address the threat of so-called subversive activities or revolt by people living in the US. The definition of proscribed activity is vague, thereby threatening anyone who seriously advocates social change, restoration of the constitution, or protest. The act defines homegrown terrorism as “the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.” Civil libertarians compare this legislation both to the McCarthy Commissions that jailed or blacklisted thousands of people for suspected communist affiliations in the 1940s and '50s, and to the FBI's COINTELPRO, which worked from the mid 1950s to 1971 to spy on and disrupt organizations deemed “subversive.” To stop this dangerous legislation, please contact your senators ASAP and tell them to oppose the Senate version of House Resolution 1955. Contact information for Senators is available at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/. Read the bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955 . A more detailed commentary is available at http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112907J.shtml Issued by Freedom Socialist Party, National Office, 4710 University Way N.E. #100, Seattle, 98105. Email fspnatl@igc.org . |
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