Statement from PSPS on Recent FBI Snooping in PNW

Statement from Puget Sound Prisoner Support on recent repression of activists in the Pacific Northwest. Originally posted to Puget Sound Anarchists.

Puget Sound Prisoner Support is a Seattle-based anarchist anti-repression collective which has been active in the Pacific Northwest since 2015. Our primary aim is to help radicals in the Seattle area resist repression from the police and courts while providing support for activists subjected to incarceration. We offer jail support trainings for affinity groups and protest organizers, help people find lawyers, offer guidance while navigating the legal system, and organize a monthly prisoner letter writing night in Seattle which has been running for almost 10 years. Additionally, PSPS also issues community warnings when State agents are seeking information about ongoing organizing in the Pacific Northwest.

In late August, we were contacted via email ([email protected]) by an individual stating that the Puget Sound Joint Terrorism Task Force (an arm of the FBI) had attempted to contact them and another activist by leaving business cards at their residence, as well as the residences of both of their parents – one of which in another state. After meeting with this person, we learned several things that are of importance for the Pacific Northwest radical community.

In our conversation with this person, we learned that the other individual secured a lawyer and agreed to a meeting with an FBI agent. We were told that at this meeting the FBI agent asked about protests against Cop City Lacey as well as Palestine solidarity protests. The FBI agent also asked about different Telegram channels and Signal groups.

While it can be tempting to speculate on intentions and investigations, it is more important that we stick to information that we know. What we know is that the FBI is investigating protests against Cop City Lacey, as well as protests and political action in solidarity with Palestine and Atlanta. We also know that one individual sat down with their lawyer and the FBI.

As a community-facing anti-repression organization, we applaud the original individual’s choice to alert us to FBI attempts to intimidate and squeeze information out of each other. State structures attempting to repress our movements succeed when we stay silent in the face of it. Unity and solidarity are our greatest strengths at successfully resisting their attempts to coerce and control our movements. This often looks like a wall of silence when FBI agents knock on doors seeking information, and refusing to meet with them. While it may feel intimidating, it is crucial to you and your comrades’ safety that you not answer questions from Federal Agents or any other cops. It is perfectly legal to just shut the door when they come knocking. There is nothing to be gained and everything to lose by sharing information with agents.

Resistance to repression also looks like alerting the community at large so that our friends and comrades are not surprised when an FBI agent inevitably comes knocking. If you are contacted by the FBI or any other state or federal agency we ask that you make that communication public. The actions of the state do not need to remain secret and we are all safer if they are communicated broadly.

Lastly, we want to make sure to state that you never have to meet with an FBI agent. We urge all radicals to refuse to speak with any FBI agent or law enforcement investigator, even in the company of your lawyer. If your lawyer is urging you to speak with an FBI agent and cooperate with their investigation, you can and should say no and consider finding another lawyer. Often, non-radical or non-movement lawyers do not understand the added importance of refusing to cooperate because their imperative is to keep you safe as their client and they are not always thinking about the safety of our broader community. Your lawyer works for you and if you do not want to throw your comrades under the bus you don’t have to. You can contact us directly, or the local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild to find options for representation – not all lawyers are the same so please do your homework! The National Lawyers Guild maintains a federal defense hotline to contact if you are approached by a federal agency: [email protected] or (212) – 279 – 2811.

If you or someone you know has been contacted by the FBI in the Pacific Northwest regarding protest activities, we strongly urge to contact us at [email protected]

In Solidarity,
Puget Sound Prisoner Support

Photo by David Trinks on Unsplash