On October 16th, former Palestine Action US activists Sophie Ross and Bridget Shergalis were served subpoenas to be witnesses for a federal grand jury in New Hampshire. These came three days after the FBI surrounded Bridget’s house in an attempt to question her, which she did not agree to. Sophie and Bridget have publicly stated that they refuse to testify in this grand jury, and will respond “in solidarity with each other and whoever they have been ordered to provide testimony on”. Those who resist grand juries often face imprisonment and long-term state harassment; yet it is the duty of every political activist to refuse to hand over information to the state.
We are aware that this grand jury has been convened in regards to the November 2023 protest against an Elbit Systems weapons factory in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Sophie and Bridget, alongside two other activists, received misdemeanor charges and a 60-day jail sentence for their participation in this action. More details on the target of the grand jury have not yet been given. The grand jury investigatory process is profoundly secretive, and frequently used to criminalize, intimidate, and network-map political movements.
We condemn these subpoenas, and all information-gathering tactics by the state. We agree to defend the targeted activists against imprisonment and other forms of state repression. Preventing genocide is a moral duty and a reasonable action to take. We must reject any attempt by the state to vitiate our movement.
Sign on using this form to show your support.
- We ask that individuals, organizations, and other political bodies sign onto this statement as a show of support, and to circulate it to other organizations who support protests against the genocide of the Palestinian people.
- We ask that you encourage your organization to write a statement of support of Sophie and Bridget, and email it to stopfbi@gmail.com.
Signers
Organizations:
Al-Ahrar Palestinian Prisoner Support Toronto
Anti-Imperialist Solidarity
Black Alliance for Peace (BAP)
CODEPINK
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Community Liberation Programs
Community Movement Builders
Demilitarize Western Massachusetts
Diaspora Pa’lante
Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO)
International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
Jericho Movement
Labor 4 Palestine
Masar Badil – Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement
National Lawyers Guild (NLG)
Palestinian Assembly for Liberation
Popular Resistance
River Valley Anti-War Committee
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Secours Rouge Toulouse
Southern New Hampshire Democratic Socialists of America
Tariq El-Tahrir Youth and Student Network
Third World Solidarity Front
Women United Against Genocide
Individuals
Ambrose C
Aslynn Romano
Bradly Conway
Calla Walsh – Independent Journalist
Dani Silva- SNH DSA
Eileen Weitzman- Movement lawyer
Jakhi Isaiah
Jon Blanchette- SNH DSA
Julie Glass
Lydia Alexander
Tania Cregger